Chapters: Season Five Introduction

The fifth season of the Chapters podcast, hosted by John Baird Ingalls, delves into the history and impact of the forced incarceration of over 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II under Executive Order 9066. The series examines the parallels between this historical injustice and contemporary issues related to civil liberties, such as immigration and racial profiling. Featuring insights from guests like Teresa Watanabe and Donald Tamaki, it highlights the need to preserve and learn from these stories to prevent repeating past mistakes. The podcast emphasizes the importance of storytelling, protest, and legal action in safeguarding democracy and civil rights.

• The language used historically to describe the forced removal and detention of Japanese Americans during WWII was misleading, often referred to as "relocation" or "evacuation."
• This was actually mass forced removal and incarceration based on race, acknowledged as wrong by the US Government.
• Despite the harsh conditions, Japanese Americans maintained cultural practices and community activities to cope with their situation.

"That was the language that we grew up with hearing. When our parents did talk about it, they talked about the evacuation, they talked about the relocation, and they talked about being in relocation centers."

• This quote highlights the euphemistic language used historically to describe the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans, which downplays the gravity of the situation.

"The general population needs to know that the incarceration was wrong, the incarcerees were Americans, and that the US Government has acknowledged the wrong and apologized."

• Emphasizes the need for public awareness about the wrongful incarceration and the government's acknowledgment of this injustice.

• Incarcerated Japanese Americans engaged in cultural and recreational activities as a means of maintaining morale and community spirit.
• Activities like sports, traditional arts, and dances were organized to help people cope with their circumstances.

"Of course, they started all these sports programs, and they had Japanese traditional arts, and of course, dances were fun events that kind of like took people away from what was happening."

• This quote illustrates how Japanese Americans used cultural activities to create a sense of normalcy and community amidst the harsh conditions of incarceration.

• Executive Order 9066, issued by President Roosevelt, led to the exclusion and incarceration of over 100,000 Japanese Americans.
• The historical narrative often minimizes this event in education, reducing it to a few paragraphs in textbooks.
• The podcast series aims to expand this narrative into a more comprehensive chapter of history, drawing parallels with contemporary civil liberties issues.

"On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, a response to the bombing of Pearl harbor, which authorized parts of the western United States to be prescribed as military zones where any and all people could be excluded."

• This quote provides the historical context for the issuance of Executive Order 9066, which led to the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans.

"This is a history in the US that we are all told, but not really taught. It comes up in maybe a paragraph or two in history books."

• Highlights the inadequacy of historical education regarding the Japanese American incarceration.

• The podcast series draws parallels between the historical incarceration of Japanese Americans and modern issues such as immigration policies and civil liberties.
• The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and family separations at the border are examined as current civil liberties challenges.

"In his first term in office, President Trump attempted to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or daca."

• This quote connects the historical injustices faced by Japanese Americans to contemporary issues in immigration policy and civil liberties.

• The use of the term "incarceration" instead of "internment" reflects a more accurate and impactful narrative of the Japanese American experience during WWII.
• The Los Angeles Times' decision to change its terminology is seen as a significant step in acknowledging historical injustices.

"The article reflected on the Times decision to stop using the word internment when describing what happened to the Japanese Americans in 1942 and to use the word incarceration instead."

• This quote underscores the importance of language in shaping historical narratives and acknowledging past injustices.

• Personal stories, such as those of Teresa Watanabe's family, highlight the traumatic experiences of Japanese Americans during their forced removal and incarceration.
• Legal battles, including the reopening of Fred Korematsu's case, reveal the ongoing struggle for justice and recognition of historical wrongs.

"My grandfather was one of the first Japanese nationals to be rounded up. The FBI came to the house, and my father was not there, but my uncle was there, and. And he recalls that it was so traumatic."

• This personal account illustrates the sudden and traumatic nature of the forced removal experienced by Japanese American families.

"There were three people who defied these orders. Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi, Fred Korematsu in California, San Francisco, Minoru Yasui, a young lawyer in Oregon, and and Gordon Hirabayashi, a student at the University of Washington."

• Highlights the courage of individuals who resisted unjust orders and the significance of their legal battles in the fight for civil liberties.

• The podcast series aims to preserve the history of Japanese American incarceration to prevent similar injustices in the future.
• The exploration of historical and contemporary civil liberties issues serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting fundamental rights for all people.

"This is a history we wanted to preserve, a blemish on America's past we wanted to highlight, to prevent us from repeating the same mistakes."

• Emphasizes the importance of remembering and learning from historical injustices to avoid repeating them in the future.

• Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans were subjected to curfew and exclusion orders.
• Min Yasui became a test case against these orders, challenging their constitutionality.
• The rationale for exclusion was based on racial stereotypes, initially described as "inscrutable" and later changed to a lack of time for individual assessments.
• The U.S. government defended the internment by citing national security and alleged espionage, despite internal memos acknowledging these claims as false.

"Min decided that he would be the test case. He tried to try to get somebody else to be a test case... He couldn't find anybody. So he decided he would become his own test case."

• Min Yasui took it upon himself to challenge the unjust curfew orders when no one else would, highlighting his courage and commitment to civil rights.

"The rationale said, you know, it's not a matter of time... these people are inscrutable. We'll never be able to tell the loyal from the disloyal."

• The initial justification for internment was based on racial stereotypes, indicating deep-seated prejudice against Japanese Americans.

• Fred Korematsu resisted curfew and removal orders due to his belief in his rights as an American citizen.
• He did not see himself as a martyr but as an ordinary citizen standing up for constitutional principles.
• His case, along with others, highlighted the unlawful treatment of Japanese Americans based on race.

"He didn't have any spectacular life before he was arrested. What he did have is a rock solid belief that he was an American."

• Korematsu's actions were driven by his unwavering belief in his rights as an American, despite the lack of a notable public profile.

"Each of these three litigants said that it was unlawful for an American citizen to be rounded up, be deprived of their property, their freedom... merely because of their racial ancestry."

• The legal challenge was based on the violation of civil rights solely due to racial ancestry, underscoring the discriminatory nature of the internment.

• Internal Justice Department memos revealed that claims of espionage were false, yet these were presented to the Supreme Court.
• The original military report contained racist language, which was hidden from the court.
• The writ of error coram nobis allowed for the reopening of cases due to new evidence that could have changed the outcome.

"Every intelligence agency is saying that the army's claims that Japanese Americans are engaging in spying and espionage are, quote, intentional falsehoods."

• The government's justification for internment was based on knowingly false claims, indicating a grave miscarriage of justice.

"The original military report... said that a Jap is a Jap, the Japanese race is an enemy race."

• The military's report was rooted in racial prejudice, which was concealed from the Supreme Court, affecting the trial's integrity.

• The focus on retribution and warehousing in the criminal legal system neglects rehabilitation and long-term change.
• The prison boom in California led to reduced funding for rehabilitation, exacerbating recidivism.
• Systemic racism is a significant issue within the carceral system, as evidenced by disproportionate incarceration rates among minority communities.

"In some ways, prison reform, or the way we look at caging human beings is central to justice reform."

• The approach to incarceration needs reform to focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment to achieve justice.

"California went through a prison building boom... there were 24 prisons built and only one college built in California."

• The prioritization of prison construction over education reflects systemic issues in addressing crime and rehabilitation.

• Racism and racial profiling are deeply embedded in the criminal justice system.
• The disproportionate incarceration rates of minority groups highlight the systemic biases present.
• The historical treatment of Japanese Americans serves as a reminder of the potential for racial injustice.

"The black community makes up 8% of our population. 8%. Yet they are 30% of our jail population."

• The stark disparity in incarceration rates for Black Americans underscores the systemic racism within the justice system.

"Racism and racial profiling are intrinsic to our criminal justice system, our carceral system, and to what happened to the American citizens of Japanese descent following Executive Order 9066."

• The historical context of Japanese American internment illustrates the ongoing challenges of racial injustice within the legal framework.

• Early experiences with racial discrimination and civil rights injustices shaped a deep understanding and emotional response towards systemic inequality.
• The legal system's inadequacy in addressing racial injustices was evident through historical court decisions.
• Observations of landmark cases like Brown vs. Board of Education highlighted the limitations of legal interventions in effecting real societal change.

"Being blown away by water cannons, being bitten by dogs and all of that kind of formulated a sense of values, I think in my mind about injustice, about race discrimination."

• Personal encounters with racial discrimination during formative years led to a strong conviction about the prevalence of injustice and racial bias.

"I had this emotional reservoir of it was a perception that this is not a fair country and this is a racist country, that the legal system was ineffective."

• A deeply held belief in the systemic injustices and the ineffectiveness of the legal system in protecting marginalized communities.

• The election of Donald Trump and subsequent executive actions mirrored historical injustices, drawing parallels with the incarceration of Japanese Americans.
• The use of executive orders and military interventions at the border raised concerns about civil liberties and the erosion of democratic principles.
• The invocation of the Alien Enemies Act and challenges to birthright citizenship reflected a regressive stance on civil rights.

"We're not just talking about closing down the borders. We're talking about arresting people and their families, separating families, sending US Military down to the border."

• The current political actions echo past injustices, indicating a troubling trend towards authoritarian measures and civil rights violations.

"All those executive orders came fluttering from the sky every which way... expending resources like birthright citizenship, they're putting that into question."

• The rapid issuance of executive orders aimed at undermining established civil rights and creating legal and social turmoil.

• The judiciary's role in countering executive overreach was acknowledged, but concerns remained about the Supreme Court's stance on constitutional protections.
• The erosion of due process rights, especially for immigrant communities, highlighted the broader implications for civil liberties.
• Precedents set in denying due process could have far-reaching consequences for all citizens.

"It's rejecting his arguments, is rejecting his programs, is rejecting his attempted takeover of the government."

• The judiciary's resistance to executive overreach is a crucial check on power, though concerns about the Supreme Court persist.

"When you violate these due process protections, it's a red glaring sign for everyone."

• The violation of due process rights serves as a warning about the potential for broader civil rights erosions.

• Birthright citizenship, rooted in English common law, was reinforced by the 14th Amendment to prevent future erosion of citizenship rights.
• The Alien Enemies Act, historically used during wartime, was being misapplied in peacetime to target specific immigrant groups.
• These legal mechanisms have been manipulated to undermine the rights of marginalized communities.

"Every one of us who's born in the United States within the territory of the United States is born a citizen of the United States."

• The principle of birthright citizenship is a foundational aspect of American identity and legal protection.

"Here's Donald Trump invoking this law that has only ever been used during wartime... to deport en masse Venezuelans."

• The misuse of the Alien Enemies Act in a non-wartime context represents a significant departure from historical norms and legal protections.

• The administration's efforts to reshape historical narratives threaten the recognition and inclusion of diverse contributions to American history.
• Executive orders aimed at removing discussions of gender, race, and diversity from historical contexts represent a broader ideological campaign.
• Preserving a comprehensive and inclusive history is essential for understanding and addressing contemporary issues of inequality.

"It's a very, very deliberate attempt to erase the contributions of people of color, of women, of LGBTQIA plus individuals and other marginalized groups."

• The attempt to homogenize American history undermines the diverse narratives that contribute to the nation's identity.

"It's the warts and all history that has made the country so extraordinarily powerful."

• Acknowledging the full spectrum of historical experiences, including past mistakes, is crucial for fostering unity and understanding shared values.

• Memory plays a crucial role in resisting the erasure of history and preserving cultural heritage.
• Upholding memory becomes an act of resilience and resistance against attempts to erase history.
• Institutions like JANM and the Smithsonian are pivotal in keeping history alive and aiding societal evolution.

"When you're pushing back against this attempt to erase history, I mean, essentially, memory almost then becomes an act of resilience and an act of resistance."

• This quote emphasizes the importance of memory as a tool for resistance against historical erasure.

"As memories fade, we rely on institutions like JANM, like the Smithsonian Institutions for Higher Education, to keep that history, warts and all, alive."

• Institutions are essential in preserving the complete history, including its uncomfortable aspects, to help society evolve.

• The history of Japanese American incarceration is inadequately represented in educational materials.
• Personal and familial connections, like Tamiko Nomura's work on her father's manuscript, help preserve these memories.
• Detailed personal accounts provide rich historical insights that are often missing from mainstream narratives.

"I was in a US History class, like a big survey class, and I think there was just maybe a paragraph in the sort of long history textbook about the incarceration."

• This highlights the insufficient representation of Japanese American incarceration in educational resources.

"Tamiko Nomura has been working on a book utilizing her father's manuscript from his time in Tule Lake."

• Personal projects like Nomura's book are crucial for preserving detailed historical memories.

• Resistance within the Japanese American camps was a complex and often stigmatized issue.
• The graphic novel "We Hereby Refuse" explores the resistance, including acts like refusing to sign the loyalty oath.
• Protest and dissent are foundational to American identity and have historically driven significant social changes.

"Writing it really was, in some ways a really productive thing to be doing. You know, it really felt like, wow, we are in this climate of resistance."

• Creating works that explore resistance contributes to understanding and valuing acts of dissent.

"Dissent, protest. Standing up for our rights, for what we believe in."

• Protest and dissent are integral to American democracy and have historically led to major societal advancements.

• Student protests are vital for societal progress and are often validated by history.
• Encouraging youth activism is crucial for the health of civic society.
• Financial threats to universities in response to student protests undermine First Amendment rights.

"It is good for students and young people to care about the world we live in and the community we live in and the neighbors that surround them."

• Student activism is essential for societal engagement and progress.

"Much of history sort of looks back at student movements 20 years later and says, oh, obviously it is important."

• Historical validation of student movements underscores their importance in driving change.

• Art, storytelling, and education are powerful tools for combating racism and tyranny.
• They help in preserving history and fostering resilience against civil rights erosion.
• Museums and cultural institutions play a crucial role in telling the full truth of history.

"The power of people, the power of art, of storytelling, of education, of community action."

• Art and storytelling are vital in preserving history and promoting justice.

"The arts tell such an unbelievably poignant story... it communicates the pain and the grief and the injustice, but it also communicates the extraordinary joy."

• Art uniquely conveys complex emotions and histories, fostering resilience and understanding.

• The erosion of democracy can happen incrementally, necessitating vigilance and collective action.
• Historical figures like Manuro Yasui exemplify the impact one person can have in defending civil liberties.
• The general public's response is crucial in protecting democratic principles and civil rights.

"You don't lose your democracy necessarily in a sudden coup d'. Etat. You can lose it incrementally, bit by bit."

• Vigilance against gradual erosion of democracy is essential to preserving civil liberties.

"If anything, what Manuro Yasui taught us is that one person from Hood River, Oregon, who was a Boy Scout, who was an ROTC person, one person can make a difference."

• Individual actions can significantly impact the defense of civil rights and democratic principles.

• The general public must pay attention and act to protect justice and civil liberties.
• Technology enables real-time documentation and sharing of injustices, empowering public action.
• The podcast series aims to document history and educate to prevent future injustices.

"We have the technology today to allow anyone to capture what is happening while it is happening and share it with the world."

• Modern technology empowers individuals to document and share injustices, promoting accountability.

"We will utilize our platform at Past Forward and the Chapters program to continue to document today while examining and sharing our history."

• The podcast series is dedicated to documenting history and educating the public to safeguard the future.