When Justice Failed: The Fred Korematsu Story

by Steven A. Chin

Relates the experiences of the Japanese American who defied the order of internment during World War II and went to the Supreme Court

Genres: World War II

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction for young readers to a local Bay Area hero! When this book was written (1993) I was in the middle of two years of AP US History in Massachusetts, and we never once learned about Japanese internment. It is frustrating how long it took Korematsu and others to receive a modicum of justice, and just how difficult it is to ensure that injustices done by our government are kept in the public conscience.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clearly written for students, a dramatization of the personal story of Fred Korematsu, detained in Japanese-American internment camps in California (now site of the Tanforan shopping mall) and Utah. Unbelievable that the case lost in the Supreme Court - until the 40-years-later discovery that the government had hid evidence supporting Korematsu's case. This history of persecution must be remembered and shared widely.

[BaraaTamim · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest books that I've read so far! especially when you know about American history and how immigrants were usually treated. This book talks about Japanese Americans in World War 2. After Pearl Harbor bombing, all Japanese Americans were suspected that they were part of this and that they betrayed America. The government starts to take action against Japanese Americans and made their lives the hardest. One Japanese American, Fred Korematsu, knew that Japanese Americans had to connection with what was happening, so he planned to sue the American government for its actions against Japanese Americans. His life and his attempts are all found in this book. I highly recommend anyone to read this book!

[Kutaiba Riyad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the style of the writer how to get all the events of the Second World War mission in a striking way and make the reader do not tire of them .. And included events between 1939 and 1945. There was an example of friendship and the importance of details that we consider not important sometimes.

[Maria Luttrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for young adult readers. I read it to see if I thought my granddaughter would read this book. It is historical about WWII and the Japanese interment camps. It was well written and kept my interest. Hopefully, it will keep my granddaughter's attention. Worth the read.

[Jeanjean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure of the dates read, as I’m transferring books from a written list into Goodreads, but I do vividly remember enjoying this book from this year.

[James Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steven A. Chin, 1993

This children's books describes Fred Korematsu's upbringing as a young child. His actual name was Toyosaburo Korematsu, and the book tells an interesting story how he got the name "Fred."

After he was grown-up he was working as a welder at a shipyard making merchant ships. Although he was a member of the union he ended up being fired without any reason being given. He got another job and was also fired from that one, this time the boss being plain and telling him he was fired because he was Japanese.

This was all before Pearl Harbor.

Fred had a white girlfriend whose parents didn't approve of their relationship. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor came FBI hunts and the posting of notices stating a curfew existed for all Issei and Nisei. Then soon after came the notice that they were all going to be rounded up and moved away. This would have separated him and his girlfriend.

So Fred moved out of the house and into a boarding house. He changed the name on his draft card and managed to get another welding job. He ended up being caught, though, and was arrested for avoiding the evacuation. Ernest Besig was a lawyer working for the ACLU who decided to take Fred's case.

Besig wanted Fred to be a "test case" to challenge the discrimination against the Japanese Americans and Fred agreed. The ACLU itself didn't want to handle the case, but Besig got a Fred a lawyer for the trial. Besig paid $5000 to get Fred free awaiting trial but Fred no sooner left the building then he was picked up by military police.

He was taken to the Tanforan assembly center. At the trial Fred is found guilty, but instead of being sentenced to prison he's give five years probation and is taken back to Tanforan. From there he was shipped to Topaz.

An incident at Topaz that I didn't find elsewhere related to a gang of white boys driving past the camp three times, throwing rocks and shooting guns, injuring three inmates. The boys were caught and put in jail.

Fred's case was appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, but he lost. In 1982, after several jobs and a marriage, Fred found out that the government had been hiding information relating to his trial. The documents were basically showing that the reasons given for evacuating the Japanese were not backed up by actual evidence. On November 10, 1983, Fred once again went to trial. Government attorneys tried to stop the trial but were overruled. This time he won the case. He was hoping to prevent anyone else from being treated like he was in the future and he won.

This is a book for young readers and it's written in an entertaining manner, yet it gets across its point quite well. A good examination of the Korematsu case for younger readers.

[Timothy Coen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was well written but too short and I think it was rushed.But if your interested in the world war 2 period than you will like this book.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read it for a make up packet. It helped me understand WWII more. I didn't expect to get anything out of this but I got something. If your kids are interested in WWII then exhumed this to them.

Love,
Alex "Not that bad" Thelin