IN GOOD CONSCIENCE: Supporting Japanese Americans During the Internment

by Shizue Seigel

308 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." - Fred Rogers "God willing there will never be a 'next time'. - Walt Woodward This is an exploration of the small stories that came out of the most shameful hour in US history: the forced incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans. While many white Americans reacted with anger, fear and hostility after Pearl Harbour, a dedicated group of white Americans supported their Japanese American friends, neighbors, students and congregants. From crusading journalists like Walt Woodward who defended Issei and Nisei in his smalltown newspaper to tbe Southern storekeeper who spent all his profits keeping up the spirits of Japanese American troops, these individuals defied the racist, xenophobic conventions of their day. Like the Japanese Americans they helped, they were yelled at, spat on and often refused service. A few of the main takeaways from this book: Karl Bendetsen was the Steven Miller or his day. There is a good chance FDR would have never issued Executive Order 9066 without his "help". The white farmers in California were also largely responsible for evicting their neighbors because Japanese Americans dominated the flower and produce markets and they wanted to get rid of the competition. Many Japanese Americans were allowed to go to college rather than stay in the camps but only small town colleges because they couldn't be near any important buildings, ports or bases and they had to get approval from practically every person in the town's government. At least three people were killed in the internment camps. One of the saddest parts in the book was a photo showing Japanese American teenagers helping US soldiers post eviction notices to "prove" their patriotism.