Japanese Canadian Internment, Second World War

Summary

This powerful video script recounts the harrowing experience of Japanese Canadians during World War II, particularly the incarceration of families in barns at Hastings Park, Vancouver. The narrator describes the unbearable conditions, including the stench of urine and feces, the harsh treatment of their families by RCMP officers, and the loss of their property. The script highlights the emotional and physical toll of forced labor and the loss of civil rights, drawing parallels to the suffering of other marginalized groups. It also warns of the potential for history to repeat itself if society is not vigilant about safeguarding democracy.

Takeaways

• 😀 In April 1942, 8,000 women and children of Japanese descent were incarcerated in a barn in Hastings Park, Vancouver.
• 😀 Upon arrival, the conditions were deplorable, with overpowering smells of urine and feces that made the atmosphere unbearable.
• 😀 The event followed rumors that all Japanese nationals without citizenship would be taken away, creating anxiety and fear in the community.
• 😀 A personal experience shared about the RCMP forcibly removing the father of the family, with the traumatic image of the officer's gun holster.
• 😀 The mother, left with five children, was forced to sell family assets, including 5,000 chickens, at a loss, and the family was financially devastated.
• 😀 The family’s bank account was frozen, and the $500 that was intended to help them pay for their incarceration never reached them.
• 😀 The barn where the family was incarcerated was overcrowded, with poor living conditions, including lack of privacy and insufficient sanitation facilities.
• 😀 The conditions were so degrading that the family felt no better than animals, with only a trough as a toilet and the constant stench of urine and feces.
• 😀 The speaker compares the situation to slavery, noting the harsh treatment of their community, and reflecting on the injustices faced by other marginalized groups.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the broader impact, noting that 22,000 people of Japanese descent in Canada suffered similar injustices, with their civil rights stripped away.
• 😀 The speaker warns that such injustices could happen again, citing the treatment of Muslims in the U.S. after 9/11 as an example, and advocates for vigilance and education to prevent history from repeating itself.

Q & A

What event led to the incarceration of 8,000 women and children in Vancouver in 1942?

In April 1942, following the outbreak of World War II and the fear of espionage, Japanese Canadians, including 8,000 women and children, were forcibly incarcerated by the Canadian government, and the barn in Hastings Park, Vancouver, was one of the places they were detained.

What were the conditions like inside the barn where Japanese Canadians were incarcerated?

The conditions were deplorable. The barn smelled strongly of urine and feces, and the detainees had to live in cramped spaces with no privacy. They were given metal bunk beds, and there were no toilets, just a trough for waste. The stench and lack of hygiene contributed to a degrading experience.

How did the speaker describe the initial moment their father was taken away by the RCMP?

The speaker vividly remembers an RCMP officer manhandling their father, dragging him out of their house and throwing him onto the back of a pickup truck. The speaker feared that the officer would shoot their father, as they saw the gun in his holster.

What were the financial repercussions for the family when their property was sold?

The family was forced to sell their property at a fraction of its value, with most of the proceeds used to cover the costs of their incarceration. Despite receiving $500 from the sale, the money was never accessible to the family due to their frozen bank account.

What role did the Chinese community play in the situation described?

The Chinese community in Victoria, upon hearing about the plight of Japanese Canadians, bought the family’s chickens at a very low price. This was part of the larger economic impact the Japanese Canadians faced, as they lost their livelihood and were forced to sell their assets at a loss.

What does the speaker mean by referring to the situation as 'slave labor'?

The speaker compares the forced labor conditions to that of slavery, implying that the Japanese Canadians were exploited and treated as subhuman, forced to work under harsh conditions with little regard for their dignity or well-being.

How does the speaker draw a parallel between the internment of Japanese Canadians and the treatment of other marginalized groups?

The speaker compares the internment of Japanese Canadians to the suffering of Black people in the southern United States, pointing out that the only thing missing from their experience was the use of physical punishment. This emphasizes the harshness and dehumanization they endured.

What message does the speaker convey about the erosion of civil rights in a democracy?

The speaker highlights the injustice of the internment, emphasizing that it occurred in a democratic society. This situation serves as a reminder that civil rights can be stripped away, and it is crucial for people to remain vigilant to protect those rights.

How does the speaker connect the events of 9/11 to the possibility of repeating history?

The speaker recalls how, after the September 11 attacks, they feared that Muslims would be persecuted in a similar manner to Japanese Canadians during World War II. The speaker’s concern underscores the possibility of history repeating itself if society is not careful.

What is the speaker's goal in sharing their family’s story?

The speaker hopes to educate at least one person about the injustices faced by Japanese Canadians during World War II. By sharing their story, they aim to raise awareness about the fragility of democracy and the importance of safeguarding civil rights.