"The SILENT FAIR" Preview, WA State Fairgrounds as Internment Camp

Summary

The video discusses the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, focusing on the Puyallup Assembly Center, which was transformed from a fairground into a detention camp. Personal accounts highlight the harsh conditions and emotional scars left on those interned. Survivors reflect on their experiences to ensure that such government actions are not repeated, advocating for social justice and vigilance against discrimination. The narrative emphasizes the importance of remembering history to prevent similar injustices in the future.

Takeaways

• 📜 Executive Order 9066, signed by President Roosevelt, led to the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans during WWII.
• 🏕️ The Puyallup Fairgrounds were transformed into the Puyallup Assembly Center, also known as 'Camp Harmony.'
• 🚧 Detainees faced harsh living conditions, including barbed wire fences and guard towers aimed at controlling them.
• 👥 Each living area housed about 1,900 people, sharing communal bathrooms and limited privacy.
• 🧺 Survivors recount the difficulties of daily life, including washing clothes in community areas without proper facilities.
• 😔 The experience left deep emotional scars, marked by humiliation and the loss of personal freedom.
• 🗣️ Many Issei and Nisei chose not to speak about their internment experiences after leaving the camps.
• 🔄 The speaker emphasizes the need to remember these injustices to prevent history from repeating itself.
• ✊ A call for future generations to advocate for social justice and support marginalized communities is highlighted.
• 🚫 The legacy of internment serves as a warning against government actions that target specific ethnic groups.

Q & A

What was Executive Order 9066, and who signed it?

Executive Order 9066 was signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on February 19, 1942. It authorized the forced removal of 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry, most of whom were American citizens, from the West Coast.

What event triggered the federal government to take over the Puyallup fairgrounds?

The federal government took over the Puyallup fairgrounds after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941.

What was the Puyallup assembly center, and what was its nickname?

The Puyallup assembly center was a hastily constructed facility that served as an internment camp for Japanese Americans. It was ironically nicknamed 'Camp Harmony.'

How quickly was the Puyallup assembly center built, and what were its living conditions like?

The Puyallup assembly center was built in just 27 days and had harsh living conditions, including barbed wire fences, guard towers, and minimal privacy.

What challenges did families face regarding sanitation at the assembly center?

Families faced significant challenges regarding sanitation, as communal bathrooms and showers had no doors or individual stalls, often requiring them to walk outside to access facilities.

What lasting impacts did internment have on the Issei and Nisei generations?

The internment left deep psychological scars, and many Issei and Nisei did not discuss their experiences, which affected their families for generations.

What message do survivors of the internment camps want to convey to future generations?

Survivors want future generations to embrace social justice and to stand up for other ethnic groups facing government discrimination, to prevent history from repeating itself.

What is the significance of the phrase 'never again' in the context of the script?

'Never again' signifies a commitment to preventing similar injustices from occurring in the future, highlighting the need for vigilance against government actions that target specific groups.

How did the internment experience affect the relationship between Japanese Americans and the U.S. government?

The internment experience created a significant mistrust between Japanese Americans and the U.S. government, stemming from the wrongful imprisonment and loss of civil rights.

What role does storytelling play in the experiences of internment camp survivors?

Storytelling serves as a means for survivors to share their experiences, ensuring that the lessons learned from internment are passed on and that such injustices are not forgotten.