The World War II Internment of Japanese Americans Professor Watanabe Fall 2013
Course description:
In early 1942, the United States government commenced the roundup and confinement of nearly 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent – citizens and non-citizens alike. Political, economic, legal, sociological, cultural, psychological, literary, and historical lenses will be utilized in our examination of this dark chapter in American life. Although the internment experience is carefully considered, the course encompasses a broader range of experiences. For example, the early days of Asian and Japanese immigration to the United States, the battle for redress and reparations, and the current status of Japanese Americans specifically and Asian Americans generally are explored. More general and critical concepts will be considered as well in conjunction with the internment experience. These central concepts include issues such as anarchy vs. society, justice vs. order, freedom vs. responsibility, individual rights vs. group interests, national security vs. civil liberties, and diversity vs. unity. Many of these discussions, of course, have gained even more urgency and attention since the events of September 11, 2001.
The course will utilize both lectures and discussions. A critical component as well will be to develop an enhanced understanding of the nature of scholarly inquiry – how to use and evaluate research - and how to conduct it. Students will be encouraged to study aspects of the internment and its aftermath from their own disciplinary perspectives and they will conduct independent research which will be presented in the colloquium.
Students who register for the course must be cognizant of a couple special components. The course has been designated as an inaugural Civic Engagement Scholars Initiative course. This means we will devote a considerable amount of our time and energies on expanding learning through engagement beyond the classroom. First of all students must be available to travel to Little Tokyo in Los Angeles and the Manzanar National Historic Site in California. The trip is scheduled for November 9-12. While the bulk of the expenses for this trip will be provided, course participants will be responsible for some of the costs of the trip. Second, students will have the opportunity during the semester to work closely with two Japanese American community- based organizations - the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund and the New England Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. The backgrounds and interests of the students in the course will play major roles in shaping our overall inquiry and the interactions with community-based partners.
Required books:
Roger Daniels, Prisoners without Trial: Japanese Americans in World War II, Revised Edition Julie Otsuka, When the Emperor was Divine
Films:
Some films (Days of Waiting, Conscience and the Constitution, Come See the Paradise, etc.) covering aspects of the internment will be screened.
Outline:
9/6 Introduction
9/13 The internment in brief Daniels, entire
9/20 The internment in brief (continued) About our community partners
9/27 One family’s experiences behind barbed wire (working with government records) Developing research proposals
10/4 Discussion of When the Emperor Was Divine (literary approaches)
10/11 Military service and resisters (utilizing films)
10/18 No class
10/25 From concentration camp to college (working with oral histories)
11/1 Little Tokyo, Manzanar, trip preparation
11/8 Student presentations on research proposals Updates on community partner projects
11/15 Reflections and trip debriefing
11/22 TBD
11/29 No class
12/6 Student presentations
12/13 Student presentations
Office hours:
Weds. 11-12, Thurs 10-11:30 and by appointment
Office location:
Institute for Asian American Studies Healey Library, 10th floor, Rm. 07
Telephone:
617 287-5652
e-mail: