Ms. Chie Helinski shares that on 11/14/19, Janet Aisawa visited the AP Japanese class to talk about the Japanese Internment. Janet is a dancer and a choreographer who, through her dance, explores and poses questions about issues, such as the Japanese Internment and Hiroshima. Her parents and relatives were among the internees and brought new perspectives to the AP students who have been studying about the immigration and Internment.
The class was divided and put into 3 different camps without telling the students about it. Through the slides of government propaganda and the interviews of internees and discussions with Janet, the students started to identify themselves with the internees and brought their experience much closer to themselves.
The presentation asked the students what it means for them to be American. The highlight of the discussion was the Loyalty Questionnaire. The students realized how the questions 27 and 28 agonized many internees and tore the families apart. They looked inside critically and wondered if they would or wouldn't enlist to fight for the United States during WWII in spite of how the government treated them.
Many students pointed out its relevance to what is happening around us now. It is not an easy topic to grapple with, but they embraced the opportunity.
The experience made Wentao Lin think more deeply about the questions 27 and 28 on the Royalty Questionnaire. It brought new admiration to those who answered “no” and no.”
Frances Li says this presentation allowed her to “meet” the actual people who experienced the camp. Now, their experiences are more “real” and “closer” to her, and she thinks it’s very important to share their stories with her friends and family.
