Struggling to be Heard: A History of Japanese Americans

The issues surrounding immigration and protection of human rights as reflected in the United States constitution are at the forefront of political debates today. These issues are echoes of the history of Japanese Americans. After the internment of the Japanese in this country in camps during World War II, the surviving leadership of Japanese communities determined that their sons and daughters should become model citizens. A consequence of this determination was to silence the political voice of Japanese Americans, a voice which has only recently begun to grow in strength. Major themes of this program are the historical, social, political, geographic and economic forces that led to internment, and its consequences.

Students in this program will study a range of topics connected to the history of Japanese Americans. The program will be organized around the broad themes of immigration, migration, labor, family structures, settlement patterns, culture and language issues, assimilation and internment camps.

Each student will read a series of seminar books and articles related to program themes, participate in a weekly seminar, write a weekly seminar paper and participate in workshops. Students will also complete substantial, individual research projects and make summative presentations of their work.