Activity 3-1

Activity 3-1: Perspectives Through Popular Media

Introduction

In this activity, students examine some of the attitudes expressed in the U.S. media towards Japanese Americans prior to their removal from the West Coast. Students are first presented with a range of reactions, then are asked to engage in small-group activities based on an article and political cartoons. In addition, students analyze non-Japanese American perspectives that voiced disagreement with the mass removal and incarceration.

Time

One to two class periods

Materials

Handout 3-1a: "Today and Tomorrow" (one copy per group of three students)
Handout 3-1b: The Nippu Jiji (one copy per group of three students)
Handout 3-1c: Dr. Seuss (one copy per group of three students)
Handout 3-1d: In the News (one copy per student)

Download printer-friendly (PDF) file of Activity 3-1 handouts

Download printer-friendly (PDF) file of lesson page and activity procedures

Procedure

1. Download and print the PDF file of Activity 3-1 handouts. Make copies as indicated above.

2. Inform students that they will examine primary-source documents that illustrate some of the attitudes toward Japanese Americans and/or the mass removal and incarceration as expressed by the U.S. media following the U.S. entry into World War II.

3. Divide the class into groups of three students. Give each group one of the Handouts 3-1a through 3-1c. Give groups 30 minutes for their tasks.

4. Ask a representative from each group to present the group's work in front of the class.

5. After all groups have presented, discuss the activity with the following questions:

How are these three perspectives similar or different?
If the same incident occurred in our society today, how do you think the public would react?
Is it fair to judge events in the past from our current perspective, or should we judge past actions by the standards of that time? If the latter, is that possible?

6. During or after the discussion above, mention to students that several non-Japanese American groups did speak out against the incarceration of Japanese Americans; the Quakers and the West Coast branches of the American Civil Liberties Union were among those who argued that the incarceration was a mistake. Handout 3-1d: In the News contains a list of some excerpts of articles written by people who argued against the forced removal and incarceration. Suggested activities are also included in the handout.