Heart Mountain: The Legacy of Japanese American Incarceration

A History of Injustice and Resilience

In the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States government authorized the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans. Over 120,000 individuals were forcibly removed from their homes and communities and imprisoned in remote detention camps scattered across the country. One of these camps was the Heart Mountain Relocation Center, located in a desolate region of northwestern Wyoming.

Setsuko's Secret: Heart Mountain and the Legacy of the Japanese American Incarceration

by Shirley Ann Higuchi

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3789 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	336 pages

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Heart Mountain opened in August 1942 and became home to nearly 11,000 Japanese Americans. The camp consisted of hundreds of tar paper-covered barracks, a hospital, schools, and other facilities. Life at Heart Mountain was harsh and unforgiving. The internees were subjected to extreme heat and cold, inadequate food and medical care, and constant surveillance. Despite these hardships, they remained resilient and determined to maintain their culture and dignity.

Personal Accounts of Incarceration

The experiences of the Japanese Americans who were incarcerated at Heart Mountain are deeply personal and moving. One such individual was George Igawa, who was just 16 years old when he and his family were forced to leave their home in California. In his book, Street Without Joy: The Autobiography of George Igawa, he recalled the day he arrived at Heart Mountain:

We drove through the main gate of the camp and up to the administration building. I looked out the window and saw barbed wire fences everywhere. I had never seen so much barbed wire in my life. It was like we were prisoners of war.

Another Heart Mountain internee, Chiyoko Sakata, shared her memories of the camp in an interview with the National Park Service:

We were told that we were being sent to a camp for our own protection. But when we got there, we were treated like criminals. We were searched and our belongings were confiscated. We were forced to live in crowded barracks with no privacy. The food was terrible, and we were constantly sick.

Despite the hardships they faced, the Japanese Americans at Heart Mountain found ways to cope and maintain their humanity. They organized educational programs, formed social groups, and even published a newspaper. They also developed a strong sense of community, which helped them to endure their confinement.

The Legacy of Heart Mountain

The Heart Mountain Relocation Center closed in November 1945, and the Japanese Americans who had been imprisoned there were finally allowed to return to their homes. However, the legacy of Heart Mountain continued to shape their lives and the lives of their descendants.

In the years after the war, the Japanese American community fought for redress and reparations for the injustices they had suffered. In 1988, Congress passed the Civil Liberties Act, which apologized for the government's actions and authorized payments to former internees. The act also established the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation, which has worked to preserve the history of the incarceration and promote understanding and reconciliation.

Today, the Heart Mountain site is a National Historic Landmark. The park includes the remains of the camp, as well as a museum and interpretive center. Visitors can learn about the history of the incarceration and the experiences of those who were imprisoned there. The site serves as a reminder of the injustices that were committed against Japanese Americans during World War II and the importance of fighting for civil rights and human dignity.

The Heart Mountain Relocation Center was a dark chapter in American history. However, it is also a story of resilience, perseverance, and the enduring power of the human spirit. The Japanese Americans who were incarcerated at Heart Mountain faced unimaginable hardships, but they never gave up hope. They maintained their culture, their dignity, and their determination to build a better future for themselves and their children.

The legacy of Heart Mountain is a reminder that we must never forget the lessons of the past. We must continue to fight against injustice and discrimination, and we must work to build a more just and equitable society for all.

Setsuko's Secret: Heart Mountain and the Legacy of the Japanese American Incarceration

by Shirley Ann Higuchi

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3789 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	336 pages

FREE