Encyclopedia of Japanese American Internment

(Hardback)

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Description

This book addresses the forced removal and confinement of Japanese Americans during World War IIa topic significant to all Americans, regardless of race or color. The internment of Japanese Americans was a violation of the Constitution and its guarantee of equal protection under the lawyet it was authorized by a presidential order, given substance by an act of Congress, and affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Japanese internment is a topic that we as Americans cannot afford to forget or be ignorant of. This work spotlights an important subject that is often only described in a cursory fashion in general textbooks. It provides a comprehensive, accessible treatment of the events of Japanese American internment that includes topical, event, and biographical entries; a chronology and comprehensive bibliography; and primary documents that help bring the event to life for readers and promote inquiry and critical thinking.

Reviews

This is an excellent resource. . . . Users can profitably search America: History and Life for a wealth of articles about this event and its aftermath. * Reference Reviews *
This will be a valuable resource for a variety of audiences interested in Asian American history. Summing Up: Highly recommended. * Choice *
Was it 'military necessity,' as the order invokedor simply racism Okihiro (international and public affairs, Columbia Univ.) makes a compelling case for the latter in this reference collecting topical, event, and biographical entries related to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. The work is supplemented by a host of primary source materials, including the heartbreaking photographs of the camps and testimony of internees at hearings leading to the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, in which a formal apology was issued. A chronology is provided. . . . A critical compendium documenting a shameful, often overlooked part of World War II history. * Library Journal *
This is an excellent, handy reference source on one of the less heroic but still vitally important aspects of American history. Recommended for all types of libraries. * Booklist *

Author Bio

Gary Y. Okihiro, PhD, is professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University, New York, NY.