Visual Cultures of WWII Japanese Incarceration

Please see here for more information and registration.     

Surely one of the darkest chapters in modern American history is the WWII-era Japanese Internment camps. After the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, an intense and racist fear gripped this country. It was thought that anyone of Japanese descent, particularly on the West Coast, posed a threat to security as the U.S. entered World War II against Japan and the Axis powers. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s infamous Executive Order 9066 demanded that Japanese Americans, many U.S. citizens, surrender their property and relocate to remote western internment camps.

This narrated PowerPoint presentation first examines the historical background of this period—the government’s role, the war era, and the plight of the victims. We then view examples of art, craft, and cultural production made in and about the experience. Altogether, attendees will gain an enhanced understanding of this traumatic episode in our history––one that concerned America’s treatment of immigrants in a time of global conflict––through objects that show great humanity and even creative heroism.  

Naper Settlement’s History Speaks Lecture Series showcases a variety of prominent historical figures and topics. Lectures are held one to two times per month based on scheduling. History Speaks lectures are currently being held virtually on Zoom until further notice. All programs are from 4-5PM unless stated otherwise. Online pre-registration is required. Registrants will receive a Zoom invitation with information on how to access the virtual lecture prior to the event. Please note: only 100 spaces are available per lecture on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are $10 per person.  For more details and registration on the series, please see here.