I don't know how this terrible piece of American history missed me, but I did not learn anything about the Japanese internment until after I graduated from college! Upon finding out, I remember exclaiming with complete ignorance, "What? We did this to our own people!?" (I believe I was at the Smithsonian in D.C. for work spending my free time exploring the museums.)
Now, I wasn't to best student K-12 - I had a B average upon graduation from high school. I didn't go out of my way to explore new bits of information or gain better understanding of the world around me. I was much more concerned with the social education of my public school experience.
Regardless, it seems to me that this history should be taught alongside Adolf Hitler's tyranny. Perhaps the Florida Public Schools were more interested in teaching me about the civil war, the Cherokees, Seminoles and Everglades. Maybe we were so focused on the past happenings of the East Coast that this information didn't leak out. Just as possible, maybe it was one sentence discussed one day and I was asleep.
Regardless, I am disappointed that there is not greater concern to try and prevent this type of racist treatment from being repeated in our history.
Here is a family with all the possessions they were allowed to bring into the camp.
One of the Japanese internment camps.
To learn more check out these great resources:
Smithsonian National Museum of American History (Japanese Internment)
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