Prejudice: Japanese-Americans, Symbol of Racial Intolerance

Prejudice: Japanese-Americans, Symbol of Racial Intolerance examines the history and circumstances of Japanese Americans in the United States, with a focus on their experiences before and during World War II. McWilliams chronicles the immigration patterns, economic contributions, and community development of Japanese Americans on the West Coast from the late 1800s through the 1940s. The book documents the escalating discrimination and anti-Japanese sentiment that emerged in California and other western states during the early twentieth century. McWilliams details the legal restrictions, economic barriers, and social prejudices that Japanese immigrants and their American-born children faced. Published in 1944 while Japanese American incarceration was still ongoing, this work presents a contemporary analysis of the forces and decisions that led to the mass removal and detention of Japanese Americans during WWII. The book stands as both historical record and social commentary on the intersection of race, citizenship, and civil rights in America during a pivotal period of national crisis.

Readers value this 1944 book as one of the first texts to document Japanese American internment while it was happening. Many call out McWilliams' bold stance in opposing internment during wartime, when such views were unpopular. Readers appreciate: - McWilliams' research and use of statistical data - The author's direct condemnation of racism and war hysteria - Documentation of lesser-known details about property seizures Common critiques: - Writing style can be dense and academic - Some statistics and details became outdated - Focus primarily on California, less coverage of other states Available ratings are limited due to the book's age and out-of-print status. Goodreads shows 4.3/5 from 19 ratings. A review on the National Parks Service website calls it "an important primary source document" while noting its emphasis on economic rather than human rights aspects of internment. The book appears on several university reading lists for courses on Asian American history and civil rights.

Years of Infamy by Michi Weglyn Drawing from government documents and personal accounts, this work examines the constitutional violations and human impact of Japanese American internment during World War II.

No-No Boy by John Okada This novel follows a Japanese American who refused to serve in the US military while his family was imprisoned in an internment camp, depicting the conflicts and struggles of Japanese Americans during and after World War II.

By Order of the President by Greg Robinson The book reveals the political dynamics and decision-making process behind Franklin D. Roosevelt's executive order that authorized Japanese American internment.

Desert Exile by Yoshiko Uchida This memoir presents a first-hand account of life in the Topaz internment camp and the experiences of Japanese Americans forced from their homes during World War II.

The Buddhist Church in the American Concentration Camps by Duncan Ryūken Williams The text documents the role of Buddhism and religious leaders in sustaining Japanese American communities throughout their wartime incarceration.

🗹 Author Carey McWilliams wrote this groundbreaking book in 1944 while Japanese American internment was still ongoing, making him one of the first mainstream voices to criticize the policy. 🗹 The book reveals that military intelligence and the FBI had already determined that Japanese Americans posed no security threat months before Executive Order 9066 was issued. 🗹 McWilliams served as California's Commissioner of Immigration and Housing, giving him firsthand insight into the discrimination and economic targeting of Japanese Americans before WWII. 🗹 The U.S. government purchased 2,000 copies of this book to distribute to libraries and educational institutions, despite its critical stance toward government policies. 🗹 The research and arguments presented in "Prejudice" were later used as source material in the 1980s when the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians investigated the internment's causes.