by Devon Foster, Pinole Valley High School
World War II is often characterized by the inhumanity of Nazi Germany as it systematically purged Europe of Jews and other non-Aryan groups. However, often forgotten is the story of the persecution suffered by Japanese-Americans as a result of the Pearl Harbor attack in December of 1941. Students will create and present a visual timeline of events of the Japanese-American internment during World War II.
Teacher Introduction
I developed this lesson to expand the average student's awareness of all the events that took place during World War II. Students should not be misled into thinking that the United States always played the part of the hero.
It's imperative that students are given a different perspective of the war, and even more pressing that those who live in areas where Japanese-Americans were evacuated can appreciate what happened not too long ago.
San Francisco Bay has always had a high Japanese-American population, and many students have ties to those who were evacuated following Executive Order 9066. I feel it is crucial that they are aware of what happened to their ancestors.