Poetry-No More Camps-Part Two

NO MORE CaMPS: 10 Ways to Learn About Manzanar
by Tony Osumi

PART TWO OF TWO:

Point #1: Read picture books about Camp
Picture books are great tools for exposing children and adults to complex concepts in simple ways. They can lay a foundation of understanding before moving on to more abstract ideas. Teachers call this building "prior knowledge."

One book aimed at younger readers is Ken Mochizuki’s Baseball Saved Us. It’s about a boy who deals with the pressure of internment and racism by excelling in baseball. Not only will I read this to my child, but if she or he plays sports, I’ll read it to her/his whole team. Can you imagine how many young people would learn about Camp if the JA basketball leagues took their teams to Manzanar?

Another book is The Bracelet by Yoshiko Uchida. It’s about a girl who is sent to Camp and loses a special bracelet, but learns a valuable lesson. I’ll used it teach about the power of memory when faced with loss. I’ll follow up the reading by making simple bracelets with my child to give away as gifts to friends and relatives.

A new book I just read to my third graders is Flowers from Mariko by Rick Noguchi and Deneen Jenks. It’s about a young Japanese American girl whose family struggles to resettle in Los Angeles after Camp. Along with Baseball Saved Us and The Bracelet, these three books make an excellent trilogy and have already helped my students learn about Camp through a child’s perspective.

Two other books I’ll refer to are Chris Aihara’s Nikkei Donburi: A Japanese American Cultural Survival Guide and Kids Explore America’s Japanese American Heritage by Westridge Young Writers Workshop for their hands-on activities and kid-friendly formats.

You also don’t have to use books specifically about Camp in order to teach about internment. For example, I’ll use Swimmy and the Japanese folktale, Momotaro to talk about cooperation and teamwork—just like the Redress Movement when people of many colors took a stand with Japanese Americans.

Point #2: Collect and create artwork about Camp
In our home, there are several pieces of art that deal with camp. There are "Day of Remembrance" posters and original paintings by Nisei artists, Hideo Kobashigawa and Jack Nakamura. Jenni even has a drift wood flower vase her grandfather carved while interned at Gila River, Arizona. Each of these items has a story behind it. Over time, by growing up around them, Jenni and I will make sure these stories are shared. But to stop there would be a mistake.
Because kids like drawing and painting, it’s a good starting point to connect their interests with larger political issues. Starting with the artwork on our walls, I’ll also expose them to the Camp art of Mine Okubo in Citizen 13660, and the great artists in The View From Within like Henry Sugimoto and George Hoshida. Then I’ll take them to visit Manzanar, J-Town and other places to draw and document our being there. I’ll frame their work and hang them in our home for everybody to see. Others will be given as gifts. I’ll stress that art is not only something beautiful, but a tool to educate others.

Point #3: Watch movies about Camp
There are some great videos about Camp, such as Days of Waiting, Something Strong Within, Dear Miss Breed, and the video/teachers’ version of The Bracelet. At the same time, many movies and TV shows can be problematic. I’m going to help my kids to watch movies and TV critically. To detect media bias, I’ll share one of my favorite past times, "talking back" to the screen. This means asking questions like: "Whose point of view is being told? "Who’s shown in a positive light and who’s not? and "What’s being left out? If something’s really racist or sexist, we’ll write the Networks a letter together.

Along with watching movies, I’ll also encourage them to create their own images with cameras, art supplies, puppets and more. Instead of being only passive consumers, kids need opportunities to get their hands busy expressing themselves. Instead of collecting Disney videos, we’ll make scrapbooks, home videos and a family webpage.

Point #4: Visit museums and Camp exhibits
Seven miles north of Manzanar, in the town of Independence is the Eastern California Museum. During the week of the Pilgrimage they expand their regular Manzanar collection. They’re committed to telling the story of Camp and this year had an excellent photo exhibit of Toyo Miyatake’s historic Camp photos.

The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in Los Angeles is another good resource for learning about Camp. Many of the docents and volunteers are former internees and are eager to share their experiences. My friend, Glen Kitayama curated their main exhibit about Japanese American history, Common Ground. I’ll invite "Uncle Glen" to give us a personal tour. The museum also has a neat computer database with WRA camp records.

Point #5: Go to community events about Camp
I’ll keep my eye out for any plays and programs about Camp. I’ll take my child to plays about Camp like 12-1-A and A Jive Bombers Christmas. We’ll also go to the annual Day of Remembrance program commemorating the February 19th signing of Executive Order 9066. All kids should learn about folks who’ve stood up for justice like those honored with NCRR’s Fighting Spirit Award. This is also a great place to find out the most current Redress information and how to get involved.

Point #6: Take children to the Manzanar Pilgrimage
Every family should go to at least one Manzanar Pilgrimage. It’s always on the last Saturday in April. Also consider going to the longer three day Tule Lake Pilgrimage in Northern California. It’s held every two years. Whenever you’re near an internment camp, make it a point to stop and visit. Many have plaques and monuments.

One way to make these sites kid-friendly is to take advantage of the natural surroundings. If your children are into animals, Manzanar’s wildlife is loaded with high desert plants and animals. One young boy at this year’s Pilgrimage said he didn’t listen to all the speeches because he spent most of his time walking around looking for snakes and lizards. That’s ok. It’s exactly the same things young internees did. At his age, it’s more important that he enjoy himself and want to come back.

As your child learns about Camp, help them share their findings with others. I’ll ask my child to invite a friend who she or he thinks would benefit from the Pilgrimage. I also plan on helping my child create a simple tag-board display about Camp that they can take to school for Show and Tell.

Point #7: Have dinner with a Camp survivor
Everyday, we lose valuable Camp stories. We all need to capture these before it’s too late. To help my son or daughter understand the concept of collecting oral histories, I’ll first interview them about their life. I’ll start with fun stuff like their favorite things, their most memorable day, and jokes and riddles. We’ll send copies to grandma and grandpa and make a big deal of it. Then I’ll play them some short segments of audio and videotape relatives who’ve passed away.

With a better understanding about oral histories, I’ll ask them to help me create a list of interview questions and topics. We’ll interview Jenni first, then move on to the rest of their relatives. To get them further involved, I’ll also ask them to help work the tape recorder or camera.

Next, I’ll move on to inviting a Nisei friend to share stories with us. The first time might be a comfortable dinner at an old Cantonese restaurant like Paul’s Kitchen. Once we have these stories, instead of them collecting dust on a shelf, I’ll help turn them into drawings, poems, and simple picture books. The idea is to get the information out to others.
Activities like these help children practice listening skills and asking good questions. They also learn that history isn’t something dead in the past, but is made up of people and places all around us.

Point #8: Go to Santa Anita Racetrack
While the government was building several of the concentration camps in 1942, it sent many families to what they called "Assembly Centers." Some of these centers were at racetracks. In Southern California, many people were sent Santa Anita Racetrack to live in horse stalls among the stench and filth. I’ll take my child to visit Santa Anita. We’ll pack some dim sum for lunch, play on the infield grass and I’ll make a few $2 bets. But before we leave, I’ll make sure we make our way towards the horse stalls so my son or daughter can see and smell what their grandparents and other relatives had to deal with.

Point #9 Become a Role Model: Join the fight for Redress and Reparations
If I had to choose only one teaching point, this would be it: getting involved in the on going fight for Redress and Reparations. While over 82,000 individuals have received Redress, many people are still fighting for their Presidential apology and token $20,000.

Begin in a way that’s comfortable for you. If you want, bring along a friend. We learn best in social settings. Look for ways to get the kids involved, but don’t wait for them to show interest first. If you lead, your children will watch and follow.

To start, begin visiting websites about Redress, such as www.ncrr-la.org. Go to a Day of Remembrance program. Invite a Redress speaker to your club, organization or place of worship. Volunteer your special skill or expertise. Donate and fundraise for Redress legal fees. Not only will you be a role model for your children, you’ll be doing your part in making this country more accountable and fair for all kids.

Point #10: _______________________________
I’ve purposely left #10 blank. Not because I’ve run out of ideas, but because the most meaningful answers are the ones you figure out for yourself. It’s your turn to teach others about Camp. A good education isn’t made up of standardized tests, it’s one that leads you to "think for yourself, see for yourself and act for yourself." This is what we needed in 1942. If enough Americans stood by Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor, the Camps could have been avoided. It’s too bad more people didn’t have the courage to protect America’s civil liberties for everyone. In our post 9/11 America, will we?

The only memory I have of my first Manzanar Pilgrimage is my mom making BLT sandwiches at 5 a.m. in the morning. When I asked her why she wasn’t putting on any mayonnaise she told me it might spoil because where we were going it got hot. It’s the only thing I remember, but it stuck with me. As a five-year-old, any place that got so hot it could mess up your food was a bad place.

With this in mind, don’t underestimate the impression the Manzanar Pilgrimage will have on your children. Go out and give NO MORE CaMPS ideas a try. Make it fun. Make it interesting. Turn them into your own family traditions.

Tony Osumi is a teacher at Wilton Place Elementary School.