Korematsu's Story
"I went to grammar school, junior high and high school in East Oakland. During my free time, I helped my dad in the nursery. In school, I learned about the Constitution and the concept of equal rights. But Asian immigrants weren't treated "equally," they were recognized as foreigners and couldn't own land or apply for citizenship." - Fred Korematsu
Fred Korematsu was living in Oakland, CA when he and his family received a military order on March 27, 1942. Korematsu's family took their belongings and moved to the Tanforan Assembly Center while Korematsu stayed behind. He obtained a fake ID under the name of Clyde Sarah, a Spaniard, and got minor plastic surgery on his eyes to avoid being recognized as Japanese.
"I had to be careful wherever I went. They refused to serve me whenever I went to a restaurant. I couldn't even get a haircut. In order to go to a place where I was welcome, I had to go to Chinatown." - Fred Korematsu
On May 30, 1942, Korematsu was in San Leandro to meet his girlfriend. While he was waiting, he was questioned whether he had seen any Japanese by the police. They asked for his ID and found a flaw that he couldn't speak Spanish. He was arrested. Soon newspaper headlines said "Two Bay Japs Evade Evacuation; Captured," "One Tried to Become Spaniard by Plastic Surgery," and "Jap Spy Arrested in San Leandro."
"All of them turned their backs on me at that time because they thought I was a troublemaker." - Fred Korematsu
Mr. Korematsu's Personal Recollection, from Of Civil Wrongs and Rights
|
|