Too Little, Too Late?: Japanese Americans' Views on Redress and Reparations

Abstract

Japanese American incarceration in World War II was recognized through redress and reparations, which was the approval and dispersion of a government-endorsed apology and twenty thousand dollars. Post-war interviews of the incarcerated Japanese Americans contain their reactions regarding redress and reparations. From these interviews, three categories of responses emerged: approving both the apology and money, approving only of the apology, and disapproving of both the apology and money. My research reveals the reactions to redress and reparations found in Japanese Americans’ responses center around the amount of money, the recognition from the government through the apology, and historical significance. Some of the sentiments are either more positive or negative if an interviewee was involved with the redress efforts, but no concrete formula for responses emerged. I also consider the implications of redress for other, similarly affected people groups, and what precedent the Japanese Americans’ reactions sets for similar scenarios.