INTRODUCTION Even though World War II is seen, from an American perspective, as a heroic war in which the United States fought against fascism and for freedom and equality, the race relations in the United States did not reflect these noble goals. In this essay I aim to deconstruct the ways in which race relations in the United States perpetuated systemic racism and the unequal power systems that had been in place for many years. To discuss these points I specifically highlight the cases of Japanese Internment, Native American relations, and Jewish American relations with the United States government.
JAPANESE INTERNMENT Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the United States government began to discuss the potential threat that …show more content…
This choice seemed counterintuitive to many, based on the mass genocides that the the US government had committed in the past. Despite their feelings of anger, many Native Americans needed to enlist in the army. Their communities faced widespread poverty and the lack of jobs was a large incentive for draft-age males to join the Armed Forces (Takaki 367-368). The fact that many Native Americans were indirectly coerced into joining the army further shows that the relationship between the American government and the Native American peoples was, in no way, a symbiotic, healthy relationship. The stock reduction program put in place by the US government had resulted in the vast majority of Native Americans depending upon government wage income. Most of the jobs they could get were temporary government employment opportunities, lasting short periods of time and paying little (Takaki, 367). This poverty led many Native American men to feel as though the had no choice but to enlist so they could help their families and tribes
JAPANESE INTERNMENT Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the United States government began to discuss the potential threat that …show more content…
This choice seemed counterintuitive to many, based on the mass genocides that the the US government had committed in the past. Despite their feelings of anger, many Native Americans needed to enlist in the army. Their communities faced widespread poverty and the lack of jobs was a large incentive for draft-age males to join the Armed Forces (Takaki 367-368). The fact that many Native Americans were indirectly coerced into joining the army further shows that the relationship between the American government and the Native American peoples was, in no way, a symbiotic, healthy relationship. The stock reduction program put in place by the US government had resulted in the vast majority of Native Americans depending upon government wage income. Most of the jobs they could get were temporary government employment opportunities, lasting short periods of time and paying little (Takaki, 367). This poverty led many Native American men to feel as though the had no choice but to enlist so they could help their families and tribes