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American Fears and Bigotry Toward Japanese-Americans During WWII

American fears and bigotry can in fact be understood within the historical context of he WWII era. Tis is not to say that these characteristics of American culture during this time were forgivable, or even bearable for anyone living then, but the American psyche, which was gripped by fear during these tumultuous times, bears a resemblance to the fear-based psyche of America during the Red Scare or during the time of slavery.

America became involved in a struggle for survival after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. It was necessary for America to mount a military offensive to combat the push for Japanese imperialism. It was also necessary, or so it was thought at the time, to help alienate a specific group of people, the Japanese, out of fear they would retaliate within the U.S. homeland or become spies for a country they may be more loyal to. None of this was largely true in the end, but psychologically, Americans took the hatred, misunderstanding, and projectionist attitudes they held toward African-Americans before WWII and turned them on the Japanese.

In this light, the prejudice and bigotry can be better understood. Also, as America was attacked in a surprise victory at Pearl Harbor, it is easy to see that the average American was eager to strike back at a military enemy that was, for them on the homeland, beyond reach. However, the enemy they sought to destroy was projected upon the Japanese-Americans living in the U.S. during that time period. It was a sort of proxy fear that overcame American at a time when racial bigotry and alienation was already part of the social and cultural scene.

By desensitizing the American public toward bigoted and racially motivated attacks, the American population was able to achieve a victory at home as well as in the Pacific Theater. The hatred, favoritism, and racism that was once afforded to African-Americans was thrust upon the Japanese, as claims of murder and other outrageous actions were leveled against this population, as in the book, Snow Falling on Cedars. It would have been difficult not to get caught up in the mass panic and hysteria associated with this time given the fact that Americans identified as a largely white group of people and it was easy to physically differentiate between whites and Japanese.

This sort of behavior and scapegoating was the intellectual and cultural "easy way out" for many Americans looking for solace from the events taking place thousands of miles away, affecting the entire country. In the fog of war, as writer Barbre (2000) puts it, mistakes are made and generalizations are easily placed into existence. When Americans were confused and scared, they looked to the easiest form of comfort, the alienation of the outsider or the "other."

Sexual Projection and the Internment of the Japanese-Americans

Writer Renteln (1995) explores the role that sexual projection had in the dealing with Japanese-Americans in internment camps during WWII. This can be directly related to the themes within the book Snow Falling of Cedars due to the fact that Americans used their fear of the outsider (Japanese and Japanese-Americans) to project their own fears and misgivings about their sexuality and feelings of inadequacy. As author Renteln (1995) points out, much of the propaganda that was circulating during this time period is sexual in nature. This is to say it shows a stereotypical Japanese male taking advantage of a nude or otherwise extremely vulnerable white female. This same imagery was used as propaganda during the time of slavery and well into the 20 thcentury to drum up anti-African-American sentiment.