Desert Exile, by Yoshiko Uchida, describes how military strategists used families like her own to deter the United States from joining the war after the Japanese empire incited it. She takes the reader back to when her family first arrived in America to explain her tale understandably. The author integrates her personal experiences as a Japanese immigrant of the second generation who had to deal with the anti-Asian prejudice that prevailed in society at the time. However, most of her narrative focuses on her parents’ responses to the negative repercussions of being forced from home to a fighting camp. Uchida struggles with her identity as a Japanese American throughout the novel and the injustice of being taken from her home and detained merely because of her ancestry. The author ends her book by stating that she is proud to be a Japanese American despite her challenges. The essay will examine Uchida’s events at Tanforan and Topaz, her upbringing and family life, generational disparities among Japanese Americans, and the government and justice system that influenced her conclusion.
Uchida’s experience at Tanforan, the temporary camp where her family was initially detained, was chaotic and uncertain. In the book, Uchida reflects on the trauma of her family’s forced relocation and its long-term effect on her. Despite the poor circumstances of the barracks and the lack of privacy, Uchida found solace in the fact that her family could stay together. When the family was moved to Topaz, a more permanent camp in Utah, Uchida’s encounter was isolated and alienated. She battled to adjust to her new surroundings and find purpose. The author writes that she did not speak to any American as she was baffled, “Yoshi, aren’t you going to speak to me?” (Uchida, 2015, p.56). The author’s incidences at Tanforan aided her comprehension of the injustices encountered by Japanese Americans during World War II and her commitment to fighting for justice and equality.
Uchida’s upbringing and family life influenced her choice to declare her pride in being a Japanese American. Uchida was born to Japanese immigrant parents in Berkeley, California, in 1929. Her father was a well-known doctor, and her mother was a housewife. Her parents were Japanese immigrants, and Uchida characterizes them as proud of their Japanese heritage. The family resided in a comfortable middle-class neighborhood but was subjected to discrimination and racism from the larger American society (Uchida, 2015). Uchida’s parents instilled a strong sense of pride in her Japanese ancestry. They taught her the Japanese language and culture and encouraged her to accept her Japanese American identity. Uchida’s upbringing taught her to be proud of her Japanese ancestry while acknowledging her American citizenship. Uchida acquired a strong sense of identity as a Japanese American due to her upbringing and family. She subsequently rose to prominence as a writer, artist, and activist, and her work frequently addressed issues of Japanese American identity and history. Uchida was able to honor her heritage and interact with others who shared similar experiences by proclaiming her pride in being a Japanese American.
Japanese Americans’ generational differences emphasize the complexities of identity and how it evolves. Uchida’s parents, both Japanese immigrants, had a different experience in the internment camps than their children. Uchida’s parents were more traditional in their views of Japanese society, and they stuck to their old ways. They were more open to the internment camp experience, whereas Uchida and her siblings were eager to integrate into American society. Uchida states that she would be embraced when the mother behaves in an American manner. “Come on, Mama,” I would interrupt, tugging at her sleeve. “Let’s go,” I would urge, trying to terminate the extended exchange of amenities (Uchida, 2015, p.58). The parents were proud of their lineage and eager to return to Japan after the war, whereas Uchida and her siblings desired to start a new life in America. Uchida’s story demonstrates how her parents’ traditional views of their Japanese heritage clashed with the younger generations’ wish to blend into American culture. This generational conflict shaped Japanese American identity and impacted how they see themselves. Uchida’s journey from internment camp to proud American citizen exemplifies the power of generational differences in shaping and influencing society.
Another critical theme in Uchida’s book is the function of the government and the justice system. Uchida discusses how racial prejudice and dread influenced the government’s actions during World War Two. Although most Japanese Americans were loyal Americans, they were rounded up and detained solely because of their ancestry. Uchida writes, “Let’s leave the porch light on and the screen door unlatched,” Mama said hopefully. “Maybe Papa will be back later tonight.” (Uchida, 2015, p.62). The US government and justice system had failed Japanese Americans in many aspects. It included the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II —, denial of citizenship and other civil rights, and failure to provide sufficient compensation for Japanese Americans’ losses. Despite these failures, Uchida finds solace in the fact that the government and justice system have given Japanese Americans a foundation of faith and hope.
In conclusion, Yoshiko Uchida’s experiences at Tanforan and Topaz and her upbringing and family life all added to her proud declaration of being a Japanese American. Uchida’s experiences have emphasized generational differences among Japanese Americans and her and her family’s strength and resilience. Uchida’s tale exemplifies the strength and determination of Japanese American immigrants and their descendants, as well as their struggle and achievement. Uchida’s story reminds us of the importance of understanding all people’s experiences and celebrating our identities, no matter how complicated.
Reference
Uchida, Y. (2015). Desert exile: The uprooting of a Japanese American family, (2nd). The University of Washington Press.