Asian American Discrimination During and After WWII

Kevin George

 Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation
College: College of Liberal Arts
Major: English Writing
Faculty Research Mentor: Sarah Coykendall
 

Abstract:

The treatment of Asian Americans has oscillated throughout the history of the United States. During WWII, Asian Americans faced persistent and systemic racism despite their contributions to the war effort and broader U.S. society. A major contributor to anti-Asian sentiment was President Franklin Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066, which forced thousands of Japanese Americans into internment camps. This research will discuss the social, economical and political barriers that Asian American people encountered due to American isolationism and xenophobic attitudes fueled by wartime propaganda and nativism in the United States.One such person was Josefina Guerrero, who despite her efforts to provide valuable intel to the Allies, was still nearly deported from the United States after moving to Carville, Louisiana. By highlighting the consequences of Executive Order 9066 and Guerro’s personal narrative, this research will explore the long-term impact of postwar discrimination against Asian Americans in the United States and its implications for contemporary discussions on race and equity in the United States.