The dark story of the concentration camps in the United States during World War II

The historic episode of World War II in which Japanese-Americans were interned in concentration camps in the United States is a dark and sad story of discrimination and prejudice. During World War II, the United States government interned more than 120,000 Japanese and their descendants, including men, women, and children, in concentration camps across the country.

In 1941, the United States went to war with Japan, and many American citizens of Japanese descent were subsequently subjected to discrimination and unfair treatment . Despite the fact that many Japanese-Americans had no connection to the attack and were loyal citizens of the United States , they were labeled as enemies and considered a possible threat. Even if they were Japanese citizens, there was no social or legal justification for such action; that was perceived even more serious later, considering the contrasting treatment that there was with the German and Italian population in the United States during that same period. The social connotation was that people of German and Italian origin were white, so it would be wrong to treat them that way, while people of Japanese origin were considered racially inferior .

In February 1942, United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 , which authorized the internment of Japanese people and their descendants in concentration camps . Their property was confiscated, they were forced to sell their homes and belongings, and they were transferred to internment camps in remote and desert locations.

In the concentration camps, the conditions were terrible. Families were crammed into wooden barracks and were given a minimal amount of food. Living conditions were harsh and illnesses were common due to lack of hygiene and medical care. Prisoners in these concentration camps had to endure extreme weather, lack of privacy, and humiliation.

The internment camps were finally closed in 1945 after Japan surrendered in World War II.

At present, the episode of these concentration camps is considered a shame in the history of the United States . And although the United States government officially apologized for the internment of Japanese-Americans in 1988 ( though it did not apologize for illegally imprisoning Japanese citizens in the United States ) and awarded them financial compensation, the seriousness of their acts and misconduct exposure of the historical fact, are the cause of indignation in large sectors of the population .

It is important to remember this episode in history to ensure that it is never repeated. Discrimination and prejudice are dangerous and should never be tolerated. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental values of our society and we must work together to defend them.