7.3: They Sent Us to Camp: My Family's Experience of Internment During WWII
If you meet a Japanese American, it’s also a pretty good bet, they probably won’t spontaneously start talking about what they or their family went through, how they feel about it, and how they or their family recovered from the ordeal.
I (Christina) wanted to rectify that by sitting down with my old friend Chie Furuya, whose parents (as tiny children), grandparents, and other family members were “sent to camp”, to ask her about it. The answers and stories she had for me were both fascinating and unexpectedly heartening. Her people are a resilient, cheerful people and I feel like there are life lessons for all of us here, in terms of withstanding and recovering from severe injustice (and coming out on top).
Ariel’s addition to this episode description is to point out that Japanese internment occurred in Canada in the early 20th century as well. We (by which she means Canada, or perhaps so-called Canada, as she likes to call it) aren't some bastion of anti-racism and tolerant plurality (if we ever were). Check out our blog post for links for further edification if you are interested or want to know more about the Canadian side of the story.
https://youtu.be/nI3FJIJNkak
![The image shows an interior space with exposed wooden beams and rafters on the ceiling, creating a rustic atmosphere. Dominating the center of the room is a large industrial pipe system attached to two vertical metal supports that resemble pillars. The pipes appear to be part of some mechanical or ventilation apparatus.
In front of this setup sits a vintage wood-burning stove on its legs with an open door and visible ash inside, suggesting it hasn't been used recently. To the right stands a wooden barrel resting on a platform, possibly for storage purposes. Next to the stool is another smaller barrel that seems to be in disrepair.
In the foreground, there's a young child sitting beside one of these barrels. The child appears contemplative and somewhat distant from their surroundings, adding an emotional layer to this otherwise utilitarian space.
The overall scene evokes a sense of nostalgia for simpler times or perhaps hints at abandonment due to its unkempt state. This photograph is part of the collection titled "Stoves in former country church now used as residence," which suggests that what once was likely a communal and social building has been repurposed, with some elements still retaining their historical significance.
The black-and-white nature of the photo enhances its vintage feel and focuses on textures rather than colors. The image is credited to Dorothea Lange (1895–1965), an American photographer known f [...]](https://mastodon.ozioso.online/system/media_attachments/files/113/959/054/232/866/266/original/2e6d9b4f467c8f1f.jpeg "The image shows an interior space with exposed wooden beams and rafters on the ceiling, creating a rustic atmosphere. Dominating the center of the room is a large industrial pipe system attached to two vertical metal supports that resemble pillars. The pipes appear to be part of some mechanical or ventilation apparatus.
In front of this setup sits a vintage wood-burning stove on its legs with an open door and visible ash inside, suggesting it hasn't been used recently. To the right stands a wooden barrel resting on a platform, possibly for storage purposes. Next to the stool is another smaller barrel that seems to be in disrepair.
In the foreground, there's a young child sitting beside one of these barrels. The child appears contemplative and somewhat distant from their surroundings, adding an emotional layer to this otherwise utilitarian space.
The overall scene evokes a sense of nostalgia for simpler times or perhaps hints at abandonment due to its unkempt state. This photograph is part of the collection titled \"Stoves in former country church now used as residence,\" which suggests that what once was likely a communal and social building has been repurposed, with some elements still retaining their historical significance.
The black-and-white nature of the photo enhances its vintage feel and focuses on textures rather than colors. The image is credited to Dorothea Lange (1895–1965), an American photographer known f [...]")
