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Being Confused about Racial Identity in Postwar United States

You’re – I’m American, but I was – for years, you know, you wonder. I remember when I got out of camp, then I – when I was going off to school, still, even though it was a few years after – and then I went down South, I didn’t know at first, “Which bathroom am I supposed to go into?” One is for “White,” one is for “Black,” and I thought, “I’m not white, I’m not black, but, you know, during the war, I’m Japanese, I was put into camp. Maybe I should go into the black one.” It was – I don’t remember which one I went into. I know that it was – every time I saw that, I thought, “I really don’t know which one I’m really supposed to go into.”


postwar racism United States World War II

Date: November 8, 2018

Location: California, US

Interviewer: June Berk

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Takayo Fischer, born in November 1932, is a Nisei American stage, film, and TV actress. During World War II, as a young child, she and her family were forcibly evacuated from the West Coast and spent time in the Fresno Assembly Center before being relocated to Jerome and Rohwer concentration camps. Fischer later lived in Chicago, Illinois, where, as a young adult, she won the crown of “Miss Nisei Queen.” She has appeared in dozens of major Hollywood films, including Moneyball (2011), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), and Memoirs of a Geisha (2005). She also appeared in the stage production of The World of Suzie Wong in New York in 1958 and many productions with East West Players in Los Angeles. (June 2018)

Alfredo Kato
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Alfredo Kato

Stereotypes about Japanese: past and present (Spanish)

(b. 1937) Professional journalist

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George Katsumi Yuzawa
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George Katsumi Yuzawa

First impression of New York City during war time

(1915 - 2011) Nisei florist who resettled in New York City after WW II. Active in Japanese American civil rights movement

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PJ Hirabayashi
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PJ Hirabayashi

Experiencing discrimination as a child

Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko

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Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
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Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

The only Japanese family in Ocean Park

(b. 1934) Writer

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Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
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Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

Trick in developing the film

(b. 1934) Writer

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Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
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Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

Racism doesn't end

(b. 1934) Writer

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Mónica Kogiso
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Mónica Kogiso

Identity crisis (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

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Aiko Yoshinaga Herzig
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Aiko Yoshinaga Herzig

World War II hysteria against Japanese in New York City

(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist

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Aiko Yoshinaga Herzig
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Aiko Yoshinaga Herzig

Positive experiences with Asian Americans for Action

(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist

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Jack Herzig
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Jack Herzig

His testimony has more credibility because of his race

(1922 - 2005) Former U.S. Army counterintelligence officer

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Vince Ota
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Vince Ota

Different tension between East Coast and Los Angeles

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

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Francis Y. Sogi
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Francis Y. Sogi

Being an American soldier and an "enemy alien"

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

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Francis Y. Sogi
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Francis Y. Sogi

Not relating to Japan Americans' experiences on the mainland

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

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Bert A. Kobayashi
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Bert A. Kobayashi

Postwar discrimination

(b.1944) Founder of Kobayashi Group, LLC

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Bert A. Kobayashi
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Bert A. Kobayashi

Less information about Hawai‘i in mainland

(b.1944) Founder of Kobayashi Group, LLC

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