Despite the country's anti-Japanese sentiment, a few non-Japanese did reach out to assist and help Japanese Americans. Before being interned, some families left their cars and other valuables with their neighbors. Others were surprised by the unusual kindness of their Caucasian acquaintances during internment.

"The only visitor I had in the year and a half I was in camp; Dr. Edwards. And you know I appreciated what he did (recommending Dr. Oda to a Medical School) and I said, Dr. Edwards came all the way out to Manzanar and my daughter said, “Mom do you realize he was jeopardizing his own position by coming out to see you?” And I didn’t realize that, and she said, “Gee, he really went out of his way to see you.” Because he must of felt bad that I was in camp, that we were all in camp, all of us Japanese were in camp and he must have sensed that it wasn’t right either."

~ Mary Oda
--
Takeuchi girls, circa 1955

Image Contributed by: Ritsuo Takeuchi

Names of people:

Date: circa 1955

Place: Judd Street,

Photograph by:

Original Photo size:

Description:

© California State University, Northridge 2008

For more information about this project, please contact:

Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966

Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com