The Legacy of Redress

The Japanese American community continues its effort to educate Americans about the mass incarceration of Americans. Every February 19—the anniversary of Executive Order 9066—the community observes a day of remembrance. The community’s work also led to the establishment of a national memorial near the U.S. Capitol.

The National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II honors the courage and loyalty of those whose civil rights were denied during the war. The memorial also honors the United States for admitting its error and issuing a formal apology to former inmates.

 

The Japanese American community is no longer alone in recognizing the injustices done during World War II. For education and for remembrance, the federal government has developed a series of programs and national historic sites where the camps once stood.

 

Entrance to the Manzanar camp in California, 1943
Ansel Adams, Courtesy of Library of Congress

 

Manzanar National Historic Site in California, part of the National Park Service, 2016
Courtesy of Frances Harvey Fisk