January 4, 1943. Fear is frequently used for political and economic gain as exemplified by the culmination of Japanese American citizens being imprisoned during WWII. Before being forced into an American prison camp my mother was living on Jackson Street in what had become known as LA’s Little Tokyo. The Japanese American citizen neighbors nearby owned prime downtown Los Angeles real estate and owned profitable businesses that would be greedily taken over by white Angelinos if the current owners could be pushed out of town or out of the state. My mother and her neighbors lost all of those possessions when they were imprisoned. Other Californians positioned themselves for office, including a soon to be Governor by fueling racist fears of loyal Japanese American citizens. Stoking fear is a powerful campaign tactic to get votes. Earl Warren was voted into office on a wave of anti Japanese sentiment he fueled in a successful political campaign for Governor of California taking office in Sacramento January 4, 1943.
In a World War II Era letter also signed by Dr. Ed Ricketts John Steinbeck Opposed the treatment of Japanese Amnerican citizens. He and the other letter signatures were taking a stand for the Constitutional rights of Japanese Americans facing racism and hatred for being loyal American citizens. But there were not enough voices supporting the Constitution to make a difference in a fear inspired racist movement.
