More Than Incarceration: Critical Reflections of Fourth- and Fifth-Generation Japanese Americans on Education

• In Event: Moving Critical Asian American Studies Into the Forefront of K–12 Education

Abstract

Japanese Americans (JAs) have a deeply-rooted, multigenerational history rife with racism in the US that extends back over 100 years. JA history and K-16 educational experiences are highlighted through this qualitative study on fourth and fifth Japanese Americans (JA) adults. Stories are interwoven between family, school, and history-- with results highlighting a greater need to teach JA history in all K-12 classrooms. Further, intergenerational trauma endured as a result of family incarceration during World War II, post-war resettlement, and redress, attest to the ways educators can improve their classroom curriculum to be more inclusive of Asian Americans and acknowledge the historical diversity of multigenerational groups. Such student experiences are shown to have a lifelong impact on identity development.

Author

• Lorine Erika Saito, University of Massachusetts Global