When The Emperor Was Divine
This book shook me. When I put down the book I felt like no words could escape my mouth. I felt the weight of thousands of people who were locked away and the weight of memories that those people carry around.
There are a lot of messed up aspects about this situation
- The locations that the prison camps were in the harshest weather conditions
- The people were not treated like humans
- Mental health was not considered at all
- The amount of untruths and racism that was internalized by the people who were kept in the internment camps is unreal and has impacts today
- The amount of wealth that was lost through property and jobs
Field Trip to Tacoma
Tacoma Art Museum, Washington State History Museum, and the Chinese Reconciliation Park
I was so impressed with Takuichi Fujii and his exhibit. Not only is the exhibit important as a historical recording, I also am inspired by his artistic style.
It was really cool to see Zhi LIN’s exhibit and the process behind his work with how much research he did for the project and the intention behind the process.
During our lunch hour, I sat in an area with grassy fields and some benches. There was a plaque that told the history of the Japanese language school that 300 students went to after attending public school. It shared how the principal of this school was a leader in the community and went straight into serving in the war and was killed. It told of how where the building was, the University of Washington bought it and made their Tacoma campus there. I wonder if they mention that at large events.
The Chinese Reconciliation Park brought up complicated feelings. I feel frustrated because it feels like the park is a place for white people to feel good about themselves. I don’t think it reflects the true atrocity that occurred when Chinese people were forced out of town, some of them leaving right after the Chinese exclusion act was posted and some being fought out of town.
The website does go into more detail about what happened but I feel like the information in the park does not go into enough detail. Also, my impression is that Chinese Americans were not included in the process of how the park was going to be laid out and what information should be posted or what should happen in the park. Therefore, it doesn’t feel like true reconciliation because its not two parties coming together to make something right. It is the white people who made the offense and the white people taking responsibility in a way by spreading the word of what happened.
I would like to know more information about this event in Tacoma and the experiences all over the country when the Chinese Exclusion Act was set into motion because I haven’t heard of what happened to these people once they were sent back to China. How were they greeted, did they have families to return to, etc.
Writing Workshop
This weeks writing workshop pointed out how I am in a process to practice how to be more confident with my writing and the stories that I have to share.