1942 5 27 Letter from Chiz to Kay

1942 5 27 Letter from Chiz to Kay

Chiz writes about her new life, after a month of living in Tanforan. Needs such as garbage collection and brooms are not being met because the inmates cannot talk to the administration in a meaningful way. She writes, “We are constantly aware of this regimentation and regulation and our feeling is that of confinement and held as sort of prisoner for no other crime than that we were unfortunately of Japanese descent...

As an American, I revolt because it was my understand ing that we were sacrificing our homes, our life, that we had worked and planned for our children and ourselves- as a patriotic duty. Evacuating for military reason- and all such reasons which I question now. I challenge any American to stack up their record against any of us and see if we hadn’t been as good or better Americans in deed and to think today- we and our children (3rd and 4th gen. Amer.- who have to live in this country after the mess is over) have to be confined to concentration camps. If we are to really be victorious- fighting for the preservation of democracy and our way of life, we had better review the constitutionality of all this right here in the U.S.A. If we feel this way now- I wonder how we shall feel two years –or 3 yrs hence. Really, Kay, when I see small children and growing youngsters- I can’t stand this life.”

Chiz Kitow

May 27, 1942

English

Letter

Tanforan Assembly Center
May 27th 1942

My dear,
This actually the first letter I am writing since we came here. We have appreciated getting your notes - cards, etc as you went along and we have followed your trip with real pleasure and interest - we hope that you'll be returning refreshed and "re-created."

I've done a great deal of thinking since we came here and after nearly a month in mid "new life" - I find it terribly discouraging. Conditions in some way have improved for example _ _ school nursery schools have been started and from this past Monday 6-8 yr olds are having classroom activity from 8:45 am - 11:30 am daily. It consists of community singing - Americanization and group plan activity - mostly - some books (texts from Alameda Co. school system) crayolls - pencils and paper we’re expected – so as the supplies come in the children will have more to work with. Next Wednesday - 8-12 yr olds will be taken care of also. Mr. Kilpatrick in charge of the Education Program has been working very hard and has been most helpful- altho' interested folks here at camp have done their part in putting this thing over. I am praying that this one thing will really function and work out since it is about the only program that seems to be making headway. Recreation has many beautiful plans and they've been starting many things - but without any funds (the administration apparently has given us the satisfaction in answering this particular need) it is likely that we cannot do much more than carry on with what we actually have bro't into camp ourselves in the way of equipment. We had a "Town Hall" meeting tonite and representative people who have been responsible for camp functioning - e.g., Kunitani - employment (his dept stinks) excuse this expression Henry Takahashi - advisory Bd – Toby Ogawa, Hse mgr. Rev. Tsukamoto, Religious -Fred Koba - Recreations spoke on a panel- It seemed that the big reason why we cannot get any results or to make any changes is due to a bottleneck caused by the Tanforan administration. The milk problem- the canteen problem - the diet and menu problem, the lack of sufficient laundry - bathing and toilet facilities, etc., etc. - the chief and biggest worry is that we have really no self government - the administration controls all of our liberties to the extent where everything is actually limited to their dictates. Of course - we realize that some of it is necessary - but where house managers, advisory board, and individuals making requests as to simple necessities and improvements concerning for example, picking up garbage, supplies (brooms, mops and such) and so many small but everyday needs. We can only requisition or put in a complaint - but it takes weeks before they are even taken care of. We cannot meet - speak to any size group or do anything without consent of the administration. The okay for the Town Hall meeting came 6 p.m. tonite and meeting was held at 7:30 p.m. - but all the details and preparations were made ahead - so we were able to get together on short notice. We are constantly aware of this regimentation (7) and regulation and our feeling is that of
confinement and held as sort of prisoner for no other crime than that we were unfortunately of Japanese descent. We can have educational, recreational, church and all such programs but they will of no avail if we cannot practice and live as free people. Americanization and the American way of life will have no meaning unless our administrators make those ways possible to us. Unfortunately they are not consulting us and trying to understand our problems - by mutual discussion - they make rules by the administration heads which are all people on outside - not one representative from our own group.

One inhumane incident occurred yesterday. A mother of five children - dying - and members of family could not see her as they had too much red tape to wade thru. While the administrative heads were considering whether the family should be allowed to visit their mother - she passed away. None of them knew whether they could notify relatives on outside after the tragic incidence occurred. As it happens the hospital is only a 20 minute ride away from Tanforan. The family was notified about 3 hrs prior to her death - you can see what bitterness this sort of thing creates. I simply cannot sleep nights thinking of the injustice of everything.

As an American, I revolt because it was my understanding that we were sacrificing our homes, our life, that we had worked and planned for our children and ourselves – as a patriotic duty.

Evacuating for military reason - and all such reasons which I question now. I challenge any American to stack up their record against any of us and see if we hadn’t been as good or better Americans in deed and to think today - we and our children (3rd and 4th gen. Amer. - who have to live in this country after the mess is over) have to be confined in concentration camps. If we are to really be victorious - fighting for the preservation of democracy and our way of life, we had better review the constitutionality of all this right here in the U.S.A. If we feel this Way now- I wonder how we shall feel two years - or 3 yrs. hence. Really, Kay, when I see small children and growing youngsters - I can't stand this life.

Asides, I have been tied up working at hospital. My job is teaching and training aides (nurses’). I have a class of 20 [20 (incl 2 boys) just now and it really is full time job. I put in from 6-8 hrs. daily and I have been tired ever since I came here because I have no time to really relax. After 2 more units are open at hospital these folks will be employed but it is so difficult trying to manage with so many handicaps. I'll tell you about it when you return.

I only wrote this to make a few requests but I've gone off on a tangent because that's the way my mind functions.

Please buy Kiks some books (2 or 3) 2nd grade level-

Some little present for Tom's birthday.