The bittersweet return of the Japanese American families, at the end of 1945, was back to what had previously been called “the exclusion area.” Their three main fears upon re-entry were: treatment of them as a foreign enemy, anxiety about their economic future, and that fire or police departments would be there for them if necessary. Some found their land had been guarded by good neighbors, others came back to burned homes, squatters living in them, or businesses sold. They knew racist slurs would be waiting for them upon their return.
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(Video Length: 14:07 Min.)