In Obasan, Joy Kogawa highlights the emotional trauma that came with the decision by the Canadian government under Prime Minister Mackenzie King to intern immigrants of Japanese ancestry, even if they held Canadian citizenship. Kogawa is able to convey her points with usage of flashbacks to the period between 1941 and 1949, when the interment took place while the main setting of the story takes place in 1972. The fact that the main storyline takes place in 1972 and the book was published in 1981 underlines the fact that in the 1970s and 1980s, these issues had become a larger point of focus in Canadian society, especially because Canada did not have a true sense of national identity in how it viewed itself. Overall, the novel reveals much about …show more content…
Very early in the novel, it states, “Uncle could be Chief Sitting Bull squatting here. He has the same prairie baked skin, the deep brown furrows like dry river beds creasing his cheeks. All he needs is a feather headdress, and he would be perfect for a picture postcard - 'Indian Chief from Canadian Prairie' - souvenir of Alberta, made in Japan.” (Kogawa 2) Prior to when the internment began after Japan’s attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Canada had clearly gained a reputation as a diverse nation that was heavily accepting of various minorities. However, with the government of Mackenzie King’s decision to undergo these interments between 1941 and 1949, it is exceptionally clear that this reputation had been shattered, especially with his decision to deport many citizens to occupied Japan starting in 1946. Rao also notes, “The novel in fact problematizes the discourses of ‘official multiculturalism’ which sanctioned Canada as a 'cultural mosaic,' and underscores how in actual fact such policy glossed over the centrality of race in multicultural Canada. Multiculturalism simply ignored ethnicity and it was used to strengthen the dominance of Canada's two major cultures.” (Rao 2004) Basically, Canada’s multicultural society …show more content…
Kogawa makes it clear to the novel’s readers that this question must be asked when it comes to the actions the Canadian government undertook: with all of the horrible events that took place in these internment camps in Slocan and other Canadian towns, was the pain and the suffering worth it over a war? Given the fact that Obasan is a semi-autobiographical work, it transpires in the minds of readers that these unfortunate, unthinkable actions were very likely ones Joy Kogawa had to deal with in her own life, when her own family was interned at Slocan in British Columbia. Through this, and with how racism and prejudice are rarely associated at all with Canada as a nation, it truly begs the question of whether or not even implicit racism can be found in any country or region, and just how those attitudes can seethe in any society at any given point of time, particularly if a major event provokes such a
He pushed an ambitious agenda promoting industries, building railways and opening the west to immigrants from Europe. With that Canada started its way to multiculturalism. However, this plan didn’t present equal opportunities for immigrants. British people got jobs before others, and immigration threatened the survival of the natives.
After the bombings occurred the Canadian government assumed that the Japanese living in Canada were loyal to Japan, which could can negatively affect Canada. If this event would have happened in the in the past 35 years it
Obasan written by Joy Kogawa is a moving novel translating the silence breaching upon the Japanese Canadians during the late 1940s. Obasan is a novel that looks back towards the discrimination and prejudice through the hidden Canadian History. The perspective of the story is told in first person of the main character, Naomi. Kogawa’s literary style brings life to characters such as naomi, describing her experience of silence and cultural separation with just only words. Living through first perspective not only reveals detailed imagery of the surrounding, but the beliefs, thoughts and fears of Naomi.
However, Aya’s attempts to cover up the house’s dejected color of grey with “an oilcloth with a bold orange design and tiny daisies and blue flowers” are futile, since Stephen remains focused on how “brambles and vines are clinging to his pant leg” (Kogawa 145). Aya’s attempt to create a brighter environment cannot assuage Stephen. His negativity consumes him to the point of physical and mental injury, as he walks around with a limp, “cracked and surly” (Kogawa 136). Obasan’s endeavours exemplify how it is possible to create the illusion of peace to the outside world despite underlying discrimination. Kogawa uses Naomi’s near-drowning experience to say that Japanese-Canadian citizens “must leap” as Naomi does (Kogawa 175).
3) Japs keep on moving: WRITE UP: Immediately after the Pearl Harbour attack, the Canadian Federal Government overnment feared that the Japanese Canadians could I as spies for Japan. Prejudices against their culture grew due public pressure. Thus, Japanese Internment camps were created to house these citizens during World War 2. At the time, there was no human right legislation to protect people from discrimination.
The application from the essay “ As Canadian As Possible Under the Circumstances” by Linda Hutcheon and the poem “I’m not the Indian you had in mind” by Thomas King shows in the aspects of the history, culture and tone side of things The talk of history shows relevance because it is significant in the importance of how Canadians act today. In the poem it talks about the progress they make towards reconciliation but then fall back and go backwards, “seven forward, seven back” (King). The author Thomas King portrays very important thoughts in the poem about residential schools and how that has affected how people act today. The way that that the government has acted against indigenous groups “The Oka guy, remember me? Ipperwash, Wounded Knee” (King lines 86-87) an example being the Oka Crisis
Another defining moment for Canada was the shameful Japanese internment in 1942. When the Japanese bombed pearl harbour in December 1941 it started a massive outbreak of racism against The Japanese. Unfortunately this included the Japanese Canadians who had nothing to do with the attack on pearl harbour, and were legally Canadian citizens,some of which even born in Canada. Anyone who was Japanese or Japanese Canadian was sent to one of the many Internment camps inland British Columbia. These internment camps were in ghost towns, or old fairgrounds that were nowhere close to even decent living conditions.
Sandhu Edition The Japanese Canadian Internment was a horrible time for Japanese Canadians because they were considered dangerous and spies. Why? It was because the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor. This was a significant event because the Japanese weren 't treated good and were forced to leave their homes, property, etc.
Walker discussion of the division of racial battalions in World War 1, also creates the concept of just how devalued the blacks, Japanese and Indians were during this time and how being white meant power and bravery during the war. These examples that Walker gives help build on the previous assumptions that World War 1 did not create racism, but enforced racism that was already happening within the Canadian
Kogawa, Joy. Obasan. Toronto: Penguin Group, 1983 The novel Obasan by Joy Kogawa center around the memories of Naomi Nakane, a Canadian of Japanese descent growing up during the internment in Canada. The story begins with Naomi, a 36 year old school teacher in the town of Cecil, Alberta.
Tony Ruan Tobias Kenny NBE301 June 10, 2023 The Canadian Government's Injustice through the legal system against Indigenous communities In the ongoing struggle for justice and equality, the broken promises and discriminatory actions of the Canadian government against Indigenous peoples reveal a dark truth - a pattern of betrayal that perpetuates systemic injustice and displaces FNMI (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Initiatives) communities from their rightful place in society. The Canadian government has consistently demonstrated a pattern of signing legal contracts with Aboriginal peoples, only to undermine the agreements later, disregard their terms, or impose restrictive measures.
1941 was the year where WW2, japan and the U.S fought canada’s population. For 70 years prior to WW2 there was an anti-asian sentiment which meant that we were unwanted in canada which was devastating. Asians were paid lower wages but worked longer hours, that meant that there were fewer jobs for us and it made life harder to live in canada. The reason behind the interment was because Japan attacked pearl harbor on December 7th, 1941 hawaii on december 18th and lastly they attacked hong kong, 2000 canadian soldiers died. This impacted japanese-canadians because they were put on a “protected area” that was 100 miles inland from pacific ocean.
This article seeks to depict the hardship that Japanese Canadian women had to endure, during the World War II in Canadian interment camps and after the World War, by analyzing her personal memory, personal mails that some Japanese Canadian women sent to their loved ones and relatives, and oral testimonies of interned Japanese Canadian women during the World War II. After the Pearl Harbor incident, according to the War Measure Act, all Japanese people were removed from they homes to interment camps in interior B.C.; This resulted in many family breaks ups and hardships on women to raise their family. This Act resulted in loss of national identity and culture of naturalized Japanese Canadians. Many Japanese Canadian women became subjected labor hardship and sexual harassments. After the War Canadian Japanese people had to choose between repatriation and relocation to east of
In Obasan, although many characters try to forget their past, characters like Aunt Emily give the Japanese-Canadians hope. Her hard work and perseverance for her heritage lead to true results. People like her formed the Co-operative Committee of Japanese Canadians who sent a formal appeal that stated, “the deportation of Canadians of Japanese racial origin are wrong and indefensible . . .” (Kogawa 297). This appeal lead to reinstatement of citizenship for Japanese-Canadians and a formal apology from the Canadian government.
The phrase, “You never hear anything bad about Canada” as mentioned in one of Arthur Black’s personal essays, is fortunately the unfortunate truth about this country. We’ve gained a reputation over the years for being an accommodating population willing to accept just about anyone into our country with open arms and now we’re forced to maintain it. This reputation makes Canada a prime destination, a land of opportunities, as many immigrants call it, for individuals all around the world wanting to start a new life. I don’t know if it is to repent for or to cover up for our long and dark past of forced assimilations, but we have become so humble and placid with time that it is actually becoming detrimental for us as a country. The majority of our population are or once were immigrants, so great importance and attention is given to make the transition from newcomers to Canadian citizens easier for our new neighbours.