On German Americans: "Those who come hither are generally of the most ignorant stupid sort of their own Nation…and as few of the English understand the German Language, and so cannot address them either from the Press or Pulpit,” –Benjamin Franklin (1726)
Comparing Native Americans with wolves: “Both being beast of prey, tho’ they differ in shape.” –George Washington (1783)
On American Mormons: "the Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State." –Lilburn Boggs (1838)
On Irish Americans: “The name ‘Irish’ has become identified in the minds of many, with almost every species of outlawry,” –The Catholic Telegraph of Cincinnati (1853)
On American Jews: "The Israelites especially should be kept out…they are such an intolerable nuisance." –Ulysses S. Grant (1862)
On Chinese Americans: "[they are] an element ignorant of our constitution and laws, impossible of assimilation with our people and dangerous to our peace and welfare.” –Grover Cleveland (1888)
On African Americans: “In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” –George Wallace (1963)
The above cartoon illustrates the “America First” attitude that still exists today, both abroad and within our own borders.
When Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan in December of 1941, the United States, despite its predominantly isolationist attitude, entered the largest war in history, with little to no political opposition. Feelings for the Japanese quickly turned negative, and while the government launched a military offensive against the German and Japanese armies, a fear of those of Japanese descent led to a social reformation. While Americans saw Hitler as an enemy, that target was not necessarily extended to German-Americans, but this was not the case for the Japanese. The U.S. government immediately turned on the Japanese-Americans living in the U.S., forcing them into internment camps and banning them from many public arenas. These people faced harsh discrimination; branded as spies by the general population, their freedoms were quickly restricted under the façade of being “protected” by those who would seek their lives in retribution for the attack. They were forced to remain in these camps, separated from friends, family, and lifestyle for the duration of the war. Today, this kind of blatant racism seems archaic to us as Americans, but the reality is reparations for this intolerance weren’t even addressed until 1992, and that today a very similar situation is occurring within our country’s borders, as Arabs in America are victims of the same kind of discrimination. After the plane hijackings and attacks on September 11, 2001. President George W. Bush led the United States into a “War on Terror” and invaded Afghanistan. Overnight, Arabs in America became instant targets for scorn and hate crimes, and this discrimination is still widely apparent. In fact, according to a survey by Cornell University, almost half of all Americans believe that Muslims should have restricted civil liberties. Arabs continue to be stereotyped as radical Muslims and terrorists in the same way that the Japanese were stereotyped as spies and Axis-supporters.
Team Member Name: Heather Foster
Publication: PM
Date: March 5, 1942
Cartoonist: Theodor Seuss Geisel
U.S./International
Title of cartoon: What Have You Done Today To Help Save Your Country From Them?
Cartoon#____
What action is taking place in the cartoon? The cartoon is a warning to American citizens to aid in the war effort to protect the United States from Japanese and German forces.
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive or negative framing of people of color and/or diversity issues
2) Challenges or reinforces racist attitudes
What “reality” is constructed/framed about racial minorities and/or diversity issues:
This political cartoon, drawn by Dr. Seuss during WWII, is indicative of the racial prejudice against the Japanese that was evident in the United States at that time. While the point of the cartoon on the surface is to encourage American assistance in the war effort to protect America against the axis powers, it is likely that Dr. Seuss engrained within it a deeper message. Although Hitler is portrayed quite clearly, the Japanese man in the cartoon does not appear to be a depiction of any well-known leaders during the war. Rather, the exaggerated elongation of the eyes and scrunched up nose create a character made up of racial stereotypes, highlighting American distrust of the Japanese population as a whole, as well as the Japanese-American population, rather than just the Japanese government.
Team Member Name: Heather Foster
Publication: PM
Date: February 13, 1942
Cartoonist: Theodor Seuss Geisel
U.S./International
Title of cartoon: The 5th Column
Cartoon#
What action is taking place in the cartoon? Japanese Americans are banding together into an army and waiting for their orders from “home”, which can be inferred to mean Japan.
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive or negative framing of people of color and/or diversity issues
2) Challenges or reinforces racist attitudes
What “reality” is constructed/framed about racial minorities and/or diversity issues?
This cartoon uses satire as a way to draw attention to the anti-Japanese propaganda that was exhibited in most political cartoons at the time. At the time, it was heavily suggested that Japanese-Americans were spies, thus providing a solid excuse for internment. The army that has assembled on the western coast of the U.S. in this cartoon is made up of a laughably huge horde of men that are dignified in appearance, yet very stereotypically Japanese. It exemplifies the fear that was prevalent among American society- that all Japanese -Americans were part of a plot to destroy America- while at the same time suggesting the ridiculousness of this notion. A 5th column is a term used to describe a group of people who clandestinely undermine a larger group from within, and came into widespread use in 1936. According to political cartoonist Chan Lowe, “Proof that we reserve special treatment for those ‘not like us’ exists within the span of many Americans’ lifetimes. Japanese-Americans, whether foreign-or-American born, were herded into internment camps during WWII for fear that they might act as a fifth-column if left to roam free.”
Team Member Name: Heather Foster
Publication: San Francisco News
Date: March 6, 1942
Cartoonist: Rodger
U.S./International
Title of cartoon: All packed up and ready to go
Cartoon#
What action is taking place in the cartoon? California-born Japanese-Americans are being deported “out of harm’s way” to internment camps.
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive or negative framing of people of color and/or diversity issues
2) Challenges or reinforces racist attitudes
What “reality” is constructed/framed about racial minorities and/or diversity issues?
This cartoon portrays the deportation of Japanese-American citizens simply because of their race. While it is an accurate depiction of the propaganda that was used to explained internment camps as a way to protect loyal citizens from the backlash of Pearl Harbor, there are elements that contradict that idea. The military zone shown in the cartoon highlights the military force that was used to guard the entrances, but primarily exits, of the camps. The fact that such a large degree of military force was used suggests fear, and the fact that the flag exists outside of the camp suggests the ostracizing of Japanese-Americans from mainstream American society, and from America as a whole. In a way, it de-Americanizes them. Whether or not the cartoonist agreed with the idea of interment, he recognized that the purpose for these camps was not as idealistic as the government implied, and that these citizens were deported not as a way to protect them, but to protect the rest of America.
Team Member Name: Heather Foster
Publication: Jyllands-Posten
Date: Sept 30, 2005
Cartoonist: Kurt Westergaard
U.S./International
The above cartoon illustrates the “America First” attitude that still exists today, both abroad and within our own borders.
When Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan in December of 1941, the United States, despite its predominantly isolationist attitude, entered the largest war in history, with little to no political opposition. Feelings for the Japanese quickly turned negative, and while the government launched a military offensive against the German and Japanese armies, a fear of those of Japanese descent led to a social reformation. While Americans saw Hitler as an enemy, that target was not necessarily extended to German-Americans, but this was not the case for the Japanese. The U.S. government immediately turned on the Japanese-Americans living in the U.S., forcing them into internment camps and banning them from many public arenas. These people faced harsh discrimination; branded as spies by the general population, their freedoms were quickly restricted under the façade of being “protected” by those who would seek their lives in retribution for the attack. They were forced to remain in these camps, separated from friends, family, and lifestyle for the duration of the war. Today, this kind of blatant racism seems archaic to us as Americans, but the reality is reparations for this intolerance weren’t even addressed until 1992, and that today a very similar situation is occurring within our country’s borders, as Arabs in America are victims of the same kind of discrimination. After the plane hijackings and attacks on September 11, 2001. President George W. Bush led the United States into a “War on Terror” and invaded Afghanistan. Overnight, Arabs in America became instant targets for scorn and hate crimes, and this discrimination is still widely apparent. In fact, according to a survey by Cornell University, almost half of all Americans believe that Muslims should have restricted civil liberties. Arabs continue to be stereotyped as radical Muslims and terrorists in the same way that the Japanese were stereotyped as spies and Axis-supporters.
Team Member Name: Heather Foster
Publication: PM
Date: March 5, 1942
Cartoonist: Theodor Seuss Geisel
U.S./International
Title of cartoon: What Have You Done Today To Help Save Your Country From Them?
Cartoon#____
What action is taking place in the cartoon? The cartoon is a warning to American citizens to aid in the war effort to protect the United States from Japanese and German forces.
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive or negative framing of people of color and/or diversity issues
2) Challenges or reinforces racist attitudes
What “reality” is constructed/framed about racial minorities and/or diversity issues:
This political cartoon, drawn by Dr. Seuss during WWII, is indicative of the racial prejudice against the Japanese that was evident in the United States at that time. While the point of the cartoon on the surface is to encourage American assistance in the war effort to protect America against the axis powers, it is likely that Dr. Seuss engrained within it a deeper message. Although Hitler is portrayed quite clearly, the Japanese man in the cartoon does not appear to be a depiction of any well-known leaders during the war. Rather, the exaggerated elongation of the eyes and scrunched up nose create a character made up of racial stereotypes, highlighting American distrust of the Japanese population as a whole, as well as the Japanese-American population, rather than just the Japanese government.
Team Member Name: Heather Foster
Publication: PM
Date: February 13, 1942
Cartoonist: Theodor Seuss Geisel
U.S./International
Title of cartoon: The 5th Column
Cartoon#
What action is taking place in the cartoon? Japanese Americans are banding together into an army and waiting for their orders from “home”, which can be inferred to mean Japan.
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive or negative framing of people of color and/or diversity issues
2) Challenges or reinforces racist attitudes
What “reality” is constructed/framed about racial minorities and/or diversity issues?
This cartoon uses satire as a way to draw attention to the anti-Japanese propaganda that was exhibited in most political cartoons at the time. At the time, it was heavily suggested that Japanese-Americans were spies, thus providing a solid excuse for internment. The army that has assembled on the western coast of the U.S. in this cartoon is made up of a laughably huge horde of men that are dignified in appearance, yet very stereotypically Japanese. It exemplifies the fear that was prevalent among American society- that all Japanese -Americans were part of a plot to destroy America- while at the same time suggesting the ridiculousness of this notion. A 5th column is a term used to describe a group of people who clandestinely undermine a larger group from within, and came into widespread use in 1936. According to political cartoonist Chan Lowe, “Proof that we reserve special treatment for those ‘not like us’ exists within the span of many Americans’ lifetimes. Japanese-Americans, whether foreign-or-American born, were herded into internment camps during WWII for fear that they might act as a fifth-column if left to roam free.”
Team Member Name: Heather Foster
Publication: San Francisco News
Date: March 6, 1942
Cartoonist: Rodger
U.S./International
Title of cartoon: All packed up and ready to go
Cartoon#
What action is taking place in the cartoon? California-born Japanese-Americans are being deported “out of harm’s way” to internment camps.
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive or negative framing of people of color and/or diversity issues
2) Challenges or reinforces racist attitudes
What “reality” is constructed/framed about racial minorities and/or diversity issues?
This cartoon portrays the deportation of Japanese-American citizens simply because of their race. While it is an accurate depiction of the propaganda that was used to explained internment camps as a way to protect loyal citizens from the backlash of Pearl Harbor, there are elements that contradict that idea. The military zone shown in the cartoon highlights the military force that was used to guard the entrances, but primarily exits, of the camps. The fact that such a large degree of military force was used suggests fear, and the fact that the flag exists outside of the camp suggests the ostracizing of Japanese-Americans from mainstream American society, and from America as a whole. In a way, it de-Americanizes them. Whether or not the cartoonist agreed with the idea of interment, he recognized that the purpose for these camps was not as idealistic as the government implied, and that these citizens were deported not as a way to protect them, but to protect the rest of America.
Team Member Name: Heather Foster
Publication: Jyllands-Posten
Date: Sept 30, 2005
Cartoonist: Kurt Westergaard
U.S./International
Title of cartoon: Muhammed
Cartoon#____
What action is taking place in the cartoon? The cartoon is an illustration of the prophet Mohammed that depicts him as a terrorist with a bomb in his turban.
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive or negative framing of people of color and/or diversity issues
2) Challenges or reinforces racist attitudes
What “reality” is constructed/framed about racial minorities and/or diversity issues?
This is one of the twelve cartoons that sparked controversy and death threats for the cartoonist all around the globe that portrayed both Muslims and Mohammed as stereotypically radical terrorists. Although this particular cartoon is a drawing of Mohammed himself, it is an example of how all Muslims are generally portrayed in the media. Nearly all negative Islamic cartoons share the same elements- bushy beards, looming turbans, an excess of weapons such as bombs, guns and swords. These cartoons are characteristically violent and they highlight the racial discrimination and stereotyping that is common towards Muslims in the world. Does something about this seem familiar to you? It is a clear echo of the discrimination and stereotypes that characterized the drawings of the Japanese during World War II. For example:
Cartoon#____
What action is taking place in the cartoon? The cartoon is an illustration of the prophet Mohammed that depicts him as a terrorist with a bomb in his turban.
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive or negative framing of people of color and/or diversity issues
2) Challenges or reinforces racist attitudes
What “reality” is constructed/framed about racial minorities and/or diversity issues?
This is one of the twelve cartoons that sparked controversy and death threats for the cartoonist all around the globe that portrayed both Muslims and Mohammed as stereotypically radical terrorists. Although this particular cartoon is a drawing of Mohammed himself, it is an example of how all Muslims are generally portrayed in the media. Nearly all negative Islamic cartoons share the same elements- bushy beards, looming turbans, an excess of weapons such as bombs, guns and swords. These cartoons are characteristically violent and they highlight the racial discrimination and stereotyping that is common towards Muslims in the world. Does something about this seem familiar to you? It is a clear echo of the discrimination and stereotypes that characterized the drawings of the Japanese during World War II. For example:
Team Member Name: Heather Foster
Publication: South Florida Sun Sentinel
Date: August 18,2010
Cartoonist: Chan Lowe
U.S./International
Title of cartoon: America’s Anti-Muslim Bias
Cartoon#
What action is taking place in the cartoon? A WWII internment camp survivor is telling the U.S. Muslim population to exercise patience in the face of discrimination, saying that America will get over it.
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive or negative framing of people of color and/or diversity issues
2) Challenges or reinforces racist attitudes
What “reality” is constructed/framed about racial minorities and/or diversity issues?
This cartoon illustrates the similarities between Japanese-American internment and the current social situation of Arabs in America. The artist, Chan Lowe, said this: “For a nation made up of immigrants and their descendants America has a shameful record of scapegoating whole groups of its citizens and residents when the going gets tough and fear reigns throughout the land…. American Muslims ought to be saddened, but not surprised, that they are the latest group to be singled out and tarred with a broad brush.”
As Lowe said, although this racial discrimination is disheartening at best, it is not the first time that it has happened in this country. America has again proven itself quick to stereotype, and to let fear govern. Muslims are merely the latest minority group to be shunned by a country that once welcomed them in.
As you can see in this clip by Jon Stewart, even the president framed Muslims in the same light as the Japanese of WW2.
Conclusion
Alphonse de Lamartine wrote, "History teaches everything including the future." George Bush was right. There is a precedent here. America has a long history of bigotry and racial discrimination, and just as soon as one group is accepted, or re-accepted, into American society, a new one is targeted. Americans are inclined to blindly accept propaganda instead of doing the research needed to make an informed decision about a group of people, and the media tend to use fear as a way to frame these targeted minorities as people "not like us", which in turn fuels hatred and elevates levels of discrimination. It's a vicious cycle that means that hate crimes and segregation are part of our past, present and future. In general, we have a tendency to view history as a learning tool, but the fact is that we echo it far more often than we'd like to admit. While it is easy to rebuke the sins of the past, it is extremely hypocritical to do so when we as a nation refuse to learn from them. The negative attitudes that exist toward today's American Muslim population might have been avoided if we had only chosen to learn from our mistakes rather than repeat them.
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