Week 6- Reading Assignment

Read pages 172-178: "Dinner" and "Steps" Assigned: Wednesday, March 30 Due: Thursday, March 31

Week 6- Discussion Question 1- Camp Harmony

In the spring of 1942, just months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, more than 100,000 residents of Japanese ancestry were forcefully evicted by the army from their homes in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and Alaska, and sent to nearby temporary assembly centers. From there they were sent by trains to American-style concentration camps at remote inland sites where many people spent the remainder of the war.

One of those relocation centers was Camp Harmony, where thousands of Japanese Americans lived in temporary housing before moving to more permanent camps in Idaho. Camp Harmony is also the site where our fictional family, The Okabes was held. After reading "Visiting Hours," and "Home Again," view the two essay letters below. These letters were written by young Japanese Americans who attended school while stationed within Camp Harmony. What are your thoughts here? Do the emotions and opinions of these young teens match those of Keiko? Please take the time to think through your thoughts before replying.

[Photo, Essays, and Relocation Information courtesy of University of Washington Libraries]

Reading Assignment: pgs 158-171

Reading Assignment: Letter Essays (posted below)

Due: Wednesday, March 30

Essay by Amy Mitamura from Camp Harmony

Essay by Henry Fukuhura from Camp Harmony

Week 6- Reading Assignement

Read the chapter titled, "Camp Harmony." Assigned: Monday, March 28 Due: Tuesday, March 29

Week 5- Reading Assignement- Tuesday

Read the chapters titled, "Parents" and "Better Them Than Us."

Assigned: Tuesday, March 23
Due: Wednesday, March 24

Week 5- Discussion Question 1- A Walk In Her Shoes

In the chapter titled, "Records" Keiko wants nothing more than to buy a record for her friend Henry. Yet, when she attempts to pay for it at Rhodes Department store, the salesclerk refuses to ring up the sale, telling Keiko, "Then why don't you go back to your own neighborhood and buy it?"(pg 114)

After reading this chapter, walk in Keiko's shoes for a minute. How would you feel? How would you truly feel if you found yourself in a similar situation? What are your thoughts? Make sure your response is thorough and well thought out.

Reading Assignment: 103-118
Prompt Assigned: Tuesday, March 22
Prompt due: Tuesday, March 22

Week 5- Reading Assignment- Monday

Read "Hello, Hello" and "Downhill." Pages 91-102

Assigned: Monday, March 21
Due: Tuesday, March 22

Week 4- Discussion Question 2- Like Father, Like Son?

The type of relationship that young Henry will have with his father really begins to form in the chapter, "Home Fires." Write about what happens in this chapter, and the decision that Henry makes when he is asked to translate the conversation between his father and Mr. Preston. Make sure your answers are complete and thorough.

Post assigned: Thursday, March 17
Post due: Thursday, March 17
Reading Assignment: pages 78-90

Week 4- Discussion Question 1- I Am Chinese

One of my favorite lines in this novel comes from Sheldon when he and Henry are talking about the "I Am Chinese" button that Henry's father makes him wear. Sheldon simply shakes his head and says, "I am Chinese. I am Lebanese. I am Pekinese. I am the ever-loving bees' knees" (pg 28).
This statement tells us a lot about Sheldon's character, of his disappointment in the way society groups people based on race and/or ethnicity. Keiko makes a similar statement in "Jamaican Ginger" when, at the end of the chapter, after the Black Elks Club has been raided and she had witnessed people she knows being taken away by the FBI, she turns on Henry:

Keiko halted and looked at Henry. She looked down at his button, the one his father made him wear. "You are Chinese, aren't you, Henry?"
He nodded, not knowing how to answer.
"That's fine. Be who you are," she said, turning away, a look of disappointment in her eyes. "But I'm an American."

Write about what you believe Keiko means when she says these things to Henry. Be thorough in your explanation.

Week 3- Discussion Question 1- Communication

The topic of communication is of great importance in this story, particularly when we really start to compare the young Henry Lee with the adult Henry Lee.
Talking openly with ones parents is often difficult for most teens, even under the best of circumstances, and the young Henry is no different.

Write about what you've come to understand about Henry's challenges in communicating with his parents. Yes, there is definitely a language barrier, but it goes deeper than that. Write about what you know to be true for Henry. What are your thoughts? What are your questions?

And what about Keiko? Her relationship with her parents is different than Henry's relationship with is parents, but Keiko has her own public struggles with communication. What do you understand to be true about her challenges with communication?