Kara Kondo Interview Segment 36

Father's family background: immigration to the U.S., settled in the Yakima valley (ddr-densho-1000-139-1) - 00:04:43
Mother's family background: unaccustomed to new life on a primitive farm (ddr-densho-1000-139-2) - 00:08:03
Explanation of Japanese families' reasons for leasing Yakama reservation land (ddr-densho-1000-139-3) - 00:03:19
Description of early community life for Issei living in the Yakima valley (ddr-densho-1000-139-4) - 00:08:14
Impact of the Washington State alien land law on Japanese farmers (ddr-densho-1000-139-5) - 00:02:27
Community events in the Yakima valley: church services, sports, and cultural groups (ddr-densho-1000-139-6) - 00:08:02
Attending Guyette, a one-room school and living in a multicultural neighborhood (ddr-densho-1000-139-7) - 00:05:40
Elementary school years: no recollection of consciously feeling ethnically "different" (ddr-densho-1000-139-8) - 00:05:53
Helping out on the family farm during grade school vacations (ddr-densho-1000-139-9) - 00:06:08
Memories of junior high school: Japanese language school, baseball team (ddr-densho-1000-139-10) - 00:04:02
Description of photographs of early family life (ddr-densho-1000-139-11) - 00:05:28
(ddr-densho-1000-139-12) - 00:01:28
Difficult life for Issei in the early 20th century: "they were pioneers in the Yakima valley" (ddr-densho-1000-139-13) - 00:05:21
Varying ways for the Issei to acquire land (ddr-densho-1000-139-14) - 00:03:51
Family's farm prewar: crops raised, effects of the Great Depression (ddr-densho-1000-139-15) - 00:05:12
Social activities during high school years: Young People's Christian Association, sports (ddr-densho-1000-139-16) - 00:03:33
Attending dances during high school (ddr-densho-1000-139-17) - 00:03:46
Community activities: girls' club, Japanese dance (ddr-densho-1000-139-18) - 00:05:31
A frightening incident of racially motivated violence (ddr-densho-1000-139-19) - 00:13:34
An early period of independence: attending a design school in Seattle (ddr-densho-1000-139-20) - 00:06:08
Memories of the period following the bombing of Pearl Harbor: unsure if Japanese and Japanese Americans from the Yakima valley would be removed (ddr-densho-1000-139-21) - 00:03:57
Continuing to maintain farms even in days leading up to mass removal (ddr-densho-1000-139-22) - 00:01:33
Preparation for mass removal; awareness that some white community members were afraid to speak out on behalf of persons of Japanese ancestry (ddr-densho-1000-139-23) - 00:12:20
Change in the Wapato community as a result of mass removal; deciding what to take to camp (ddr-densho-1000-139-24) - 00:06:17
Helping parents prepare for removal; selling and discarding household items (ddr-densho-1000-139-25) - 00:02:40
Vivid memories of the day of mass removal: helping the GIs with the move, sadness of father, the sound of the gate closing upon arrival at assembly center (ddr-densho-1000-139-26) - 00:05:18
Early memories of life in assembly center: "You're in a daze for a while until you get your bearings" (ddr-densho-1000-139-27) - 00:08:44
Life in the North Portland Assembly Center, Oregon: cramped living quarters, working for the camp newsletter (ddr-densho-1000-139-28) - 00:06:41
Impact of mass removal on the Wapato Japanese community; a sergeant in charge of removal expresses sympathy, but "it was his job" (ddr-densho-1000-139-29) - 00:15:05
Memories of the journey to Heart Mountain concentration camp, uncertain of destination (ddr-densho-1000-139-30) - 00:03:19
Description of living quarters at Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming (ddr-densho-1000-139-31) - 00:05:37
Poignant memories of Christmas in camp: singing carols, receiving gifts from churches on the outside, caroling to a soldier in a guard tower (ddr-densho-1000-139-32) - 00:04:39
Working as a "society editor" for the "Heart Mountain Sentinel" (ddr-densho-1000-139-33) - 00:04:55
Thoughts on military service and the so-called "loyalty questionnaire" (ddr-densho-1000-139-34) - 00:04:16
Writing society columns for the "Heart Mountain Sentinel" (ddr-densho-1000-139-35) - 00:03:44
A visit by Caleb Foote and Gordon Hirabayashi (ddr-densho-1000-139-36) - 00:05:39
Leaving camp for Chicago and getting married (ddr-densho-1000-139-37) - 00:08:18
Moving to Kentucky, and giving a speech on incarceration to a businessman's group there (ddr-densho-1000-139-38) - 00:08:07
Different experiences in Carlisle, Pennsylvania (ddr-densho-1000-139-39) - 00:03:21
Working in Louisville, Kentucky; husband encounters discrimination when trying to enlist in the Army Air Corps (ddr-densho-1000-139-40) - 00:07:10
Encountering racial segregation in Joplin, Missouri (ddr-densho-1000-139-41) - 00:07:55
Feeling unwelcome upon returning to the Yakima valley after the war (ddr-densho-1000-139-42) - 00:09:00
Living and working in Louisville, Kentucky before returning to Yakima, Washington (ddr-densho-1000-139-43) - 00:04:54
Reestablishing life in Yakima, Washington (ddr-densho-1000-139-44) - 00:05:56
Adopting two children: "it did change my life" (ddr-densho-1000-139-45) - 00:07:52
Raising children: no direct discussions with them about discrimination, ethnicity (ddr-densho-1000-139-46) - 00:05:33
Postwar involvement in political organizations: League of Women Voters, Human Rights Commission (ddr-densho-1000-139-47) - 00:08:00
Political activism: League of Women Voters and serving on committees dealing with land use and water issues (ddr-densho-1000-139-48) - 00:09:09
Participating in a reunion of those who lived in the Yakima valley before World War II, writing a memento history booklet of the history of the Yakima valley Japanese community (ddr-densho-1000-139-49) - 00:06:21
Involvement in beginnings of the redress movement: pressuring elected representatives for support (ddr-densho-1000-139-50) - 00:03:31
First hearing of losses suffered by Japanese American families as a result of incarceration (ddr-densho-1000-139-51) - 00:03:38
Testifying before the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (ddr-densho-1000-139-52) - 00:05:38
Emotional response to participating in the practice sessions for the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians hearings (ddr-densho-1000-139-53) - 00:04:27
Thoughts on redress: hoping for a positive outcome, writing a letter to President Ronald Reagan before the appropriations were made (ddr-densho-1000-139-54) - 00:07:09
Reflections on September 11, 2001, current activities, hopes for the future (ddr-densho-1000-139-55) - 00:09:16
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Densho
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SEGMENT ID

ddr-densho-1000-139-36 (Legacy UID: denshovh-kkara-01-0036)

SEGMENT DESCRIPTION

A visit by Caleb Foote and Gordon Hirabayashi

00:05:39 — Segment 36 of 55

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DATE

December 7 & 8, 2002

LOCATION

PARENT COLLECTION

Densho Visual History Collection

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CONTRIBUTOR

Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Densho

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PARTNER

Densho
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INTERVIEW ID

ddr-densho-1000-139

NARRATOR

Kara Kondo

INTERVIEW TITLE

Kara Kondo Interview

05:30:22 — 55 segments

DATE

December 7 & 8, 2002

LOCATION

Seattle, Washington

DESCRIPTION

Nisei female. Born May 24, 1916, in the Yakima valley, Washington, and spent childhood in Wapato, Washington. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, removed to the North Portland Assembly Center, Oregon, and then to the Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming. Was on the staff of the camp newspaper, the Heart Mountain Sentinel. Left camp for Chicago, Illinois, and lived in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Missouri before returning to Yakima, Washington. Became involved in political organization postwar, such as the League of Women Voters. Testified before the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians during the redress movement, and became actively involved in groups addressing environmental issues.

PRODUCTION

Alice Ito, interviewer; Gail Nomura, interviewer; Dana Hoshide, videographer

TOPICS

FACILITY

PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS

CONTRIBUTOR

Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Densho

RIGHTS

API