Densho Digital Repository
Densho Visual History Collection
Title: Barbara Reiko Mikami Keimi Interview
Narrator: Barbara Reiko Mikami Keimi
Interviewer: Virginia Yamada
Location: Los Angeles, California
Date: February 5, 2019
Densho ID: ddr-densho-1000-459-16

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VY: Okay, so I think we're getting near the end of our conversation. I wonder if you could talk a little bit before we conclude about how you felt during your time after the camp and all throughout life, really. Did you feel accepted by most people? Did you ever feel different, or is there any incident or experience that stands out to you?

BK: Well, I think that, through high school, and then maybe through part of going to college at USC, I think that I always felt like a second class citizen. It just seemed like I wasn't a full, fully accepted as an American. And it's just that people, it's not how the people treated me, it was just like how I felt inside of me that I wasn't good enough, and that was one of the reasons I went to college, was that so that I could hold my own and not feel like I'm inferior. And (...) then besides meeting my husband, and he didn't have that complex that I had. And so then we started interacting, like with other people besides the Japanese Americans. And we would go to, like, Trojan Club meetings and then his teachers group and things, and we felt accepted, and I felt better of myself that, oh, they think I'm just as good as they are. And so I think that he helped me get away from this second class citizen feeling. So I feel that now, we can go anywhere, and we don't have to feel like, oh, do they want us here or not? We're just accepted. So we're happy.

VY: Thank you, Barbara. Is there anything else you'd like to say before we conclude today?

BK: No, you made it very easy, or, I mean, inviting and comfortable. I feel very comfortable with you.

VY: Good, I'm so glad. I'm so glad you joined us today, and I'm so glad you shared your story. Thank you.

<End Segment 16> - Copyright © 2019 Densho. All Rights Reserved.