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VY: Are there, actually, since you're talking about that, are there any particular stories that come to mind that you can think of where you had to interact with people that were pretty overtly racist but you were able to get along with them?
KI: Yeah. Well, the other day, I'm swimming at the pool, and a guy says, "Where are you from?" "Well, I could say my family's been here twice as long as your family. We're Americans," should be the response. But I cooled down and I says, "My family was originally from Japan, but I've been here a hundred years." Because I could immediately see what he was sort of looking for is, I want to know your nationality or origins or something. And before I would say, "Don't be stupid," but I've since relented by saying, "People mean well," I can understand that. So when the guy asked, I said, "Well, my grandparents are from Japan," which is true. But I've been here a hundred years. Let's move on.
VY: Was this a white person?
KI: Hmm?
VY: Was this a white person that asked you that?
KI: No, no, this was, in fact, he was Persian. [Laughs]
VY: I like your response, that's a good response.
KI: I immediately knew what he wanted, so I told him. But I also added the fact that my family's been here a hundred years.
VY: Do you think... I'm just curious, him as a Persian person asking you this question, do you think he was hoping maybe that you were not from America? Like maybe he was seeking some kind of, something in common or something?
KI: Well, maybe, that he was looking for another immigrant or something. So I'm a little bit, I don't want to be too judgmental. Someone has a sense of one thing, but is awkward in talking, I can understand that. But let's get some basics down, you know. At any rate, the issue for camp, I haven't fully comprehended.
VY: You're still processing.
KI: Oh, yeah. And then... people are surprised when they hear I was in a camp.
VY: Are they? People are surprised? Are they surprised because they didn't know about camp, or are they surprised because they seem to think that you aren't someone who would have been in a camp?
KI: Well, it's a variety of reasons. One is ignorance, obviously. Another is they can't imagine, maybe it's age or something, they really can't imagine about the issue of camp. It just seems like there's too much in the world to worry about. Why worry about camp?
VY: So is it more of a, they didn't know about camp or they just can't really wrap their minds around the fact that it happened? Or is it more, "Well, that was in the past, let's move on" kind of attitude?
KI: That could be it, yeah. But there are so many issues in this world. You know, one thing striking us is the issue of black-white relationships. I mean, that dominates, so you are small fry. I mean, like, why should we consider you guys... I don't know how to put it, but it's suffering. It's a universal issue. So if we suffered, is that important? And then over time, people forget, even among Japanese Americans, you forget. And like I told you about saying this child in Okinawa, but the other day I was watching TV of a Ukrainian child crossing the border fleeing the war. In a sense, the universality of being a victim of war and difficulties like that makes relevant my experience.
VY: Do you think that's why it's important to talk about it?
KI: Yeah. Except that as Asians, we're repeatedly targeted. But still, the way we handle those kids at the border, it just seems inhumane, separating parents.
VY: You're talking about in America?
KI: Yeah.
VY: When you first started hearing about family separation here, did that bring up feelings for you?
KI: Oh, yeah. "How could you do that to another person?" You know, you treat a lot of people like they're dirt. And from a religious standpoint, that's a violation of all religions. And then sometimes one wonders how Christian the far-right Christians are. They're denying their own sense of being Christians. So at any rate, I do have emotions about this. [Laughs]
<End Segment 10> - Copyright © 2022 Densho. All Rights Reserved.