<Begin Segment 19>

RP: Other Niseis who grew up in the Los Angeles area in, during their teenage years, they recall there were places that were off limits to Japanese like certain public pools or theaters and that type of thing. Do you recall wanting to go somewhere and being told that you couldn't?

VI: My, Tom's father-in-law, he lived in a white community, and he was denied entrance to a swimming pool. But as far as we were concerned, we had so much water that we didn't have to worry about swimming pools; we went to Lake Washington or we went to Alki. And I think most of us remember they used to have streetcars running up and down Seattle from downtown to the lake. And they used to cost two cents, so our mothers would give us a nickel. So we'd pay two cents going, and then coming home, we'd try to get somebody to throw us a transfer out the window so we don't have to spend the two cents so we could buy two cents' worth of candy. [Laughs] But that's why like swimming pools and things, we didn't get too involved with as far as feeling like you were restricted.

RP: Any early experiences with prejudice?

VI: No. That's why like we didn't feel it that much because --

RP: You stuck together.

VI: You stuck together so you didn't feel that. In fact, when we played against certain... if we played, that we'd beat the other team so that you felt as if you were at least equal or better or whatever it is, you know, you feel.

RP: And they respected you?

VI: Yeah, as far as, or I think they did. [Laughs]

<End Segment 19> - Copyright © 2007 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.