Social Segregation In America

Words: 767
Pages: 4

Asians in America also faced social segregation due to their race. They were segregated from the white communities and denied access to services, certain housing, and most preexisting unions. In the years before World War II, the hospital in San Pedro, California denied Japanese women the right to give birth there. Instead, these women gave birth at home, attended by a single midwife. Asians, as well as Blacks and Latinos, were also denied burial in any cemetery in San Pedro. Due to the housing segregation in most large cities, Asian Americans—even those well to do—were not allowed to live in white neighborhoods. Instead, they lived on the outskirts of cities in “Asian Towns”, or amongst Blacks in the ghettos or Latinos in the barrios. White …show more content…
Growing up there, she had little interaction with the Black community. She did however, experience racism, especially regarding employment. In her memoir, Kochiyama recalls trying to find her first job in San Pedro proper. Nearly ten years into the Great depression, jobs were scarce for everyone, but it was virtually impossible for Japanese Americans to find a full time, regular job. Kochiyama lucked out at a five-and-dime store called Woolworth’s, which hired her when three other stores would even let her fill out an application. However, even the most extreme microagressions and racism she faced before WWII could not prepare her for what would happen after Pearl Harbor was …show more content…
Admiral Nomura was to supposed travel to Los Angeles on business, and planned to take some time during this trip to visit. Before he could arrive, the admiral’s plans were abruptly changed, likely due to the bombing of Pearly Harbor. In his place, he sent a telegram that said, “Sorry, cannot meet you for dinner. Regret unable to eat sanma.” Unbeknownst to the family and the admiral, this telegram caught the attention of the FBI. The FBI, unable to understand or figure out what sanma was, decided it was suspicious. That telegram, combined with the short-wave radio Seiichi owned to keep in touch with the fishing boats that supplied his fish, was enough for the FBI to arrest and torture Kochiyama’s father. December 7, 1941 was the last day Yuri and her family saw Seiichi whole and coherent. When he returned, Seiichi was in poor shape; he could not speak and his family did not believe he could see, hear, or recognize anyone. January 21, 1942, a month and a half after his arrest and just a few days after his return home, Seiichi