![]() Book name: They Called us Enemy Author: George Takei Genre: Graphic Novel Memoir Goodreads: Link Storygraph: Link They called us Enemy is a Graphic Novel memoir of George Takei where he talks about his childhood experience in the Internment camps where over 120,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated for the duration of WWII where they were looked upon as enemy Aliens. While we mainly see the novel from George’s eyes who was a child during the period of internment, we also see the reactions of his parents and the complicated feelings they had about the country they had chosen for a better life. As a fan of history and the events surrounding WWII, sadly this was an incident I had rarely come across in books and films of the period. Even my awareness of the event was really triggered by the character of Mr. Miyagi in the 'Karate Kid' film where in a very moving moment in the film Mr. Miyagi narrates his personal tragedy where while fighting in the 442nd infantry on the side of the allies which mostly consisted of people of Japanese ancestry (which was also one of the most decorated regiments in U.S military history) his Wife and son died in the Japanese internment camps. The actor himself; Pat Morita was interned at a camp along with parents as well. The memoir is structured in a similar way to other graphic novels such as Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis where the reader gets to experience a life changing event from the perspective of the child. The memoir offers a good balance of George's personal story alongside the background information on the events that were taking place which makes it very accessible to the reader. The artwork was really great, and I particularly liked how the art style changes to reflect the different time periods in George's life. George and his brother were taken into the camps at an early age and hence the feeling they have at the camp is mixed with both childhood wonder of new experiences mixed with moments of sadness which makes for an interesting read. The theme of Patriotism is a key theme that shows up in the novel, where the Japanese were the citizens of Japanese Ancestry was incarcerated on the issue of loyalty. Was interesting to see the impossible question that was put to those in the camp and the stance that George's parents took. The novel offers a very nuanced view of patriotism where patriotism does not mean that you blindly follow or agree with the governments policy. This is brought out in a very interesting way in terms of the conversations George has with his father while although the father rightly feels wronged by the steps taken by the government, he is able to look past it and see the opportunities that the U.S open society has brought for him and his family. George also makes clear the distinction between actions taken by individuals both positively and negatively and avoids condemning anyone based purely on group affiliation. For instance, he points out the white American lawyers and lawmakers responsible for the incarceration of Japanese Americans while at the same time highlighting the kindness shown by other White Americans towards them. The novel also offers an interesting perspective on the U.S president Franklin D Roosevelt who is typically portrayed in a heroic manner in a similar light to Churchill, where the novel shows that he signed off on the act to incarcerate the Japanese citizens. Again, George's fathers attitude is very telling that even though he has a right to be very restful, he also admires the leadership demonstrated during the war and the policies enacted in the post-war reconstruction. George during a talke he makes at the FDR house also acknowledges this paradoxical attitude that characterises the U.S. While the novel focuses on George's childhood, the real hero of the novel is really George's parents who really in their own way tried their best as all parents do to shield them from the harsh realities of the world while also speaking out against the injustices which had a strong influence on George and shaped his own activism later in life. The book also underscores the point that such an event is not merely a historical incident but is an ever present danger which can resurface in different forms as it did in 2018 where the same policies used on the Japanese Americans formed the legal justification used by Trump to ban immigrants based on race & religion and hence the message of the book is on the important to speak up to the injustices caused whatever form it takes. Overall, a really well written book where it is written in away that details George and his families personal experience while also providing the broader picture of the events presented in a very accessible manner. It also deepens my appreciation for George as an actor where it is clear that his activism and the role he played in Star Trek as Captain Sulu where he helped reshape the portrayal of Asian Americans in Mainstream media was not merely an acting role for him but is something that comes from a much deeper place which has been shaped by his personal experiences. Quite recommend the book!
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AuthorAvid reader of Historical fiction, High fantasy novels, Comics & Graphic Novels. Passionate about teaching & the future of education in general. Categories
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December 2023
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