War, Race and the Constitution: Lessons from the WWII Japanese American Incarceration
Please note: This course is now hybrid and available to Premium/Premium Plus members at no cost.
The World War II incarceration of nearly 127,000 persons of Japanese ancestry is a case study in the constitutional breakdown of the separation of powers when national security is asserted over civil liberties. We’ll examine: the Asian immigrant experience that set the stage for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s issuance of Executive Order 9066; the question of loyalty; the government’s false justifications of the incarceration to the Supreme Court and to the American public; and how this history is being repeated today.
Faculty Bio
Susan Kamei is the author of When Can We Go Back to America? Voices of Japanese American Incarceration during World War II. She is an educator and news commentator on the continuing relevance of this tragic history to contemporary issues today.
This is an In-Person, Livestreamed + Recorded Course
- Classes will meet in person at 1995 University Ave., Suite 365, Berkeley
- Classes will stream live simultaneously, and be video recorded
- You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.
Schedule Highlights
- Course starts on Monday, June 1, and ends on Monday, June 22.
- Classes meet for 4 weeks, 2 hours per session (10–noon).
- All course materials will remain available to view and enjoy through August 31.