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Densho

Densho’s mission is to preserve the testimonies of Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II before their memories are extinguished. We offer these irreplaceable firsthand accounts, coupled with historical images and teacher resources, to explore principles of democracy, and promote equal justice for all.[embed]oembed://https%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DjVUXMtNa4Io[/embed]Densho is a Japanese term meaning “to pass on to the next generation,” or to leave a legacy. The legacy we offer is an American story with ongoing relevance: during World War II, the United States government incarcerated innocent people solely because of their ancestry.Densho is a nonprofit organization started in 1996, with the initial goal of documenting oral histories from Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during World War II. This evolved into a mission to educate, preserve, collaborate and inspire action for equity. Densho uses digital technology to preserve and make accessible primary source materials on the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans. We present these materials and related resources for their historic value and as a means of exploring issues of democracy, intolerance, wartime hysteria, civil rights and the responsibilities of citizenship in our increasingly global society.
Newspaper clippings in scrapbook about the attack on Pearl Harbor
Global Politics
At Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans were victims of the attack — and their own government
People line up in front of a bulding
Justice
Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II could still vote, kind of
A group of workers pose in a farm, wearing their work clothes. Top row standing, bottom row sitting. Black and white photo.
Justice
How Japanese and Mexican American farm workers formed an alliance that made history
Two kimonos in the wind on a laundry line
Justice
These images of Japanese American incarceration were embargoed for almost 30 years
Protesters show solidarity with Black Lives Matter by holding a sign on the street
Justice
Despite history, Japanese Americans and African Americans are working together to claim their rights