Three Ways Of Meeting Oppression

The Pearl Harbor bombing took place on December 7, 1941. This horrible tragedy was committed by the Japanese. In 1942, the United States government ordered many Japanese Americans/Aliens to leave their homes hastily and was detained in remote, military-style camps. They were frightened and unaided due to their indefinite incarceration by the Americans shortly after Pearl Harbor was bombed. The Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of the camps where the Wakatsuki family was interned during World War II. They stayed there for more than three years, from 1941-1945. In “Farewell to Manzanar,” Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James Houston elaborated that the Wakatsuki family faced many challenges in Manzanar in order to survive the humiliation and

disgraceful confinement at the camp. During WWII, Houston stated that she was seven years old when she experienced the devastating internment along with her family.

She discovered the emotional effect and what it was like to grow up behind barbed wire in the United States. She claimed that she was not provided the same freedom as other Americans did, even though she was a natural born citizen of America. Houston and her family had unique ways in dealing with oppression; and to some extent it was comparable to King’s theories. Accordingly, in “Three Ways of Meeting Oppression,” Martin Luther King Jr. outlined different methods used by the oppressed to handle their oppression in three distinctive ways: acquiescence, physical violence, and non-violent resistance. First of all, King explained the technique of acquiescence where the oppressed accepts the oppression cooperatively and will ultimately get accustomed to what has been brought to them. Clearly, King suggested that acquiescence was immoral and unfeasible because it was an indication of cowardliness. Secondly, King argued that the oppressed have the option to defending themselves with physical violence

occasionally. However, he affirmed that violent approach may have resulted positive outcomes at some point, but in the long run, it will generate more complex difficulties because violence was both unreasonable and immoral practices. He clarified that major issues will be disregarded and animosity will greatly flourish; in the end, nothing gets accomplished constructively. Obviously, King suggested that physical violence was not the best way to deal with tyranny. Finally, King described his preferred technique which was the non-violent resistance. He vastly supported non-violent resistance because of its benefits and advantages where the oppressed rejects violence completely. King asserted that marching and fighting for what they believed in non-violent organization as a means of attaining equality and justice for all was commendable. Although the King’s demonstration on how to deal with oppression was clearly comprehensible; unfortunately, the Wakatsuki family handled their oppression relatively different because of their culture and beliefs. Meeting oppression reasonably was a challenging process for both King and Wakatsuki because it was culturally diverse and situational.
Particularly, discrimination against each other was frequently practiced amongst the Japanese Americans/Aliens whether consciously or unconsciously. For example, in the beginning, the Wakatsuki lived in a non-ghetto Japanese neighborhood because papa Ko always had high standards of living. So technically Houston was not exposed nor did not observe the typical Japanese traditions such as: language, customary dance and conservative outlook. As a result, she had a hard time transitioning in Manzanar. She was discriminated against her fellowmen because she did not know how to speak Japanese. Houston had a hard time learning how to dance odori because she was unable to comprehend the old geisha's dialect so she gave up instantaneously. Papa Ko, her father did not approve her extra-curricular activities such as majorette and carnival queen competition at school because her outfits were too provocative. Remarkably, Houston dealt with her oppression non-violently, but she was emotionally distressed at the same time, especially when Radine, her best friend’s surprised reaction how well she spoke English. Houston also felt extremely overwhelmed when her school teacher was trying to prevent her from winning the beauty contest. She realized that her Japanese ancestry will always mark her as an outsider by other Americans. While she was not being attacked by her fellow Japanese origin, she will always be treated differently as she will never be considered or recognized as an American.
However, the December Riot was addressed differently where violence rapidly escalated. It illustrated that many of the Issei men were miserable after being detained in camps vigorously. Rather than channeling their rage at the oppressive forces of the U.S. government; instead, the detainees were convinced that one of the captives betrayed them. They focused their resentment upon each other as they rushed to identify inu without primarily assembling their resources and facts together. Without proven facts of betrayal, these uprising Japanese Americans started behaving ferociously. Ironically, they acted so viciously, roaming in bands and calling for blood. They were justified by their irrational anger. Sadly, it was difficult to sympathize with them because of their unreasonable actions towards each other which also displayed unmerited and unwarranted brutality as what the U.S. government has done to them. In addition, Papa Ko was accused of being a Japanese spy. His relationship with his family deteriorated because he became an alcoholic and violent. In due course, his alcoholism caused spiteful treatment towards his wife and children until his son; Woody was forced to punch him in order to calm his down.
Moreover, the acquiescence approach also presented differently. Manzanar was still under construction when Japanese Americans/Aliens arrived. Nonetheless, people did their best to make the surroundings more attractive by adding walkways, gardens and small ponds around the barracks. Even the hospital had an elaborated garden, with a pond, a stream, rock gardens and other landscape features. However, the Wakatsuki family endured the miserable condition of the camp due to lack of privacy, dustiness, coldness, illness, loss of freedom, and cultural distrust. The inability of families to join together at mealtimes aided the rapid collapse of the fundamental structure of theWakatsuki family. Regardless of the situation, Mama Rigu, Houston’s mother managed to keep her family together because she acknowledged the oppression without further complaints. Ultimately, her family was accustomed to what has been brought to them, but over the years of camp life, they eventually loss their unity as a family. Even though it was disgraceful and morally wrong, Mama Rigu strongly believed that “it cannot be helped,” her strategy was somewhat supportive to keep herself grounded and sane because it validated her solid commitment to her family. Furthermore, all internees, whether or not they were U.S. citizens, were given the chance to sign a loyalty oath in order to reduce the congestion in Manzanar. This oath also allowed Japanese men the honor of proving their loyalty to the United States. They were permitted to leave the camp if they had sponsors. The oath asked two vital questions: “Would you swear allegiance to the United States and would you serve in the military of the United States?” Gratefully, eighty-six percent of the population answered the loyalty questionnaire positively. Among those who left were Houston’s sister, Eleanor and her husband Shig. Later, her brother Woody was deployed into the Army. Most of the young people and those fluent in English were also able to leave for jobs and schools in the Midwest and East. Their oath of acceptance demonstrated no other choice, but “Yes, Yes,” in exchange for their so called freedom and democracy.
Overall, “Farewell to Manzanar,” demonstrates all of the King’s techniques of meeting oppression comparatively.

The non-violent way is the most logical line of attack of defeating oppression by rising above it and proving to the oppressors that they were not any better than those they tyrannize. Although the nonviolent resistance is the most challenging way to deal with oppression because of its lengthy process, but the long term result of equality and justice can be achieved successfully, peacefully and

effectively.
Consequently, Houston is first of her family to receive a college education. She marries a man other than her ethnicity, and has three children. Houston struggles and abilities to reconcile her Japanese heritage with the American culture play a very crucial role in finding her true identity. It takes her twenty years to entirely absorb her experiences in Manzanar. Finally, she finds the courage to go back to Manzanar with her husband and children in order to revive that traumatizing life. Her total recollections about her experiences and family’s fights in Manzanar give her the ability to gain the acceptance she desires. Ultimately, she finds everlasting peace and incredible memories that provide a rich source of information in understanding herself worth as a Japanese-American citizen of the United States of America.