User:Star910/Propaganda for Japanese-American internment

Racial Stereotypes in Anti-Japanese Propaganda

Anti-Japanese propaganda in the United States during WWII heavily relied on the use of dehumanizing depictions of the Japanese and Japanese-Americans. These sentiments that have been present throughout America are believed to have existed before WWII, and were perpetuated through the wartime propaganda. Displaying race as different in a negative light through propaganda was a common way to show the difference between good and evil. This concept is tied to xenophobia, defined as "anything which is perceived as being foreign or strange." Stereotypes that could be easily identified in Anti-Japanese propaganda included exaggerated skin color and perpetuated the idea of the Japanese being weaker or less capable than Americans, as well as picturing the Japanese as animals or murderous. Many of the available examples of racism in Anti-Japanese propaganda share the same likeness of a Japanese person with yellow skin, squinted eyes, and sharp, fang-like teeth. Many of the examples also include the saying, "This is the Enemy". This phrase further emphasizes the goal of the United States to illustrate the Japanese as evil. This success by the media to cultivate a hostile view toward the Japanese allowed for the widespread acceptance by the American people of Japanese internment camps.

An example of WWII Anti-Japanese propaganda dating from 1943. This form of propaganda features racial stereotypes through the depiction of the Japanese. The "You" and "And I" represent America.

The effects on American Society that resulted from the racism toward Japanese people during the war lasted post WWII. Anti-Japanese sentiments in the United States have decreased and relations with the Japanese are far less strained. In fact, according to a study conducted by Pew Research Center, approximately two-thirds of American citizens feel that they are able to trust Japan and are content with the way that current relations with Japan are today. 68% of Americans said they felt they could trust Japan as opposed to 75% of Japanese people who felt they could trust the United States. There is certainly still animosity held from more senior populations from both American and Japanese society. Pew says that over half of Americans believe that the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was justified.