Japanese Americans during World War II: Internment Camps - Essay Example

Most of the Japanese Americans that filled the internment camps were from the West Coast. Many lost all their belongings. The government did give reparations, but that did not bring back original items. The treatment was not rough unless an inmate disobeyed the rules. Several were shot for crossing the camp’s fence line. Medical treatment was also poor. The treatment of Arab Americans after 9/11 can be compared to the treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Many Arab Americans have been arrested or even at least investigated after 9/11.

The ‘Watch List’ is a list of people that might be terrorists. People on this list can be detained without legal representation for an undeterminable amount of time. While actual camps were not set up for Arab Americans like Japanese Americans, Arab Americans could still be detained.In the name of justice, many minorities can be detained. From African Americans to Mexican Americans minorities have been placed in jail as criminal elements. The Zoot Suit Riots were one example. It is easy to jail minorities for perceived crimes.

Racial profiling has become normal in American society. While camps are a thing of the past, Americans still detain minorities that deemed threats. This curtails every American’s freedom.