Comment:

On page 91, George’s dad tells the kids that they get to go on a special outing outside of the camp. Naturally, George and his brother were overjoyed and bragged to everyone they knew that they were going outside the fence. George’s dad was allowed to borrow a jeep for the afternoon as a block manager privilege. I love how all the panel drawings in this section depict it as a magical experience through line work and added flair on the pages like sparkles. Since the book is from George’s POV this was an extremely rare and exciting event and we see how excited he is through his lense.

Extension:

Block managers were chosen based off of several factors including leadership capabilities, willingness to do the job, and perceived “loyalty.” Block managers were bilingual and were paid a small wage that the WRA (war relocation authority) decided on. Their tasks could range from distribution of supplies like lumbar, cleaning supplies, light bulbs, ingoing and outgoing mail, and more. Block managers were also the voice of their block and communicated with WRA about management concerns and needs. Some blocks formed “block councils” that was comprised of representatives from different barraks within the block. Although block managers were supposed to be the “voice” of their block, many had little or no voice when it came to decisions; the block managers were seen as as only a messanger and tool for the administration. In some cases where the camp admin distrust was high, the block manager position was hard to fill because nobody wanted to be used in that way.

https://encyclopedia.densho.org/Block_managers

Question:

Did George and his family get to go on any other special outings?

Was it common for block managers to be allowed to borrow a car and leave camp?