2-1-Q oct 7
Greta Jennison
6 October 2025
2 Comments:
- On page 146, Takei introduces a man named Herbert Nicholson who devoted so much of his time to bringing books and other goods to the camps. Herbert would visit the camps and bring books and other supplies that people needed. He even brought one of the camp residents’ dog to the vet when it was sick. I love how the art in the panels that feature this heartwarming gesture feels soft and creates a feeling of safety.
- On page 149, we learn about public law 78-405. Public law 78-405 was a twisted policy that essentially gave Japanese americans the “right” to renounce their status as an american citizen, and accept the identity of alien enemy. This was the american government’s solution or almost like a snarky response to the “no-nos” (people who answered no on any question of the loyalty questionnaire).
1 Extension:
- Herbert Nicholson
- 1892-1983
- Born in Rochester, NY
- Well known advocate for Japanese Americans
- Learned to speak Japanese Fluently
- Converted West Los Angeles Methodist church into a warehouse for supplies for the camps
- Did all this work while sacrificing his life/money (slept on train rides to avoid hotel bills)
- Was only allowed to bring into the camp what he could carry
- Put over 50,000 miles on his Dodge truck transporting supplies
- Delivered books, peoples belongings, pets, ashes of a loved one, and even dug up buried treasure
1 Question:
Why did Nicholson care so deeply about these strangers, and what did he get out of all this, if anything?
