Whenever a group of people is abused, the aggressor comes from a position of power. Whether this abuse is physical, emotional, or systemic, it stems from one group taking advantage of their power over another. When someone is also sitting safely in a position of power, it is easy for them to watch this abuse or simply accept it because they benefit from it.

In the case of Japanese incarceration, people wielded their power from the beginning in order to financially take advantage of the Japanese and to silence them. Most were content to accept the treatment of the Japanese because they could profit. Anyone who did not accept their treatment was faced with the loss of their position of power; this was a strong incentive to stay silent and go with the path of least resistance.

The Japanese were forced to sell their possessions and the white population bought them for dirt cheap prices. They knew the Japanese had to sell their items and had no choice but to accept whatever prices were offered. White farmers were happy to see the Japanese forced to leave their farms so they would no longer have to pay them. One farmer clearly outlined the opinion of the white farmers in California at the time, “We’re charged with wanting to get rid of the Japs for selfish reasons. We might as well be honest. We do… They undersell the white man in the markets…. They work their women and children while the white farmer has to pay wages for his help.” Many readily accepted the mistreatment of the Japanese to serve themselves.

One man in a position of power risked his power to stand up for the Japanese. He did not sacrifice his values for the sake of advancing his station. Governor Ralph Carr was the only major political figure to oppose the Japanese incarceration. “If you harm them, you must first harm me”, Carr said of the Japanese Americans. Out of all of the Western governors, Gov. Carr was the sole person to welcome the Japanese into his state when the War Department asked. Gov. Carr was a shining example of using a position of power to fight back, but another important takeaway from this was all of the governor’s who did nothing. The vast majority allowed the Japanese Americans to be abused as they either participated or sat back and watched.

It is imperative that people recognize their own positions of power to prevent further abuse of minority groups. Understanding your own position of power can help you use it to stand up for people who are not in the same position. Under similar circumstances, would you be like the other Western governors or would you be like Gov. Carr?