Achieving the Impossible Dream: HOW JAPANESE AMERICANS OBTAINED REDRESS (Asian American Experience) [Paperback]

Mitchell T Maki (Author), Harry H Kitano (Author), S Megan Berthold (Author)

Book Description

Series: Asian American Experience | Publication Date: June 25, 1999

"Nearly fifty years after being incarcerated by their own government, Japanese American concentration camp survivors succeeded in obtaining redress for the personal humiliation, family dislocation, and economic ruin caused by their ordeal. An inspiring story of wrongs made right as well as a practical guide to getting legislation through Congress, "Achieving the Impossible Dream" tells how members of this politically inexperienced minority group organized themselves at the grass-roots level, gathered political support, and succeeded in obtaining a written apology from the president of the United States and monetary compensation in accordance with the provisions of the 1988 Civil Liberties Act."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A useful case study of a successful national lobbying effort. The authors conducted many illuminating interviews and show a good grasp of the published literature." -Choice "An excellent summary of groups, individuals and events involved in the redressmovement. It offers a broad overview that makes sense of a wide-ranging and multi-faceted campaign unfolding slowly over several decades... A major contribution to Asian American studies and U.S. history, one which is destined to become a classic resource and reference text." - Stan Shikuma, Pacific Reader "[Makes] an invaluable contribution to the literature in Asian American studies by shedding light on the complex legislative process to enact the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, as well as the social, political, and economic maturity of the Japanese American community that achieved the impossible dream of obtaining redress from the United States government." -- John N. Tsuchida, Journal of American History "Valuable for its documentation of how 'relocated' Japanese Americans, their relatives, and political leaders gained apology and reparations from the United States government... The real strength of the book, however, is the clear exposition of the many forces throughout the years that worked for and against redress for wartime internment. For researchers and others wanting to delve even more thoroughly into the history, the authors have provided a comprehensive bibliography, a set of endnotes, and an excellent index." - Carol Ann Traut, MultiCultural Review ADVANCE PRAISE "The story of the incarceration of Japanese Americans and the subsequent Japanese American redress movement involves the worst and best of what our country has to offer. Mitchell Maki, Harry Kitano, and Megan Berthold have written an informative account of the Japanese American community's quest for justice."-Senator Daniel K. Inouye "The story of the Japanese American redress movement involved the victimization of an American community; the strength and courage of that community to raise its voice to demand justice; the legislative and judicial battles that made that demand a reality; and most important, the healing and reconciliation that occurred within individuals and a community and between a nation and its people... Through archival documents, public statements, and personal stories, Achieving The Impossible Dream tells this very important story. It is must reading for all Americans who cherish the Constitution and all that it promises."-Norman Y. Mineta, former U.S. congressman

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press (June 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0252067649
• ISBN-13: 978-0252067648
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,210,600 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dramatic retelling of a great moment in U.S. History, December 12, 1999

By 

John Nakashima (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Achieving the Impossible Dream: HOW JAPANESE AMERICANS OBTAINED REDRESS (Asian American Experience) (Hardcover)

Drs Maki, Kiano, and Berthold have done a tremendous service to U.S. historians and future generations of Americans with their well-documented account of the redress movement for Americans of Japanese ancestry who were incarcerated in concentration camps during World War II. Besides offering a theoretical policy model to explain the successful passage of the redress initiative, the authors provide a dramatic retelling of how thousands of American citizens, groups, and ultimately, U.S. congressmen from different racial and political backgrounds joined together in their attempt to acknowledge one of the most terrible miscarriages of justice in U.S. history. Especially, the passages describing the former internee testimonies and final fight for the bill in the Congress is the stuff of high drama and speaks to the nobility and courage of our country's citizens and leaders. An exceptional book, which I hope, will finally refute any real objections to the redress bill and make clear in some increasingly isolated critics' minds, the distinction between the the WWII Japanese Military -- and loyal Americans of Japanese ancestry who fought hard for the survival and principals of this country.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lesson for All to Learn, October 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Achieving the Impossible Dream: HOW JAPANESE AMERICANS OBTAINED REDRESS (Asian American Experience) (Paperback)

This is "the" book on the behind the scenes action of how redress was finally achieved for all Japanese Americans, who were illegally incarcerated in concentration camps for crimes they did not commit. The fact that these camps were unconstitional has been proven countless times (refer: President Reagan's apology in 1988). The credibility of the book is proven by the academic careers of the university professors who wrote this tell-tale book (as opposed to the national enquirer level writing of the person who wrote the book mentioned in the below review) and its use as a textbook in the finest universities in America (Harvard, UCLA, UCBerkeley, to name a few). A must reading for those with an interest in ethnic studies and American history/policy.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent ! Excellent ! Excellent !, December 2, 1999

By 

J Schlaeder (Orlando, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Achieving the Impossible Dream: HOW JAPANESE AMERICANS OBTAINED REDRESS (Asian American Experience) (Hardcover)

This is a great book detailing how the case for redress was formed. It contains great info for those studying the great tragedy that hit the Japanese American community during WWII --their internment in American Concentration Camps. And it serves as a reminder for us all that we need to live in harmony in order for our great country the United States to continue to succeed both socially and economically in the future.