The above photo was taken in the fall of 1941 at the University of Washington before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. At the time, they were UW's single largest ethnic group. But by spring, they were gone, shipped away and incarcerated in internment camps. Now, 66 years later, the University plans to issue honorary degrees to all those Japanese Americans forced to leave campus in the months after Pearl Harbor: For former WWII internees, UW degrees come after 66-year wait. It's an unprecedented move for the UW, which has issued just 11 honorary degrees since 1885.
The ceremony will take place on May 18, with keynote speaker Norm Mineta, former U.S. transportation secretary (who was also an internee). For more information about the event, go here: The Long Journey Home: Honoring UW Nikkei Students of 1941-1942. 66 years is way too long to for such an acknowledgement. But at least it's happening. This sounds like a really great way to draw attention to this part of history and make sure it isn't forgotten.
