Art Shibayama and the Branches of Reparation

The story of Art Shibayama, a Peruvian of Japanese descent; tells the unsettling story of how Japanese Latin Americans were kidnapped and forced to live in American government camps known as internment camps in Crystal City, Texas. Years after the war ended, Japanese Americans protested for redress for the crime America did to their people. Japanese Americans received about $20,000 in restoration, while Japanese Latin Americans received only $5,000 and a weak apology that reminded them that they were considered “illegal aliens” when they entered. Art Shibayama continued to press a second redress for Japanese-Latin Americans. Today redress, known as reparations is used in diverse communities like Gay Reparations and the 40 Acre and A Mule movement encouraging the U.S. Congress to restore what was lost from their community. 

 

Through a small narrative zine, Art Shibayama’s quotes guide readers through his tale and how important redress is to him and his community. The zine is used to guide viewers to a map of the definition and the recent events linked to reparations. The map describes five different categories reparations lead to. Addresses the effects on today’s communities fighting for justice and closure.

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Justice is a term constantly popping up in today’s vocabulary, encouraging our generation to secure peace in a long, dark history slowly coming to light. Protests and other forms of speech are important, but take action and build a community that connects to larger political groups who can help change. Did you know about the importance of reparations? Did you know anything about reparations? Do you find redress important to help continue to fight for? Have you thought about the possible reparations for your community?

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