We Are Not Free

Stan, 18. February 1943.

Stan initially decided not to apply to college because most schools wouldn’t accept him based on his race. However, now that a year has passed since Pearl Harbor, he’s hoping that sentiments outside the camp have changed. He’s written letters to five schools to request an application. As the responses trickle in, Stan is disappointed to get letters that only offer a long list of prequalifications: Rejections.

There are camp rumors about two questions on the questionnaire. One question asks if the person is willing to serve in the armed forces, and the other asks if the person will renounce foreign governments. The acceptable answer to these questions is “Yes-Yes” (123), even though some, like Tommy, would prefer to answer No-Yes. The questions begin to divide the camp. Stan struggles with his answers; he knows he should answer “Yes-Yes” to keep his hopes of college alive, but his experiences make him want to say No-No.

The last response from Stan’s college letters comes back with an application. He tells his father and doesn’t realize immediately how proud his father is. However, as they walk through the park, Stan’s father stops to tell everyone they pass. Stan is excited, but everything changes in an instant when Mr. Uyeda, an older man who was playing fetch with his dog, is shot for getting too close to the fence. Stan and his father are interrogated all night. By morning, Stan knows his dream of school is gone because he’s going to say No-No on the questionnaire.

Aiko, 14. March-September 1943.

After the murder of Mr. Uyeda, the camp erupts into protests. Aiko and her family hide in their barracks, reluctant to get involved. Mas stops by to say that he and others are “going to see if we can calm things down a bit” (139). Aiko sneaks out as Tommy goes with Mas, even though she was told she couldn’t go. Aiko is nearly crushed in the crowd, but Mas comes to her rescue.

The protestors have instituted a work strike, so when Stan and Twitchy deliver food to the barracks, they are called strikebreakers. Aiko and Tommy go to help, but their father calls them back. He is a No-No and spends most of his time with the protestors. Over the next week, things return to normal, but tensions between the No-Nos and the Yes-Yeses continue to build. Before long, rumors swirl that the No-Nos will be sent to a separate camp.

After Mas, Frankie, and Twitchy enlist in the army and leave for boot camp, Aiko and others form a baseball team. While playing one afternoon, they see a man being beaten by a group of men. Aiko leads the charge toward the men to stop the fight. A short time later, it is announced that the No-Nos will be moving to Tule Lake in California, and Bette applies to be resettled in New York City.

Yuki, 16. October 1943.

Yuki still plays softball even though Aiko and Bette are gone, and is excited because today is the team’s first away game—against one of the local high schools, the Delta Rabbits. The game goes well, and the Topaz Rams win. On the way home, Yuki suggests they stop at a local grocery store to get ice cream. After some hesitation, their coach agrees and takes everyone’s orders. However, when Yuki and the coach walk into the store, the man behind the counter refuses to serve them, hurling a racial slur at her: “We don’t serve Japs here!” (168). Yuki comforts the coach as they return to the bus, but she is upset that her coach did not defend her against the racist clerk.