A new traveling exhibition from the Fred T. Korematsu Institute asks visitors to think about examples of unfair treatment from our country’s past and present in order to protect the American promises of life, liberty, and justice for all.
The exhibition is named after a quote from Fred Korematsu, who famously challenged the mass imprisonment of 125,000 Japanese Americans during WWII. When faced with federal criminal charges for not obeying military orders to leave his home, the 23-year-old U.S. citizen remembered his Constitutional rights and asked, “Am I an American or am I not?”
Introduction
Just over 80 years ago – in our parents’ and grandparents’ lifetimes – the U.S. government incarcerated 125,000 American citizens and law-abiding residents without a trial simply because their family came from another country…
Immigration & Citizenship
The WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans didn’t come out of nowhere. It is part of a broader story of race in the U.S. The groundwork for this discrimination was laid centuries earlier...
Othering
When the belief spreads that some of the people in a community don’t belong – that they are different or threatening – those people can become vulnerable to abuse, discrimination, and persecution, even if that belief is based on lies…
Loyalty & Resistance
During the war, Japanese Americans took various paths to prove their patriotism. Most Japanese Americans complied with the orders to enter incarceration camps to support the war effort and underscore their loyalty to their country…
Resilience & Solidarity
During the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII, most people simply stood by. However, acts of solidarity from those outside the community played a crucial role in supporting those in the camps…
Conclusion
The unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII serves as a reminder of the importance of civic activism in defense of American democracy. We cannot rely on our government or “someone else”…
This is about all of us
“AM I AN AMERICAN OR AM I NOT?” is not just about Japanese Americans. Across groups and throughout time are many stories that challenge Constitutional liberties and human rights in our country. This exhibition bridges past and present, highlights stories of connection, and asks you to consider:
What will you do to stand up for justice for all?
Visit Online or In Person
“AM I AN AMERICAN OR AM I NOT?” is available in three formats:
Digital
Designed for online audiences, the digital version includes additional images, videos, and long-form articles.
Gallery
Designed for 1,200-1,500 sq. ft. spaces, the gallery version includes large print photographs, artifacts, and ephemera.
Pop-up
Ideal for 700-800 sq. ft. areas, the pop-up version includes 13 modular, free-standing towers, 30” x 30” x 78” each.
Tour Dates
Mar 30, 2025 - Apr 27, 2025
- 1700 W Washington St. Phoenix, AZ 85007
Apr 1, 2025 - Jun 1, 2025
- Courthouse Plaza 10 N. Ludlow St Dayton, OH 45402
Jun 29, 2025 - Sep 21, 2025
- 77885 Avenida Montezuma La Quinta, CA 92253
Learn More
For Educators
We encourage educators to bring students in grades 4-12 to see the exhibition in person or online. The educator’s guide offers recommendations to prepare yourself and your students before touring the exhibition and activities designed to prepare students to engage deeply in its contents and respond to what they learned and felt during and after their visit.
For Researchers
For those students and researchers interested in digging further into the subject matter explored in “AM I AN AMERICAN OR AM I NOT?” we offer tools for exploring the individual images and artifacts included in the exhibition, as well as links to recommended resources, including books, articles, podcasts, and other websites.