During World War II, after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans in the western United States were forced into prison camps. internment because the government felt the Japanese were dangerous if they weren't. moved. These camps were generally in poor condition and located in deserted areas of the country. The Japanese were forced to make the best of their situation and so adults farmed the land and tried to maximize their leisure time while children tried to enjoy their childhood. The photo of the interned cheerleaders, taken by internee and photographer Toyo Miyatake, shows sixteen girls standing on bleachers while posing in front of the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range and the desolate backdrop of Manzanar. Their faces display mixed expressions of happiness, sadness and indifference, and their clothing is elegant and American style. With the image of these girls smiling in front of a desolate background, Miyatake captures an optimistic mood in times of despair. Although this photograph is a depiction of the Manzanar internment camp and, like most depictions, leaves much unsaid, the cheerleader outfits and smiling faces provide a good insight into the cooperative attitudes of Japanese Americans and the desire of their youth to be Americanized in this camp. time.The smiling faces of the posing girls express a sense of acceptance of their given situation and their ability to find happiness in the darkest of circumstances. Life in the camp was horrible, but many Japanese, although frustrated and depressed, accepted what the government asked of them. Their compliant behavior was a result of the impasse they found themselves in (a situation in which they were damned if they did and damned if they didn't). Because Japan bombed Pearl... middle of paper ... ... had to pay all expenses of the imprisoned and impoverished Japanese when they were released from the camp. The compensation they were offered added insult to injury and was not enough to keep the released internees alive. If the Japanese had not been able to recover from their degradation, the United States would most likely have been forced to repair the harm it had caused its people. Real. Steven Okazaki. Perf. Estelle Ishigo. Dimension of Culture 3 Conference, University of California, San Diego, spring 2010. April 16, 2010. History and memory. Dir Rea Tajiri. Dimensions of Culture 3 Conference, University of California, San Diego, Spring 2010. April 19, 2010. Miyatake, Toyo. Internees Majorettes.c. 1943. Dimensions of Culture 3, University of California, San Diego. Internet. April 18 2010.