Throughout history, bigotry and prejudice prevails as a common enemy that has confronted the human species, challenging their moral consciousness and the fundamentals of their humanity. Bigotry does not take a humanoid or even physical form, but rather it manifests itself through rhetoric and through the exploitation of the arrogant. In a world so revolutionized by human technology and modernity, it is also humans who socially stagnate themselves with bigotry and the discouragement of others. Of course, not all humans take on prejudicial dispositions, however, enough have emerged to cause a mass wave of terror and harm to many throughout the world. It is perhaps ironic that the prospect of the fall of humanity is not by the invasion of an alien species or the implosion of our Sun, but rather from the internal deterioration of our people and our social state.

It is unsettling to know that after the attacks on Pearl Harbor on the 7th of December, 1941, which killed 2,403 American soldiers, 1,600 Japanese Americans died as a byproduct on part of mass bigotry in the Japanese Internment Camps established in the United States of America. Approximately 67% of the casualties in Pearl Harbor, casualties on part of war by the way, occurred on the “peaceful” soils of America! These casualties were not even due to combat or some violent war-related skirmish, but rather due to the ostracization and forced incarceration of Japanese-American citizens by their own national government! How can it be that such a detrimental amount of deaths occurred in a land untouched by war? And how can it be that during any point in our nation’s history, our government banded against a selective minority of its own citizens? Does that then therefore make our nation once a bigoted nation? It is evident that bigotry rivals even with war on the matter of instigating violence.

In the graphic novel, They Called Us Enemy, these depictions of ethnic discrimination against Japanese-Americans by its own government, a government they once devoted their nationalities to and trusted, are brought to light in a crude perspective from a young boy. The very thought that a young boy has had to endure the suffering of his own ethnic people and to live the memories down all throughout his life is far beyond unsettling, it is enraging! In They Called Us Enemy, there was a Japanese phrase which went along the lines of, “しかたがない (shikata ga nai)” which in English translates to, “It cannot be helped” or “Nothing could be done.” To me, this line embodies the futility and yet the stoicism of the Japanese-American people confronted with overwhelming prejudice. Indeed, in the wake of mass prejudice, one may so often feel powerless, especially when that one is alone and not backed up by those you trust. What astonishes me, and provides hope for me, is the indestructible and eternal community and relationships all the internees of the incarceration camps built and flourished upon in the midst of their horror. Even despite so much evil and wrongdoings, they bind together and never lose faith in one another, and in doing so alleviates some bit of misery so prominent in their lives. This sense of community is what allows humanity to prevail over the shadows of prejudice and hate. If we continue to remain loyal to our moral consciousness and to our fellow humans, then perhaps soon we will no longer have to fear the rising shadow of hate.

Constantly confronted with these sorts of prejudicial thoughts and instances in everyday life around myself, I try to the best of my ability to detach myself from the crude and indifferent reality around me by escaping into other realms, worlds, and fantasies. This allows as a means of maintaining happiness and purity amidst so much tainted morals and suffering, as I no longer have to think of these agonizing thoughts! One frequent method I like to use as an “escape pod” is through graphic novels and comics which tell of worlds so drastically different from mine in such a way that being there in my thoughts and mind teleports me into bliss and a romanticized life that this current one forsakes me of! Common graphic novels I enjoy are canonical Star Wars ones which expand upon certain lore or stories with fascinating, little intricate details or story plots which still pertain to the original plot of Star Wars. Not only does this allow me to escape into an entire different Galactic Realm, but in a sense I am digging deeper into a hold I already dug into..? (Escape to Star Wars—>Escape FURTHER into Star Wars–> :D) Another graphic novel I have read was 僕だけがいない街 or Erased, a novel I mentioned previously this past semester. This graphic novel is very dear to me since my brother introduced me to this at first and it was with him that I first watched it. Theres a deep value and importance of family and love of family (in a sense, similar to Storge but at the same time not..??!?!) as the main character grows heavily attached and reliant on his mother, but in the absence of his mother, he must adapt to harrowing circumstances, and not only does it have me think of myself and my own relationship with my mother, it reminds me of the family relationship in They Called Us Enemy between George and his mother / family in general and how they are reliant on each other in order to prevail with happiness amidst harrowing circumstances. In other aspects of this novel, I find it really comforting and cozy especially when I am alone and the weather is cloudy or naturally dark outside. Erased also conveys the virtue of friendship and trust and through these ways the main character, and perhaps you, are able to succeed! Graphic novels provide a sense of comfort and joy unequaled by other forms of media, and it is through graphic novels that one can convey a crucial message, of perhaps the same or greater importance than other works, along with pictures to strengthen that idea. Indeed, graphic novels are a fundamental and joyous part of our lives which should not be overlooked or neglected as some sort of children’s toy. So I say now, take your graphic novels and spring forth away from reality!