Sylvia And Aki

Time passes at Poston. In February, Aki overhears Seiko and his friend late one night as they debate two significant questions on the Leave Clearance Application, a form given to every Poston internee over the age of 17, which is required in order to leave the camp permanently. One question asks if the applicant would be willing to join the American military and serve anywhere—including Japan or the Pacific Theater—where they might battle family and friends in Japanese-controlled areas. (Seiko is fortunately excluded from this, as polio left him with an injured leg, which precludes him from enlistment.) The second question is ironic: It asks for a declaration of loyalty to the United States but implies that the applicant has a previous loyalty to the Japanese emperor (this question could also render Issei stateless as they are prohibited from gaining American citizenship). Seiko angrily questions the hypocrisy of this question, while Aki secretly wonders about the state of her and Seiko’s citizenship, which was automatically granted due to their birth in the United States. Aki’s mother counsels Seiko to answer the way he believes is right, but his responses remain a mystery.

In May, Seiko leaves Poston for a job in Denver. Seeing him off, Aki’s mother cries, but Aki does not. Instead, she dreams of a future where her family is reunited, and they can all go home. For now, all she can do is wait.

While Seiko grapples with the Leave Clearance Application in Poston, a florist named Mr. Rivera recommends a lawyer to Gonzalo, David Marcus, who specializes in integration cases. Although hiring Marcus isn’t cheap, Gonzalo does so anyway. On March 2, 1945, the Mendez, et al. v. Westminster School District of Orange County, et al. School District of Orange County lawsuit becomes official. The case has also expanded to include several other families and school districts in the county. During this time, Sylvia’s mother runs the farm while Gonzalo focuses on the lawsuit. While the Westminster school board ignored Gonzalo’s previous petition, the superintendent calls after the lawsuit begins, attempting to settle the case by offering to admit Sylvia and her brothers to Westminster School. Gonzalo refuses, declaring integration for all Latinx students or nothing. Sylvia’s mother agrees, stating, “Every child deserves a chance” (95). Sylvia begins to comprehend that the case is about more than just her family now. It is for everyone in the barrio because “there cannot be justice for one unless there is justice for all” (95). She thinks Gonzalo is brave for doing this. The case hearings will begin on July 5.

Sylvia celebrates July 4 with her family. She thinks of Aki and the irony of being incarcerated on this holiday of freedom. Sylvia writes Aki a letter.

At Poston, Aki and her mother receive three letters—one from Seiko, with candy; one from Aki’s father, labeled “Prisoner of War” (100) and heavily censored because he would include Japanese due to his imperfect English; and one from Sylvia. Sylvia writes about her life and includes a newspaper article about Gonzalo’s lawsuit. Aki is impressed.

Aki also misses her father, whom she hasn’t seen for over two years. She wonders if they will recognize each other if they ever meet again. One Friday, she comes home to her family barracks to discover that her father has been reunited with them. They are overjoyed. They believe the war is “winding down” (105) and hope they can one day return to their home in California.

The Mendez, et al. v. Westminster School District of Orange County, et al. hearings begin. Sylvia and her family observe in the audience. She watches the court reporter type and notices her hands. It is decided that one family and school district will testify and represent all parties in the case for efficiency. James L. Kent, the superintendent of another school district in Orange County, is questioned by Gonzalo’s lawyer, David Marcus. Kent defends the segregation of Hoover School and white schools, citing the need for “Americanization” classes and linguistic liabilities for Spanish-speaking students. He insists that students are tested before a school decision is made (a false statement) and declares that the school segregation is not because of students’ Latinx heritage but because 75% of the Latinx students are inferior in manners, academic ability, hygiene, and behavior. He eventually admits that he believes whites are superior in these categories. Mr. Marcus successfully reveals Kent’s discriminatory beliefs and practices, but the Mendezes are furious at Kent’s declarations. Sylvia feels dirty and ashamed.

Although Aki is happy to have her father back, all is not well in Poston. It is August 7, 1945, and the United States has just dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Many people in the camp are affected, including Aki’s barracks-neighbor, whose family is in Hiroshima. Aki’s parents’ hometown is also not far from the bomb site. The bomb on Nagasaki is dropped soon afterward, ending World War II.

Though the newspaper headlines declare “PEACE,” Aki sees the devastation of cities, enormous civilian casualties, and radiation poisoning of the ocean and wonders about the price of this peace.

Eventually, Aki and her family are able to pack their meager belongings and return to California. As she leaves Poston, Aki finally feels free.

Aki and her family, including Seiko, return to California. Sylvia and her family still have some time on their lease, so the two families temporarily share the property. Aki and Sylvia meet in person again. Sylvia shows Aki the dolls, declaring that Keiko likes empanadas, which Aki accepts. They play together and celebrate their unlikely friendship that has arisen out of terrible circumstances. When Sylvia’s family moves out, the girls exchange dolls as a farewell gift and face their respective futures.

A decade has passed. As she promised her father, Sylvia is graduating from Santa Ana High School, the first in her family to do so. As she awaits her diploma, Sylvia admires her hands and class ring and is proud of her father’s victorious lawsuit, which made segregation illegal in California and preceded another landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education (1954), in which the Supreme Court granted integration to all schools nationwide. It has been one year since the Supreme Court ruled in favor of integration, and as Sylvia tosses her graduation cap, she can’t be prouder of what her father has accomplished.