Images and Imaginings of Internment: Comics and Illustrations of Camp

Little Joe

 

Summary

The comic strip "Little Joe" follows a sheriff on his search to find escaped Japanese American internees who are described as the "most dangerous prisoners". Little Joe makes racist comments that Japanese American internees get good treatment in the camp, especially in comparison to the treatment of indigenous tribes who are digging irrigation ditches. Soon Little Joe stumbles upon a chief who is surveilling the group of Japanese Americans. Little Joe asks why they are so willing to work. The chief gestures to three graves and says "Three say no—others work fine now!". With that Little Joe returns home without recapturing the internees. When the mayor inquires if he couldn't find them, Little Joe replies that it's a big country and the Japanese Americans can be put to work instead of being put back into the camps.

"These were our most dangerous prisoners!"

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