Exiled To Motown: The Japanese American Community in Detroit

People of Japanese ancestry have, like other Asians and people of color, have experienced discrimination in the United States for well over a century. Nevertheless, the most profoundly hurtful discriminatory acts were perpetrated by the United States government during World War II. In the months following the attack on Pearl Harbor, more than 100,000 Japanese Americans, most of them U.S. citizens, were forced from their homes on the West Coast and sent to concentration camps in isolated parts of the western U.S. Some were able to leave the camps or avoid incarceration by agreeing to move to locations east of the Mississippi River. Even so, Japanese Americans were required to “assimilate” into American society by isolating themselves from others with whom they shared heritage. This exhibition explores the experiences and triumphs of those who came to be “Exiled To Motown.”

Produced by the Detroit Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League with contributions from the Detroit Historical Society and the Gordon L. Grosscup Museum of Anthropology at Wayne State University, this exhibition is based on oral history accounts from Detroit residents. These Americans of Japanese ancestry experienced not only unjust treatment at the hands of their government but also racist attitudes and cruel behavior from their fellow citizens, some of which persisted even after the war’s end. Nevertheless, Japanese Americans have survived and thrived in Detroit and across the Great Lakes region. “Exiled To Motown” showcases their resiliency in the face of adversity and highlights the strong sense of community they were able to generate despite their circumstances.

Originally developed by Mika Kennedy and Celeste Shimoura Goedert of the Detroit Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, in collaboration with the Detroit Historical Museum. Presented Oct. 12, 2023 through Jan. 31, 2024.