When Justice Failed

When Justice Failed relates the life and experiences of the Japanese American who defied the order of internment during World War II and took his case as far as the Supreme Court.

After the Japanese Navy attacks Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States and Japan are at war. For over one hundred thousand Japanese Americans, the war brings special tragedy. One and all, they are all rounded up by the United States Army and imprisoned in internment camps. Fred Korematsu challenges his arrest and the treatment of Japanese Americans during the war.

Fred Korematsu’s case is heard at the US. Supreme Court, and he loses the case. In 1983, evidence that has been suppressed by the government lawyers, was presented in San Francisco Federal Court, and the government had to admit its error in the Supreme Court case. Ultimately, the government apologized and made reparations to all of those internees still alive.

Steven A. Chin is a published author of children’s books. Some of his published credits include Dragon Parade: A Chinese New Year Story, When Justice Failed: The Fred Korematsu Story (Stories of America) and The Success of Gordon H. Chong and Associates.

David Tamura has contributed to When Justice Failed: The Fred Korematsu Story (Stories of America) as an illustrator. Tseng, who was born and raised in Taiwan, is the only artist living outside China to have received the Golden Globet Award for excellence in Chinese painting from the National Art Association in Taiwan.

Alex Haley, as General Editor, wrote the introduction.