They Called Us Enemy

Why do think Takei chose to present this memoir as a graphic novel? Would it have been as effective if it had been text only? Why or why not?

How familiar were you with the Japanese internment camps prior to reading They Called Us Enemy? What surprised you about the story, and why?

How do you think the government chose the amount of $20,000 for the restitution check? Would any amount have been enough or too much?

Which parts of Takei’s book are most relevant to American society today? Explain your reasoning.

How did you feel when George told his father that he had been too passive and that he should have protested the internment? Do you agree with George’s accusation?

Do you find anything in Takei’s optimism about America naive? Why or why not?

Discuss the role that community plays in the book. How is the theme of loyalty represented in the various communities?

George’s mother and father suffer in different ways during the initial stages of the internment. Compare and contrast their experiences in the camps and their responses to their new circumstances.