Saying ‘No’ to an American Loyalty Test
Karen Tei Yamashita's new novel, Questions 27 & 28, explores the complex theme of loyalty in the context of Japanese internment during World War II. The book intertwines the stories of nearly 100 individuals affected by the internment and the controversial loyalty questions they faced. Through a blend of historical documents and creative writing, Yamashita examines the lasting implications of coerced loyalty on American identity.
- ▪The novel is titled after the loyalty questions posed to Japanese internees during World War II.
- ▪Yamashita's parents were both interned, giving her a personal connection to the subject matter.
- ▪The book incorporates archival materials to highlight the diverse responses to the loyalty questions among internees.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
BooksSaying ‘No’ to an American Loyalty TestIn her new novel, Karen Tei Yamashita challenges readers to join her in deciphering a shameful moment from the nation’s past.By Lily MeyerRelocation departure II, Manzanar Relocation Center in 1943 (Ansel Adams / Library of Congress)May 20, 2026, 7 AM ET ShareSave Loyalty—a virtue elementary schoolers can explain clearly—has long seemed to confuse the United States government. Some administrations have equated it to patriotism, others to partisan allegiance. Some have tried to manufacture it: In 1955, President Dwight Eisenhower declared May 1 to be Loyalty Day, an anti-Communist alternative to the labor movement’s May Day that hardly anyone now celebrates.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Atlantic.
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