POV Season 35 Episode 4 Manzanar, Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust

In POV season 35 episode 5, "Manzanar, Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust," the film explores the lasting legacy of Japanese American incarceration during World War II and how it relates to current environmental issues. The documentary follows two women, Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga and Jennifer Nishikawa, as they visit the site of the former Manzanar concentration camp in California.

Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga was a young girl when she and her family were rounded up and forced to relocate to Manzanar during the war. She later became a key figure in the redress movement, fighting for reparations and acknowledgement of the injustices committed against Japanese Americans during the war. Now in her 90s, she returns to Manzanar with Jennifer Nishikawa, a young woman from the same community who is grappling with the effects of environmental racism and the intersection of race and climate change in her own life.

As they walk through the barren landscape, Aiko shares her memories of life inside the camp, describing the harsh living conditions and the trauma of being torn from her home and community. Through archival footage and interviews with other former internees, the film gives an intimate look into the daily life of those who lived in Manzanar.

But the film also delves into more recent issues facing the community, particularly the diversion of water from the Owens Valley by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. This has led to the drying up of creeks and lakes that were once lifelines for the people of the valley, including the farmers of the Manzanar area. Jennifer and other community members speak about the devastating effects this has had on their lives and livelihoods, and the film makes a powerful case for the importance of fighting for environmental justice and protecting our natural resources.

Overall, "Manzanar, Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant film that sheds light on both historical and contemporary issues facing the Japanese American community. Through the stories of Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga and Jennifer Nishikawa, viewers are invited to reflect on the enduring impact of mass incarceration and the urgent need for environmental activism in today's world.