Ralph Lazo: The Mexican-American Teenager Who Voluntarily Entered a Japanese Internment Camp

1924 – 1992

Portrait of Ralph Lazo, a Mexican-American man who was interned in a Japanese-American concentration camp during World War II, highlighting his unique experience

Ralph Lazo, born on November 3, 1924, in Los Angeles, California, was a Mexican-American and Irish-American student who took an extraordinary stand against the injustice of Japanese-American internment during World War II.

Early Life and Decision to Join Manzanar

At 17 years old, while attending Belmont High School in Los Angeles, Lazo witnessed the forced removal of his Japanese-American friends and neighbors to internment camps as part of the U.S. government’s wartime policies. Outraged by this injustice, he decided to accompany them voluntarily to the Manzanar War Relocation Center in California’s Owens Valley. In May 1942, without revealing his non-Japanese heritage, Lazo boarded the train with his friends to Manzanar, where officials did not question his ancestry.

Reflecting on his decision, Lazo later stated, “It was wrong, and I couldn’t accept it… These people hadn’t done anything that I hadn’t done except go to Japanese language school.”

Life at Manzanar and Military Service

During his time at Manzanar, Lazo integrated into the community, attending high school and engaging in various activities. In 1944, he was elected class president of Manzanar High School. His commitment extended to entertaining orphaned children who had been relocated to the camp.

In August 1944, Lazo was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving as a Staff Sergeant in the South Pacific and contributing to the liberation of the Philippines. For his bravery, he was awarded the Bronze Star.

Photo of the Japanese internment camp during WWII, highlighting the unjust internment experience of Latinx and Asian American communities

Post-War Advocacy and Legacy

After World War II, Lazo returned to Los Angeles, earning a sociology degree from UCLA and a master’s in education from California State University, Northridge. He dedicated his career to teaching and advocating for civil rights, particularly supporting reparations for Japanese-Americans affected by internment. Lazo played a significant role in the redress movement, which culminated in the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, offering formal apologies and reparations to internment survivors.

Lazo’s remarkable story was later depicted in the 2004 film “Stand Up for Justice: The Ralph Lazo Story,” highlighting his solidarity and courage during a dark chapter in American history.