Final answer:
Racialization is the sociological process experienced by Japanese Americans who were interned during World War II due to racial prejudice and war hysteria following Pearl Harbor. Over 120,000 individuals of Japanese descent, including U.S. citizens, were forcibly relocated as a result of Executive Order 9066.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a group goes from being relatively unnoticed to being singled out for discrimination on the basis of newly socially important differences, sociologists call this process racialization. An example of this is the internment of Japanese Americans following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. This discriminatory action was a result of Executive Order 9066, signed by President Roosevelt, which forced over 120,000 Japanese Americans, many of whom were U.S. citizens, into relocation camps.
Despite a lack of evidence indicating disloyalty, the fear of espionage or sabotage instigated by war hysteria and racial prejudice led to their internment. This unjustified policy had severe repercussions for the Japanese American community, including loss of property, violation of civil rights, and a lasting impact on their societal status. It wasn't until decades later that the U.S. government formally apologized and offered reparations.