Racism

The issue of racism has always been one surrounding much controversy. It is the type that hushes a crowd and touches the heart. The novel, Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson, exemplifies the dark shadow that racism casts on society. Through Kabuo’s loss of land, the internment camps that Kabuo, Hatsue and their families experience, the break up of Ishmael and Hatsue, and Kabuo’s murder indictment, racism still finds a way to affect a society.

Before the years of war, Zenhichi, Kabuo's father, makes an illegal agreement with Carl Heine senior. This is a key conflict that changes everything. The agreement is based on an eight-year "lease-to-own" contract that the two men discuss and agree upon. When the war comes and the Japanese Americans are sent away to internment camps, everything changes. Nothing is quite the same as the war comes to an end. When the Miyamotos return to claim their land, they find out that the victim’s mother, Etta, has cheated them. She has sold their seven acres of land to another farmer because the Miyamotos are unable to pay their last payment, due to circumstances caused by the war. This disrespectful action she takes is caused by her racist thoughts that she has toward the Japanese.

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In this murder case, racism plays a very important role in affecting the judgment and outcome of the trial. As time goes on, however, their relationship can no longer be sustained. Despite the racial differences and their parents' disapproval, they still carry on their relationship behind their parents’ backs. The war changes everything: the life of people, the relationship between the Americans and the Japanese, and their perceptions of each other. S government is being racist toward the Japanese. Because of the coroner’s inaccurate judgment, Kabuo’s situation in the trail worsens.

Everything opens up during Kabuo Miyamoto’s trail. As being Japanese, Kabuo is placed under very unpleasant circumstance.

Racism plays a big role in this novel. The coroner points out that the wound is caused by a Japanese martial art, Kendo, because a narrow flat object causes the wound. Being born in that period of time is tragic for the lovers. against their home country to demonstrate their loyalty because they believe that they are American and no longer consider themselves Japanese.

Approximate Word count = 861
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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