A social injustice, as understood in our society, is any action against an individual or group, which would deny them of their basic human rights. At the turn of the century, many immigrants fled their country as a consequence of government oppression, religious persecution, famine and poverty. A substantial number of immigrants believed they could live in a prosperous world, free of intolerance and discrimination in North America. Sadly, in Joy Kogawa's Obasan and E.L. Doctorow's Ragtime , this dream is not true." The scum of creation has been
dumped on us. The most dangerous and corrupting hordes of the world have
invaded us. The vice and crime which have planted in our midst are sickening and
terrifying" ( This Fabulous Century, 1975, 72 ) . The speaker, Thomas Watson, is
implying that the United States is suspicious about these new arrivals and does not
welcome them with open arms through the " golden door of opportunity. " Similar
feelings in Canada were directed towards the Japanese Canadians when World War
II started. In other words, both countries felt that the segregated ethnic cultures were
a threat to their socities. In Joy Kogawa's Obasan and E.L. Doctorow's Ragtime
both authors illustrate the dark side of the " North American Dream " because
segregated ethnic cultures had to endure humiliation, denial of their rights and lack
In both novels, Obasan's family and different characters in Ragtime had
many of their rights taken away. Prior to the out break of World War II, many
Japanese Canadians were living comfortably in Vancouver. As soon as the war broke
out, this immediately changed. The Canadian Government passed a bill called the
War Measures Act against all Japanese Canadians, even the Issei and their children
( Nisei) who came from Japan before 1942. The bill withheld many rights of
Japanese Canadians for 7 yea...