Farewell To Manzanar By Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

1008 Words5 Pages

Farewell to manzanar a story by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston tells a life change that a girl and her family must go through because of their race. Jeanne the main character of the story from the beginning of the book and to the end experiences prejudice because of her race and is denied opportunities but overcomes prejudice to better herself. December 7, 1941 the japanese attack pearl harbor. The attack on Pearl Harbor leaves many casualties and brings the US ultimately into WW2. With the US involvement in WW2 , president Roosevelt signs Executive Order 9066 2 months after the attack on pearl harbor.This new order allows the military the power to contain those see who they see as threats to America. As a result 110.000 japanese americans in …show more content…

The media shows the japanese to still be enemy of America. She felt that with the war won the racism towards japanese people would have decreased but it dint. When Jeanne enters Long Beach Polytechnic High School she faces racism from parents and classmates because of her race. Shes not invited to sleepovers, parents wouldn't want her talking to their kids and teaches resented her. Jeanne also faced racism in society as well. She writes that she had a blonde friend who was in the girl scouts. She thought to herself and believed maybe she would be able to join if she was upfront about her race. When her blonde friend asked her mom, who was the assistant troop leader, she responds with a no a day after. No because Jeanne is japanese and the girl scouts wouldn't allow a japanese girl in because parents would be angered. Jeanne sees that because of her race she is denied opportunities in society even though she considers herself american. Jeanne begins overcoming the prejudice that she faces because of her race. She writes “This was exactly what I wanted. It also gave me the first sure sign of how certain intangible barriers might be crossed (146).” Jeanne had discovers that she is the lead majorette for the Boy Scout drum and bugle corps. By getting becoming the lead majorette , jeanne finds that she can overcome the prejudice of others. Her mindset changes from the girl who was afraid of the prejudice of others , to a girl who felt she wouldn't let her race hold her

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