When comes to the prejudice, “Snow Falling on Cedars” tells how the character evidence and the community and jury’s attitude toward a Japanese are misled by racial stereotype in the legal system. First off, Minamoto’s character evidence is misled by the racial discrimination. In the 1950s, prejudice retains a strong hold over the people of San Piedro Island. After World War II, the situation for the Japanese in America becomes worse. Many Americans are racist and display hatred toward the Japanese. They believe Japanese are monsters and killers. When Minamoto is involved in the murder, they have no doubt that he is the murder. In fact, the
Japanese-Americans had nothing to do with the bombing of Pearl Harbor but yet the racial elements come …show more content…
“The accused man, Kabuo Miyamoto, say proudly upright with a rigid grace, his palms placed softly on the defendant’s table…Some in the gallery would later say that his stillness suggested a disdain for the proceedings; other felt certain it ceiled a fear of the verdict that was to come" (Guterson 3). The description of Miyamoto’s appearance can be one of the evidence that is pushed by racial suspicions. Here, Miyamoto is described as a man who shows no fear or no emotions of sympathy. Because of his calm poker face and his Japanese identity, people find Miyamoto haughty and aloof. They think Miyamoto is associated with Imperial Japan. However, the truth is “If you see in his face a lack of emotion, if you see in him a silent pride, it is the pride and hollowness of a veteran of war who has returned home to this. He has returned to find himself the victim of prejudice-make no mistake about it, this trial is about prejudice-in the country he fought to defend” (Guterson 417). The racial prejudice misleads the jury to believe that Miyamoto is not a good man because he is a …show more content…
Whaley remarked to the sheriff Art Moran that Carl’s head wound resembled wounds he had seen inflicted by Japanese soldiers skilled in the martial art of kendo (Guterson 58). Whaley’s comment led Moran to investigate more closely. The evidence seemed to point directly to Miyamoto. After searching Miyamoto o’s boat, Art found a fishing gaff with blood on the handle. Blood, when tested, proved to be of the same relatively rare blood type as Carl’s. In Japanese culture the prized characteristics of being trained in the arts of Kendo, the ancient stick fighting heritage and being top in his class makes him look like a murderer. The reason for this weaponry is because of the need of self-defense and uses it for protection. Whaley’s prejudice could be one of the factors that convicted
Japanese-Americans had nothing to do with the bombing of Pearl Harbor but yet the racial elements come …show more content…
“The accused man, Kabuo Miyamoto, say proudly upright with a rigid grace, his palms placed softly on the defendant’s table…Some in the gallery would later say that his stillness suggested a disdain for the proceedings; other felt certain it ceiled a fear of the verdict that was to come" (Guterson 3). The description of Miyamoto’s appearance can be one of the evidence that is pushed by racial suspicions. Here, Miyamoto is described as a man who shows no fear or no emotions of sympathy. Because of his calm poker face and his Japanese identity, people find Miyamoto haughty and aloof. They think Miyamoto is associated with Imperial Japan. However, the truth is “If you see in his face a lack of emotion, if you see in him a silent pride, it is the pride and hollowness of a veteran of war who has returned home to this. He has returned to find himself the victim of prejudice-make no mistake about it, this trial is about prejudice-in the country he fought to defend” (Guterson 417). The racial prejudice misleads the jury to believe that Miyamoto is not a good man because he is a …show more content…
Whaley remarked to the sheriff Art Moran that Carl’s head wound resembled wounds he had seen inflicted by Japanese soldiers skilled in the martial art of kendo (Guterson 58). Whaley’s comment led Moran to investigate more closely. The evidence seemed to point directly to Miyamoto. After searching Miyamoto o’s boat, Art found a fishing gaff with blood on the handle. Blood, when tested, proved to be of the same relatively rare blood type as Carl’s. In Japanese culture the prized characteristics of being trained in the arts of Kendo, the ancient stick fighting heritage and being top in his class makes him look like a murderer. The reason for this weaponry is because of the need of self-defense and uses it for protection. Whaley’s prejudice could be one of the factors that convicted