Jessica Prudencio STACC English 100 Professor Kuroki 20 October 2013 Essay #3 Southland is a novel by Nina Revoyr that

introduces injustices such as segregation, racial discrimination, and hate crimes, which many African Americans and Japanese Americans went through. As Jackie Ishida and James Lanier investigate the murder of Curtis Martindale, Jackie learns more about her grandfather Frank Sakais past. As a result she becomes less segregated from the world and more aware about the injustices that happened to many minority groups, and also becomes more concerned about the events that are happening around her. One of the Injustices that occurred often several years back, that Jackie was not clearly aware about, was the acts of discrimination against Japanese Americans. For instance, Japanese Americans were one of the groups that faced one of the biggest wrong doings during World War II. The Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941 was what led the creation of internment camps. These facilities were created for national defense, issued by the executive order 9066, that stated that all people who were from Japanese descent were to be immediately removed from their homes and sent to internment camps. This also included American citizens who had any kind of Japanese ancestry. The people in the camps had to face other hardships. Many of the camps were located in the desert, and face unbearable temperatures (unknown). The living conditions that they had to endure were really harsh. The U.S committed that same criminal outrages that the Nazis did against European Jews.

In addition, Jackie learns that Frank and his family went through mass of discrimination during World War II, because they were of Japanese descent; his family lost his father and sister. Frank later decided to join the army, Revoyr states that, If he didnt fight, hed be branded, excluded forever, lose what little chance he sill might have for making a life in his own country (Revoyr 100). Like Frank, many young Japanese Americans felt like they had to prove their loyalty to a country that had taken everything from them. Jackie was shocked about the things that her own people, and family went through. She was never interested about the events that occurred way before she was born, and if she knew about these injustices that her grandfather had gone through, then maybe she would have had a better connection with her own grandfather. Another form of racism that happened repeatedly in Southland was hate crime, especially hatred against minority groups. For instance, Nick Lawson, a white cop who felt superior among African Americans, was the number one suspect in the Curtis Martindale murder. Lawson had an immense hatred against minority groups especially African Americans, and took it upon himself to always show Curtis that he hated him by pursuing and abusing him constantly. Lawson was a bigot, he was someone that discriminated and was prejudice among others. According to society he was culturally and ethnically more dominant because he was white. Self-hatred was also something that Jackie became aware about during the murder investigation with Lanier. When Jackie and Lanier came upon the news that Robert was the one that locked Curtis and the other young boys in the freezer, Lanier was the most shocked. He couldnt believe it, And while hed realized that something was wrong about Thomas, he couldnt fathom that this man-that any black man- would commit such an act against children (Revoyr 302). Robert Thomas was ashamed of his own skin color, shame that he was the color of the arsonists and looters (Revoyr 299). He desired to be white, and wanted to part of the

majority group. He made sure that stench of poverty and long-ago plantations was not going to be an issue in his life. Therefore, he and his wife dressed up as a maid and chauffeur to move into a house in West Los Angeles. Thomas could have used his power to fight for his people, but instead he turned against his own. (Revoyr 224) Additionally, It was during the late eighteen through the nineteen hundreds, that segregation of minority and majority groups took place. Many African Americans and Japanese Americans were scorned and treated unfairly. Frank Sakai experienced first hand of this act when he and his friends went to Santa Monica Beach. They were all running towards the water, until they suddenly stopped when they came across a big sign that separated the beach between blacks and whites. Frank and his friends were confused; they didnt know what side they belonged to. Until a burly whiteman passed by on the way to his car, his chest burned oink and tender. Japs go over there, he said helpfully, pointing toward the colored side (Revoyr 83). Segregation not only made young kids uncomfortable, but it also led to many other events, such as the Watts Riots. Despite that racial segregation occurred before Jackie was born, it immensely played a big role in her life, in the beginning of Southland. For example, Jackie Ishida felt uncomfortable and weird when she would come face to face with her own culture. When she was walking through little Tokyo and was surrounded by many Japanese faces, Jackie felt more conspicuous on this street, as if everyone could sense how out of place she felt (Revoyr 73). Jackie felt out of place when she interacted with Japanese Americans. Even though Jackie is Japanese American she felt discomfort just by looking at their faces. Jackie did definitely not consider herself Japanese American. She also couldnt see herself being attracted to her friend Rebekah who was Asian. Revoyr states, But the Asian qualities of her face - the flatness, the roundness, the slight

slant to her eyes were hurdles she could not clear (177). Jackie suddenly stopped herself from being attracted to Rebekah because of the way she looked. She dislikes the features of Rebekahs face and separates and eliminates the possibility of ever being with someone that is Asian. This can also be seen as a form of self-hatred, since she is Japanese American. Jackie discovers many things that push her to break the wall of segregation she puts among her own people and family. Before, she cared less about the events that surrounded her daily, but then she later learns to feel sympathy for others. For instance, she learns to care about the things that Frank faced and how the truth of Curtis Martindale murder affected Lanier. She also takes interest in the Thai workers who have been subjected to slavery, but are rejected from amnesty. Through the process of resolving the murder case mystery, Jackie becomes more human and less of a robot. Furthermore, injustices such as Hate crimes, racial segregation, and discrimination against certain racial groups have not stopped, even though its illegal in todays society. People still discriminate others based on what they believe, and the aftermath of the incident of 9/11 is great example of that. Since the devastating terrorists attacks of September 11, 2011, an ugly tide of racism has been rising in America, directed at people of Muslim faith and Middle Eastern descent (guest). History is repeating itself year after year, a domino effect that should be stopped, because many people suffer from it. All in all, Individuals in todays society should stop being the old Jackie and transform into the new Jackie. The more people become educated about what is happening around the world and are aware of the effects of discrimination it has on people, the less likely these injustices are bound to occur again.

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