How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
The truth was, at this point Papa did not know which way to turn. In the government's eyes a free man now, he sat, like those black slaves you hear about who, when they got word of their freedom at the end of the Civil War, just did not know where else to go or what else to do and ended up back on the plantation, rooted there out of habit or lethargy or fear. (2.16.19)
Is this a good analogy? On one hand, comparing Papa's dilemma to those of freed black people kind of makes sense if you just focus on the whole I-don't-know-what-to-do-now-that-I'm-free problem. But on the other hand, comparing Papa's plight with that of black slaves is kind of like saying Japanese-American internment was as bad as the long history of slavery in America… Is the comparison just?
Quote #2
About all he had left at this point was his tremendous dignity…. Ten children and a lot of hard luck had worn him down, had worn away most of the arrogance he came to this country with. But he still had dignity, and he would not let those deputies push him out the door. He led them. (1.1.17)
This happens at the beginning of the book when Papa is first taken by the FBI from his home. It's also a rare moment when Papa's brutal nature is channeled in a good way—his power and strength comes through as a final expression of his free will.
Quote #3
The name Manzanar meant nothing to us when we left Boyle Heights. We didn't know where it was or what it was. We went because the government ordered us to. And, in the case of my older brothers and sisters, we went with a certain amount of relief. They had all heard stories of Japanese homes being attacked, of beatings in the streets of California towns. They were as frightened of the Caucasians as Caucasians were of us. Moving under what appeared to be government protection, to an area less directly threatened by the war seemed not such a bad idea at all. For some it actually sounded like a fine adventure. (1.2.17)
A real quandary: What do you do when no place seems safe? Where do you go except with your captor, who's at least going to keep you away from all the other racists out there?