How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Mama had to sell this china. One of the dealers offered her fifteen dollars for it. She said it was a full setting for twelve and worth at least two hundred. He said fifteen was his top price. Mama started to quiver. Her eyes blazed up at him….He watched her for a moment and said he was sure he couldn't pay more than seventeen fifty for that china. She reached into the red velvet case, took out a dinner plate and hurled it at the floor right in front of his feet. The man leaped back shouting, "Hey! Hey, don't do that! Those are valuable dishes!" Mama took out another dinner plate and hurled it on the floor, then another and another, never moving, never opening her mouth, just quivering and glaring at the retreating dealer, with tears streaming down her cheeks. (1.2.8-12)
How do you deal with someone who's trying to cheat you? Show him what his offer is worth — nothing — by dramatically breaking all the china. We've got to say: Mama comes off really fierce here. Not a bad idea for a Beyonce video.
Quote #5
"I will fight well, Papa."
"In this war? How is it possible?"
"I am an American citizen. America is at war."
"But look where they have put us!" (1.11.9-12)
Papa's arguing with Woody about answering yes to the Loyalty Oath questions, especially the one that asks if he'd be willing to fight for the U.S. army. Woody wants to volunteer for the war effort because—as he says—he's an American citizen. So here's the crux of the problem: How can anyone Japanese-American even think of fighting for the U.S. after being so hugely mistreated by the U.S.? But it makes sense even if there's no justice in the situation: Woody wants to prove his American-ness, to prove how wrong the government is about Japanese-Americans, and the only way to do that is to give himself up to the army.
Quote #6
They split into two groups, one heading for the police station to free the cook, the other heading for the hospital to finish off Tayama, who had been concealed under a hospital bed. A vigilante party searched the corridors. When they failed to find their man, this half of the crowd moved off in search of others on their "death list." (1.9.13)
This just goes to show that bad judgment and injustice anre't just something the U.S. government is guilty of. The internees are rioting and part of that riot is about bringing Fred Tayama (a supposed friend of the administration) to "justice"—by killing him. That's mob mentality for you.