
Loyal American: Fred Korematsu, Japanese Internment, and Self-Sacrifice
45 min
Walk-In-The-Shoes Questions
As you read, imagine you are the protagonist.
- What challenges are you facing?
 - What fears or concerns might you have?
 - What may prevent you from acting in the way you ought?
 
Observation Questions
- How did Fred Korematsu identify himself? Why did his identity cause problems?
 - What was Fred Korematsu’s purpose in refusing to go to the internment camp?
 - What actions did Fred Korematsu take to fight for his rights as an American citizen?
 
Discussion Questions
Discuss the following questions with your students.
- What is the historical context of the narrative?
 - What historical circumstances presented a challenge to the protagonist?
 - How and why did the individual exhibit a moral and/or civic virtue in facing and overcoming the challenge?
 - How did the exercise of the virtue benefit civil society?
 - How might exercise of the virtue benefit the protagonist?
 - What might the exercise of the virtue cost the protagonist?
 - Would you react the same under similar circumstances? Why or why not?
 - How can you act similarly in your own life? What obstacles must you overcome in order to do so?
 
- Students will analyze the self-sacrificial practices of Fred Korematsu in fighting against Japanese-American internment.
 - Students will apply their knowledge of self-sacrifice to their own lives.
 - Students will determine ways that they can sacrifice their own wants and needs to help support greater causes.