This book seems to be answering an age-old question which has its roots in privilege. Why talk about minority issues at all? The answer is clear from history. Unless and until people properly understand the way people are being mistreated and disenfranchised, that mistreatment can continue. Not only has the American majority historically mistreated minority groups, but the systemic nature of that mistreatment has led to serious disparity in opportunity and enfranchisement.
To see this in historical precedence, Takaki's example of the African American population is telling. Not only were Africans literally abducted from their homes in Africa and sold as slaves to Americans, but then those populations of slaves were historically mistreated with racist prejudice. They did not even ask to be in America, and yet, they were historically treated with contempt for being here. Then, slavery ended, and Takaki observes that the economic disparity between former slaves and the white men who profited by slavery was never addressed. In fact, efforts were made to keep those populations from receiving equal opportunity.
Now fast forward. The modern day is certainly a far cry from those dark ages, right? Takaki cites many examples that show that if not for the historical activism on behalf of minority populations, the ideologies of white supremacy and xenophobia might still be effective. He argues that through a lengthy series of strikes and demonstrations, the needle has been moved forward in government, albeit slowly, but the ideas of racism and "us against them" still remain in the language and propaganda of some people.
