How does The Divine Wind provide insight into the nature of racism?

The Divine Wind provides the reader with tremendous insight into the nature of racism. The novel reveals the causes of prejudiced and discriminatory thinking and suggests that racism is invariably based on fear, ignorance and irrationality, as well as learned attitudes. The government’s role in fostering and continuing racist thinking is also explored through references to the stolen generation, the white Australia policy, the issue of internment and the use of propaganda as a means of creating hatred of the Japanese during wartime. Even the legal system, which is meant to ensure justice for all people regardless of their race, is shown to be prejudiced against Aborigines. The discriminatory attitudes of the time are also evident in the work and living conditions of both the Japanese and Aboriginal characters when contrasted with the white characters in the novel. Yet, despite this detailed exploration of the prejudiced and unfair treatment meted out to both Aboriginal and Jap...