Here’s the context for the 1976 war movie Midway. The issue in this movie involves the executive power and equal protection under the law concerning the racial classification of Japanese American citizens during a national security crisis. The Supreme Court has historically upheld only two types of racial classifications: those justified by national security and those related to affirmative action. Any other racial classifications are deemed discriminatory.

At the time in question, it wasn’t entirely clear whether the federal government was bound by the Equal Protection Clause. Today, the Korematsu case is cited as precedent, applying strict scrutiny to cases involving racial classifications.