Little Rock and civil rights, seen from the Nisei community

Vol. 45, No. 15, October 11, 1957. 8 pages. View this issue

The crisis at Little Rock ran through the opening and closing pages of this eight-page issue. JACL National President Dr. Roy Nishikawa wrote that the president’s actions were the right ones and that integration is at heart a moral question. Bill Hosokawa compared Governor Orval Faubus’s conduct to a betrayal, and Mike Masaoka’s Washington Newsletter called the crisis a test of democracy and drew a parallel to Earl Warren’s protection of returning Japanese Americans. Masaoka also wrote about a visit with former WRA director Dillon Myer. Another report listed three Supreme Court cases of interest to JACL.

Elsewhere, a Nisei Voters League formed in San Francisco, Congressman John Emerson Moss was named banquet speaker for a district convention, and a notice urged observance of Nisei Soldier Memorial Day on October 27. Harry K. Honda wrote about the Dodgers’ coming move to Los Angeles, and the sports pages covered golf, bowling and Oregon high school football.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

  • Integration at Little Rock, Ark, by Dr. Roy Nishikawa, page 1. The president’s actions at Little Rock are defended as the right course, grounded in the moral principle that every person deserves equal dignity and opportunity. The editorial argues that integration will eventually come and that tolerance and goodwill are needed to bridge the divide.
  • Quisling, Faubuses and Prejudice, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Hosokawa compares Governor Orval Faubus’s actions at Little Rock to the betrayal of Quisling, arguing that the shame is undeniable. He notes that prejudice is widespread worldwide, including in Japan’s own history of discrimination against the Eta and Koreans.
  • Chapter of the Year Award Planned for Central Cal, by Thomas Toyama, page 5. The Central California District Council released guidelines for its Chapter of the Year award, to be presented at the December 8 convention in Fresno. Judges will evaluate chapter programs and community services over a one-year period.
  • Sell JACL to Nisei, by Henry Mori, page 7. Mori argues that JACL should stay focused on domestic civil rights rather than international affairs. He urges the organization to sell its aims to more Nisei and the wider community.
  • Washington Newsletter: Tragedy of Little Rock, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka argues the Little Rock crisis shows democracy at work while exposing racial bigotry, and says federal troops are upholding law and Negro students’ rights. He draws a parallel to Governor Earl Warren’s protection of returning Japanese Americans compared with Governor Faubus’s conduct.

National

  • Rep. Moss of Sacramento to Address NC-WNDC Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Congressman John Emerson Moss will be the main banquet speaker at the Northern California-Western Nevada District Council convention on November 3. The biennial event will also install new district council officers for 1957-59.
  • Filipinos in California Prospering; Race Problems Minimized, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Philippine Consul General Nicanor Roxas says the 40,000 Filipinos in California are generally prosperous and free of major racial problems. He attributes the improved climate largely to the effects of the war.
  • Issei Elected to City Council in British Columbia, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Heijiro Matsubayashi became the first Issei elected to the Slocan City council in British Columbia and now serves as acting mayor. He hopes Nisei will soon enter politics and hold public office in Canada.
  • U.S. Supreme Court Reconvenes; JACL Interested in Three Cases, by JACL News Service, page 1. The Washington JACL Office identified three Supreme Court cases of special concern to JACL as the October 1957 term opened. The cases involve citizenship stripping, racial discrimination against Chinese Americans, and membership disclosure for the NAACP.
  • Tokyo Topics: Nisei Convention Preparations, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. The American Embassy confirmed visits to Japan by Maxwell Rabb and Gen. Joseph Swing, and Ambassador Douglas MacArthur II will address the International Nisei Convention on October 24. The convention is the first attempt by mainland Nisei in Japan to promote U.S.-Japan relations.
  • Humanitarian Dillon Myer, by Mike Masaoka, page 4. Masaoka recounts a visit with former WRA director Dillon Myer, who credits JACL for helping make resettlement possible. He also honors longtime JACL workers including Teiko Kuroiwa, Scotty and Setsu Tsuchiya, and Joe Grant Masaoka.

Community

  • Nisei Voters League Formed in San Francisco, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A Nisei Voters League was formed in San Francisco with Jack Kusaba as temporary chairman to focus on local and state issues. The group plans a candidate night and expects to back three candidates for the November supervisorial election.
  • Orange County Nisei Attends Farm Confab, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hitoshi Nitta, a former Orange County JACL president and vegetable grower, attended the American Farm Bureau Federation Processing Vegetable Grower meetings in Madison, Wisconsin. He was sent as an official California delegate for the green lima bean section.
  • Taro Suzuki Resigns Punchbowl Cemetery Post, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Superintendent Taro Suzuki of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu will resign effective October 15 after serving since 1950. The cemetery is the final resting place for some 15,000 GIs.
  • Head-On Auto Mishap Kills Tooger’s Wife, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mrs. Shizuko Helen Momita of Calipatria died and three others were injured when two cars collided head-on on the San Bernardino Freeway near Colton. Her husband Harry Momita, a Calipatria druggist and Nisei leader, was driving the car.
  • Nevada Sansei Installed Adviser to Reno Rainbows, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Judy Aoyama was installed as adviser to the Reno Rainbows, a Sansei youth group. The installation was part of Nevada community activities.
  • Nisei Elected President at Salt Lake’s South High, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Jim Aoki, a senior and son of Salt Lake JACL members, was elected president of the South High School student body for 1957-58. He is active in school and extracurricular activities and plays quarterback on the football team.
  • Rice-Growing Attempted on Southern Ontario Farm, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Issei farmer Teizo Nakashima is growing rice on his farm between Leamington and Chatham, Ontario. He hopes further research will allow enough rice to be harvested in Canada for Japanese Canadian needs.
  • Intermarriage Among Nisei in Hawaii Lower Than Other Groups, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Sociology professor George K. Yamamoto’s study finds Nisei outmarriage in Hawaii has risen but remains lower than among other groups. The study also examines differences between Naichi and Okinawan marriage patterns.
  • Very Truly Yours: Forgive Me, But the Dodgers Are Coming, by Harry K. Honda, page 5. Editor Harry Honda comments on the Dodgers’ move to Los Angeles and the Chavez Ravine site near Little Tokyo. He praises the team for signing athletes regardless of skin color and notes parliamentary lessons from televised City Council proceedings.
  • Chapter Hears Oregon Congressman Ullman, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Congressman Al Ullman of Ontario, Oregon, spoke at a luncheon hosted by the Snake River Valley JACL during his tour of Eastern Oregon. He discussed Army Corps of Engineers plans for flood control on the Malheur River.
  • Yoshinari Walks Off With Chicago 1000ers Golf Cup, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Kumeo Yoshinari broke 100 for the first time to win the Chicago JACL 1000 Club golf tournament at Mohawk golf course. Earl Hori and Mike Hori finished second and third, and Alma Mizuno won the women’s division.
  • Teshima Heads Puget Sound Golf Competition, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Yosh Teshima, a 12-handicap member of the Puget Sound Golf Club, leads the club golfer-of-the-year standings with 76.5 points. Sab Ogishima follows with 61.5 points.
  • L.A. Nisei Fellows ‘Much Nicer,’ Says Hawaiian Visitor, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Elaine Reiko Higuchi, Hawaii’s 1957 Miss Ohana, visited Los Angeles for Nisei Week and found the local boys more polite and neatly dressed than those at home. She also enjoyed trips to Las Vegas, Tijuana, and Warner Brothers studio.
  • San Francisco Nisei Optimists Set for Fete, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The Japanese American Optimists in San Francisco scheduled an anniversary dinner-dance for November 9 at the Scottish Rite auditorium. Night club entertainment and local talent acts are planned.
  • Ex-Cleveland Nisei Wins Rome Prize for Music Composition, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Higo Harada, a former Cleveland resident, was awarded the Rome Prize in Musical Composition through the International Institute of New York. The two-year fellowship covers study at the American Academy in Rome.
  • Chromite Mining Development Company Formed With Utah Nisei Attorney, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Western Chrome, Inc. was formed to develop chromite mines in Siskiyou County, California, with former Governor J. Bracken Lee as president. Mas Yano, a Salt Lake Nisei attorney and JACL leader, serves as secretary.
  • 32 Donors Add to CL Endowment Fund, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Thirty-two recipients of evacuation loss payments contributed $1,945.64 to the National JACL Endowment Fund. National President Dr. Roy Nishikawa reaffirmed JACL’s commitment to protecting persons of Japanese ancestry.

Military & Veterans

  • Nisei Electronics Specialist Endures Foul Weather, Fowl Eggs During Emergency Repair Job at Greenland Radio Station, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Sadami Katahara, a Maui-born engineer with the National Bureau of Standards, traveled to Greenland to repair ionospheric equipment for the Danish government. He endured a difficult three-day boat trip and ate unusual local foods during his journey.
  • Army Installation Named for Nisei Hero, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The training area at Fort De Russy in Honolulu was named Kuroda Drill Field in honor of Staff Sgt. Robert Toshio Kuroda of the 442nd. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism at Bruyeres, France.
  • Nisei Soldier Memorial Day Observance Urged, by Shimasaki, page 8. A call is made for Nisei to observe Nisei Soldier Memorial Day on October 27 to honor the war dead whose sacrifices secured acceptance for Americans of Japanese ancestry. The observance was instituted by JACL in 1948.
  • Watsonville Nisei Soldier of the Month, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Army Pfc. Akio Idemoto of Watsonville was named Soldier of the Month for the 31st Medical Group in Germany. He is stationed at the 2nd Evacuation Hospital in Kreuznach.

Sports

  • Vale Team Heads List of Oregon Prep Class A-2 Teams, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Vale High Vikings, coached by Nisei Dutch Kawasoe, were ranked the top Class A-2 football team in Oregon by a state coaches poll. The team has won big games this season, outscoring opponents by large margins.
  • Pin Point and Sports Briefs, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Bowling and sports briefs report on Nisei achievements, including a strong performance by Fumiko Tanaka in California Match Game play. Briefs also cover jockey Tanzuchi’s mounts, kicker Kay Fukuhara’s football success, and the Los Angeles Travelers AAU basketball opening win.

Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.

More from Issue archive