Civil rights and the road to the 1966 JACL convention

Vol. 62, No. 21, May 27, 1966. 6 pages. View this issue

Civil rights ran through this six-page issue. Rupert Hachiya’s front-page editorial noted that President Johnson had called a White House Conference on Civil Rights for June 1-2, and urged JACLers to keep pressing for equality and fair housing. Elmer Ogawa reported that Seattle’s Human Rights Commission proposed a fair practices ordinance after the California Supreme Court struck down Prop. 14. Todd Endo reported on a civil liberties conference in Washington, D.C. Convention news filled much of the paper: registration packets for the 19th Biennial in San Diego, Justice Stanley Mosk as banquet speaker, and the NC-WNDC slate.

Other pages carried scholarship and graduation news from Berkeley, Portland and Gresham-Troutdale. Bill Hosokawa began a two-part account of his trip to Japan, and Harry K. Honda proposed a 500 Club to support JACL’s youth program. The paper also reported the death in Vietnam of Pfc. Skyler Hasuike of Los Angeles.

What’s in this issue

National

  • Fulfill These Rights, by Rupert Hachiya, page 1. President Johnson called a White House Conference on Civil Rights for June 1-2 to find effective ways to implement the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The editorial urges JACLers to participate and keep pressing for equality and fair housing.
  • Prop. 14 Rule Stimulates Seattle Action, by Elmer Ogawa, page 1. After the California Supreme Court struck down Prop. 14, Seattle’s Human Rights Commission proposed a fair practices ordinance covering housing and other areas. Council support appears narrow, and wording is being carefully chosen.
  • Islanders Hear of Progress of Mainland Nisei in Politics, Changes in Japan, by Richard Gima, page 1. Mike Masaoka told Honolulu audiences that Mainland Nisei are making political progress, citing mayors and councilmen. He also reported on a Japan trip with Sam Ishikawa, where they found Japanese economic optimism and concern over Vietnam.
  • Wirtz Reverses Ban Against Use of Racial Identity, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Labor Secretary W. Willard Wirtz reversed a policy against racial identification on employment records, saying it aids affirmative action. Civil rights leaders reacted with mixed views.
  • Wirtz Reverses Ban Against Use of Racial Identity, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Labor Secretary Wirtz ended the ban on racial identification in employment records, saying it helps affirmative action. Reaction from civil rights leaders was mixed.

Military & Veterans

  • 10th Nisei Killed in Vietnam Action, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Pfc. Skyler Hasuike of Los Angeles was killed by a mine blast in Vietnam on May 16, believed to be the first Southland Nisei killed in the current fighting. He had been drafted in 1965 and was sent to Vietnam in March.
  • Pilot Back in Vietnam Combat, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Lt. Comdr. Norio B. Endo received his third and fourth Air Medals for strike missions over Vietnam aboard USS Hancock. He has flown over 90 combat missions.

Community

  • Dr. Syngmann Rhee Memorial Planned, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Koreans in Southern California plan a living memorial to the late Dr. Syngmann Rhee, including a cultural display, chapel and meeting hall. The Rev. Herbert Hyun Sik Kim, who worked with Rhee in Honolulu, is leading the project.
  • Portland Organizations Fete Graduates, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Portland JACL graduation banquet honored students with scholarships from several organizations and the Oregon Nisei Veterans. Mayor Terry Schrunk and Superintendent Leon Minear spoke at the event.
  • Gresham-Troutdale Event, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Gresham-Troutdale JACL honored 1966 high school and college graduates at a April 30 event. Aki Nishimura spoke on changing occupational life and chapter scholarships were presented.
  • L.A. Human Relations Staff, Site Needed, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The new Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission, chaired by Tauli Watanabe, held its first meeting and is seeking staff and quarters. JACL representatives attended as observers.
  • NC-WNDC Oratorical Winner, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Mary Shimoguchi of San Jose Jr. JACL won the NC-WNDC oratorical contest and will represent the district at the national contest in San Diego. Gary Murata and Dennis Machida placed second and third.
  • Shunichi Fukui, 71, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Shuichi Fukui, a Tacoma community leader, publisher and WWI veteran, died May 18. He published the Tacoma Japanese Weekly for 40 years.
  • Ethnic School Survey: Seattle, by Phil Hayasaka, page 2. A Seattle Public Schools report shows 2,359 Japanese students in 1964, a 46 percent rise over seven years. Most were concentrated in Central and South End schools.
  • Seattle Hearing on Discrimination, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Three local Nisei testified before San Francisco supervisors supporting a new non-discrimination ordinance with enforcement powers. A second hearing was scheduled for June 16.
  • Spokane High School May Teach Japanese, by Ed Yamamoto, page 2. Spokane Public Schools expressed interest in teaching Japanese at Lewis and Clark High School. The JACL committee welcomed the move alongside a Ford Foundation grant for teacher training.
  • Carnegie Grants $75,000 for Language Teachers, by P.C. Staff, page 2. USC received a $75,000 grant to continue its Carnegie Project teaching Chinese and Japanese in secondary schools. The program aims to transfer funding responsibility to school districts.
  • Nisei Among Top Earners in Japan, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Tax agency figures show several postwar Nisei arrivals in Japan among high-bracket taxpayers, including Shotchi Samura and Ben Omori. Their business successes are noted.
  • Utah Educational Fraternity Cites Mrs. Alice Kasai as Man of Year, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Phi Delta Kappa honored Alice Kasai and her late husband Henry Kasai for civic and educational contributions in Utah. Mrs. Kasai gave an acceptance speech on the JACL convention theme.
  • Military Personnel in Hawaii Gain Franchise, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Hawaii’s governor signed a bill letting service personnel living on military bases vote in state elections for the first time. Campaigning on federal reservations remains prohibited.
  • San Francisco FEPC Ordinance with Subpoena Powers Asked, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A proposed San Francisco non-discrimination ordinance would give the human rights commission subpoena and penalty powers. Several Nisei leaders, including Rev. Iyoya and Yori Wada, testified in support.
  • Acknowledgement, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Sanger JACL acknowledged a $15 memorial contribution from Irving and Harry Morishita.
  • Sister City, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Sequoia JACL board voted to participate in the Redwood City sister city program with Hiratsuka, Japan.
  • Stardust Country Club Golf Tournament, by Tad Imoto, page 4. The golf tournament for the JACL convention will be held at the Stardust Country Club in San Diego on July 27. Co-chairmen George Muto and Eddie Urata have arranged starting times.
  • Nisei Relays, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Age divisions for the 1966 Nisei Relays were revised, with the event set for June 5 at Rancho Cienega stadium.
  • East West Flavors Cookbook, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The West Los Angeles JACL Women’s Auxiliary published a cookbook titled East West Flavors. Co-chairmen Satsuki Uyeno and Tayeko Isono led the project.
  • Our Challenge: Todd Endo, by Todd Endo, page 5. Todd Endo reports on the National Civil Liberties Clearing House conference in Washington, D.C., which addressed southern justice, urban ghettos and civil rights. Speakers urged action on economic problems facing Negroes.
  • Nisei Woman Heads Olivet Community Center in Chicago, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Lillian Kimura, a Glendale native, became executive director of Olivet Community Center in Chicago, a settlement house serving relocated Japanese Americans. She had been program director for 12 years.
  • CRCSC Honors Catholic Human Relations Council, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Japanese Chamber of Commerce presented an award to the Catholic Human Relations Council at the CRCSC anniversary dinner. JACL representatives attended the event.
  • FEPC, EEOC Agree on Investigative Routine, by P.C. Staff, page 5. California FEPC and federal EEOC agreed on joint procedures for investigating job discrimination complaints. The agreement was announced by commission chairman Callums.
  • Job Rehabilitation Program Available, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Japanese Americans with physical or mental disabilities can get job rehabilitation help at a Dept. of Rehabilitation office in Los Angeles. The Calif. JACL Office publicized the service.
  • Nisei Beats Incumbent in Lodi School Election, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Jim Sasaki was elected to the Lodi unified school district board, defeating incumbent George Schmidt. The consolidation of elementary and high school districts takes effect July 1.
  • News Capsules, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Brief items cover Nisei political endorsements, a Honolulu-area school board matter, scientific honors for Nisei researchers, church appointments, awards, and community organization news across the country.
  • Food Irradiator for Hawaii OK’d by AEC, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Atomic Energy Commission approved a $455,000 contract for Hawaii’s first food irradiator, which will replace chemical fumigation of fruit for interstate shipment. Rep. Spark Matsunaga announced the approval.

JACL

  • Berkeley JACL Scholarship Program, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Berkeley JACL will award two $300 scholarships, one administered by the Berkeley High School committee and one Issei Memorial Scholarship for college students. Applications for the Issei award are due June 6.
  • Housing, Registration Forms for 19th Biennial Distributed, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Registration and housing packets for the 19th Biennial JACL Convention in San Diego were sent to chapters. Harry Kawamoto urged early housing reservations because summer accommodations are scarce.
  • Associate Justice Stanley Mosk to Address Confab, by P.C. Staff, page 1. California Supreme Court Associate Justice Stanley Mosk will be principal speaker at the JACL convention banquet in San Diego on July 31. His topic will be the California Supreme Court and civil liberties.
  • NC-WNDC Places Three Nominees on National Slate, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The NC-WNDC nominated Jerry Enomoto for national president, Yone Satoda for treasurer, and Dr. Tom Taketa for secretary to the board. The nominations will be decided at the 19th Biennial Convention in San Diego.
  • $125,000 Budget, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Treasurer Yone Satoda reported record National JACL membership in 1965 and strong finances for 1966. The council plans basic annual expenditures of $125,000 with extra funds for land law repeal and civil rights work.
  • Convention Booklet to Be 156 Pages, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The convention booklet for San Diego will be at least 156 pages, according to editor John Asakawa. Special articles are planned to make it more useful.
  • Reno JACL Trout Derby Open to Other Chapters, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Reno JACL invites other chapters to a trout fishing derby from May 28 to June 12 with prizes for longest fish. Registration is $2.
  • Fiesta en San Diego: Final Touches, by Connie Yamaguchi, page 4. San Diego convention planners outline schedule changes, sign-up procedures, and clothing advice for delegates. The San Diego Jr. JACL luau raised money for Miss JACL awards.
  • Northern California-Western Nevada Quarterly Session in Brief, by Bill Matsumoto, page 4. The NC-WNDC quarterly session chose Mary Shimoguchi as its convention oratorical representative. Delegates approved a Japan trip proposal and reviewed membership and nomination matters.
  • Nat’l JACL Credit Union Members to Be Offered Low Cost Life Insurance, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The National JACL Credit Union board approved a low-cost life insurance program through CUNA Mutual for members. Premiums and coverage examples are outlined.

Commentary

  • Editor’s Desk: The 500 Club, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. The editor proposes a 500 Club of $25 annual contributors to fund JACL’s youth program, modeled on the 1000 Club. He suggests a separate foundation and youth-run recognition events as ways to support youth activities.
  • Japan Trip: Part 1, by Bill Hosokawa, page 2. Bill Hosokawa describes his three-week trip to Japan, noting Japanese concern over Vietnam and inflation. He observes Japan’s postwar economic recovery as a source of pride for Nisei.
  • Sansei VISTA Worker in Boot-heel Area of Missouri Combats Poverty Fulltime, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Marilyn Miyakawa of Sacramento works as a VISTA volunteer in Pemiscot County, Missouri, on preschool and community projects. She describes poverty as a condition of dignity lost after years of hardship.
  • Have You Experienced a Scotch Mist?, by Alan Kumamoto, page 4. Youth director Alan Kumamoto recounts visits to San Francisco and Portland for youth council meetings and the PNWDYC banquet. He reports on youth program planning ahead of the San Diego convention.

Arts & Entertainment

  • NHK Symphony Orchestra, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The NHK Symphony Orchestra ends a 16-concert tour at the Los Angeles Music Center under conductor Hiroyuki Iwata. The program includes Tchaikovsky, Brahms and Yuzo Toyama’s Japanese-inspired Divertimento.

In-Depth

  • Schnell Ten Colony Knots Early History, by Ogawa, page 3. This history article recounts research on Okei and the Wakamatsu Colony established in California in 1869. It describes the Veerkamp family, Takeda’s research, and efforts to preserve the colony’s history.

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