Dr. Martin Luther King’s death and what Japanese Americans owed other minorities

Vol. 66, No. 16, April 19, 1968. 6 pages. View this issue

The killing of Dr. Martin Luther King shaped much of this six-page issue. JACL National President Jerry Enomoto reflected on it in his column and urged readers to brighten the corner where they are. Jeffrey Matsui argued that Japanese Americans should support other minority struggles, Yosh Hotta quoted King on the quality of a life, and Kumeo Yoshinari asked whether America had lost its moral direction. Pete Morita wrote that Japanese Americans should not forget their own history of discrimination. The front page also carried a notice that the paper’s subscription price would rise to $5 a year, its first increase in regular rates.

Elsewhere, Roger Nikaido reported that President Johnson signed the 1968 Civil Rights Act, which bars racial discrimination in most housing sales and rentals. Dr. S.I. Hayakawa spoke to Nisei businessmen in San Jose, and the JACL Endowment Fund passed $500,000. Convention planning for San Jose, youth conference news, and columns by Bill Hosokawa and Harry K. Honda fill the remaining pages.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Brighten the Corner, by Jerry Enomoto, page 1. Enomoto reflects on the tragic killing of Dr. Martin Luther King and the guilt Americans must confront regarding racism. He urges readers to brighten the corner where they are, as King did throughout his life.
• Yoake no Futari, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 2. Murayama reports on the Shochiku Film Co. documentary ‘Yoake no Futari’ marking Hawaii’s Japanese immigration centennial. The film was promoted by Hilo Times publisher Kiyoshi Okubo and is scheduled for an April 27 release.
• Hawaii Hardest Hit by Pentagon’s Call of Military Reserve, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Pentagon activated about 24,000 reservists, including 4,416 from Hawaii, the hardest-hit state. The call included the all-Nisei 100th Battalion of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, and Senators Inouye and Matsunaga asked for reconsideration.
• From the Frying Pan, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa describes visiting friends Hatch and Kyoko Kita from Tokyo and reflects on Japanese customs they have adapted to. He also recalls a 1950 picnic in Hakone with the Suzuki family.
• Reporter’s Notebook, by Jim Henry, page 3. Henry offers brief observations on Japanese politics, the Japanese Socialist Party, Swedish harboring of American deserters, and developments in Japanese rail and shipbuilding. The column covers a range of topics from Japan and Sweden.
• Quality, by Yosh Hotta, page 4. Hotta reflects on the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms as a metaphor for life, quoting Martin Luther King on the importance of quality over length of life. He urges Japanese Americans to care for their fellow human beings.
• Other Minorities, by Jeffrey Matsui, page 4. Matsui argues Japanese Americans should support other minority struggles, particularly Afro-Americans and Mexican Americans facing educational inequities. He calls for community involvement in civil rights.
• Conferences That Work, by Alan Kumamoto, page 4. Kumamoto highlights three upcoming youth conferences: Youth Power ’68 in Los Angeles, the NCCJ Brotherhood-Anytown workshop, and the Encampment for Citizenship. He encourages young people to attend these programs.
• Naive Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A columnist critiques Nisei who remain indifferent to social problems. The piece questions whether affluent Nisei have become too complacent to address injustice.
• Editorial: Blind Conformity of the Issei, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. The editorial discusses sociologist Eiji Amemiya’s argument that Japanese Americans during the evacuation displayed blind conformity to authority rather than an enryo attitude. It also reflects on the implications for Japanese Americans facing today’s social challenges.
• Letters: Not Insensitive, by Pete Morita, page 6. Morita writes in response to an earlier article, arguing that Japanese Americans should not forget their own history of discrimination when speaking about other minorities. He urges Nisei and Sansei to speak out against injustice.
• Proxemics: Japanese Behavior, by George Wakil, page 6. Wakil introduces proxemics, the study of nonverbal communication through space, citing Dr. Edward T. Hall’s work on Japanese and American differences. He explains how perceptions of space and indirect communication differ across cultures.
• Is America Going Crazy?, by Kumeo Yoshinari, page 6. Yoshinari questions the moral direction of America after Dr. King’s assassination, citing looting and protest disruptions. He urges citizens to restore constructive values and reaffirm the nation’s ideals.
• Spirit of ’68, by Phil Matsumura, page 6. Matsumura reports on the San Jose Jr. JACL’s singing group preparing for the national convention. He also mentions planned convention activities and the Santa Clara County Fair.
• Book Shelf: Clergyman’s View of Evacuation, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Reviewer discusses Fr. Daisuke Kitagawa’s book ‘Issei and Nisei: The Internment Years,’ which portrays camp life and the Japanese American community. The book is praised for its spirit and understanding despite some limitations.

Community

• Reorganization, by P.C. Staff, page 1. NCWNDC Executive Board discussed the Executive Reorganization proposal and recommended chapters stay informed. District delegates should be fully informed so decisions reflect chapter feelings.
• Nisei Businessmen Urged to Aid Economic Progress of Negroes, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Semanticist Dr. S.I. Hayakawa told Nisei businessmen in San Jose that affluent Japanese American communities should help Negro economic development. He also criticized JACL’s past support of the Walter-McCarran Act.
• JAL Fellowship Judging Date Set, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Four winners of the JACL-Japan Air Lines summer fellowship will be selected in San Francisco on May 10. The fellowship includes courses at Sophia University and a two-week tour of Japan.
• Negro Servicemen Scuffle with Whites at Yokosuka Club, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A fight broke out in a Yokosuka bar between Negro servicemen and white soldiers on April 5. Bar hostesses said the clash apparently stemmed from Negro resentment over the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King.
• Nihonmachi Plan Honored by Mayor, by P.C. Staff, page 2. San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto honored neighborhood groups from Nihonmachi and Hunters Point for participating in redevelopment planning. The Nihonmachi project will cost about $15 million and take a year to complete.
• Cherry Blossom Festival Cancelled, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington was called off after Rev. Martin Luther King’s assassination sparked rioting. Mayor Walter Washington declared a curfew.
• Gresham-Troutdale JACL to Honor Local Graduates, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Gresham-Troutdale JACL will honor 20 high school and college graduates at its April 27 banquet. Ray Yasui of Hood River will speak at the event.
• Jr. JACL Dinner-Dance Attended by JACLers Ends as Unexpected Success, by Linda Takami, page 4. The Spokane Jr. JACL organized a dinner-dance for the Japanese community that started with slow ticket sales but ended as a success. Members learned valuable lessons about planning and community support.
• Jr. JACL Orientation a Continual Task Due to Membership Turnover, by Richard Okabe, page 4. Okabe, MDYC chairman, describes the Midwest District Youth Council’s structure, communication challenges, and the ongoing need to orient new junior members due to rapid turnover. He also raises questions about the purpose of Jr. JACL.
• Calling All Youth Delegates, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Convention planners outline registration costs, official activities, and housing arrangements for youth attending the 1968 National JACL Convention in San Jose. Early pre-registration is encouraged to save money.

National

• Murakami-Wolf Film Wins Oscar, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Murakami-Wolf’s cartoon ‘The Box’ won an Academy Award in the Best Cartoon Short Subject category. Producer Fred Wolf and president Jimmy Toru Murakami were credited with the film.
• Open Housing Law Signed by President, by Roger Nikaido, page 2. President Johnson signed the 1968 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in most housing sales and rentals beginning January 1970. The act also makes interference with civil rights workers and inciting riots federal crimes.
• Japan’s Peacetime Progress Cited, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Congressman Chet Holifield attended a 30-year U.S.-Japan atomic energy pact signing and stated Japan’s future is important to U.S. security in Asia. The agreement provides Japan with reactor fuel worth about $600 million to the U.S.

JACL

• JACL Undergraduate Scholarships Now Awards $500 for Top Three, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL announced 1968 undergraduate scholarship awards for high school graduates of Japanese ancestry. Several named scholarships are offered, with Sumitomo Bank scholarships favoring business-related fields.
• Chapter Programs and Leadership, by Henry T. Tanaka, page 1. Tanaka examines organizational problems facing JACL chapters, including tradition-bound programs, reluctance to take leadership roles, outdated publicity, and reliance on the same members. He suggests identifying leadership qualities and developing new members patiently.
• Endowment Fund Reaches $500,000 Mark, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The National JACL Endowment Fund’s market value reached $515,474.09 by Dec. 31, 1967. Major management changes were made, including transferring securities to National Headquarters for reinvestment.

Military & Veterans

• ‘Every Scout an Eagle’ Motto of Nisei Scoutmaster Awarded Silver Beaver, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Roy Tsuya, a 442nd veteran and scoutmaster of Salt Lake City Troop 440, received the Silver Beaver Award for his work with youth. He has been active in scouting for 22 years and helped found his troop four years ago.

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