Civil rights and the San Jose convention, August 1968

Vol. 67, No. 6, August 9, 1968. 6 pages. View this issue

Civil rights ran through this six-page issue as the 20th Biennial JACL Convention in San Jose drew near. The opening session was to be a panel on chapter and community civil rights action, and Midwest District Council urged every chapter to make human rights its main objective for 1968. National President Jerry Enomoto wrote about a resolution to repeal the detention camps section of the 1950 Internal Security Act, and about gun control. Edison Uno protested a college textbook that wrongly said the Supreme Court had ruled the Evacuation illegal.

Other pages carry convention previews from Tom Taketa and Robin Eto, and news of uniform membership dues proposed by two districts. Seven students qualified for JACL Collegiate Scholarships funded by Sumitomo Bank of California. Columns by Mike Masaoka, Bill Hosokawa, Paul Takagi, Alan Kumamoto and Richard Gima close the issue.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• Uniform Membership Dues to Be Proposed by Two Districts, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Pacific Southwest and Eastern District Councils will propose uniform JACL membership dues, with chapters retaining one-third of collected amounts under the PSW plan. The EDC suggests the National Council set the rate without amending the by-laws.
• Nisei Civil Rights Commitment to Be Convention Opener Topic, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The 20th Biennial JACL Convention in San Jose will open with a panel and buzz sessions on chapter and community civil rights action. Panelists and session leaders from JACL and Jr. JACL have been named.
• Seven Qualify for Sumitomo’s $500 Collegiate Scholarships, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Seven college students have qualified for the new JACL Collegiate Scholarship Program funded by two $500 Sumitomo Bank of California awards. Candidates were nominated by eight chapters and selected for their studies.

Incarceration & Redress

• Textbook Error on Evacuation Viewed as Deliberate, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Edison Uno protested a Prentice-Hall college textbook stating the Supreme Court ruled the Evacuation illegal, calling the error deliberate. He demanded correction and a more accurate treatment of the Japanese American experience.

Commentary

• The Agenda, by Jerry Enomoto, page 1. National President Enomoto reviews Board agenda items, including a resolution to repeal the detention camps provision of the 1950 Internal Security Act. He praises chapter initiative and notes the District tutorial programs.
• To Care or Not to Care, by Jerry Enomoto, page 1. Enomoto argues for stronger gun control, including licensing and registration of handguns, citing police support. He rejects arguments that registration threatens gun rights.
• Nisei Civil Rights Commitment Editorial: MDC Civil Rights Stand, by Midwest District Council, page 2. The Midwest District Council adopted a resolution urging every chapter to make human rights its main objective for 1968 and form human rights committees. The accompanying editorial criticizes chapter inaction and calls for open discussion of bigotry.
• Congress Recesses, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Masaoka reports Congress recessed for the party conventions, leaving unfinished appropriations and the contested Abe Fortas Chief Justice nomination. He notes the 90th Congress’s modest record apart from the fair housing law.
• How Swift the Times, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Hosokawa describes a former colleague who left a high-pressure New York job to teach, and reflects on Nisei retirement and teaching as a fulfilling path. He also notes Japanese names disappearing among younger brides.
• Oratorical Contest finals set, by Shirley Matsumura, page 3. Seven orators will compete in the National JACL oratorical finals on Wednesday night at Montgomery Theatre. Prizes and judging arrangements are outlined.
• Youth Speaks: NC-WN DYC Hosting Committee, by Benny Matsuura, page 4. Matsuura describes the NC-WNDYC hosting committee created to welcome Jr. JACL delegates to San Jose. He stresses friendship and avoiding cliques at the convention.
• ACT 1: Curtain Call, by Alan Kumamoto, page 5. Kumamoto recounts the Asians Coming Together conference sponsored by COO and UC Extension, with discussion groups on Oriental community problems. He describes the open, participatory format and the closeness it fostered.
• Politicians Lack Class, by Jeffrey Matsui, page 5. Matsui criticizes local politicians for rude behavior during the COO installation banquet, singling out Bradley and Roberti as exceptions. He calls for better manners from officials.
• Nisei Morality, by Roger Nikaido, page 5. Nikaido argues Nisei define morality too narrowly around sex and pornography, ignoring violence, racism, and gossip. He urges honest self-examination of personal and community failings.
• Guest Column: Japanese Cultural and Trade Center Not Typical, by Cheryl Yoshimura, page 5. Yoshimura argues the San Francisco Japanese Cultural and Trade Center’s Peace Pagoda is Chinese in design and that the complex does not reflect traditional Japanese architecture. She also criticizes the blank wall facing the Fillmore.
• Vietnam Peace, by Richard Gima, page 6. Gima advocates for a negotiated peace in Vietnam, with free elections and supervision by neutral Asian nations. He argues the war drains resources needed for domestic poverty programs.
• Money Matters, by Fred Y. Hirasuna, page 6. Hirasuna argues that most Nisei and Sansei lack the means to fund costly civil rights programs and suggests practical, individual action instead. He urges concrete, effective spending and personal relationships across races.
• Matter of Money, by Paul Takagi, page 6. Takagi responds to Hosokawa, defending student demonstrations for civil rights and peace as principled activism. He challenges the view that the cost of protest outweighs its ideals.

Community

• Work & Play Assured at San Jose JACL Convention, by Tom Taketa, page 3. Convention Chairman Taketa previews the San Jose convention’s social hospitality events and the 1000 Club push toward 2,000 members. He also notes free city tours and booster event pricing.
• Last Minute Changes in Youth Events Revealed, by Robin Eto, page 3. Eto outlines late changes to the Jr. JACL convention schedule, including a generation gap forum and the move of the Sayonara Ball. Registration and housing details are also given.

Military & Veterans

• Legislative Issues, by Harold Gordon, page 4. Gordon reports on the National Legislative Committee’s review of civil rights bills and the 1968 Civil Rights Act’s fair housing provisions. He recommends expanding JACL’s Washington office and creating a civil rights staff position.

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