The 1972 convention buildup and a protest over S.I. Hayakawa

Vol. 74, No. 9, March 10, 1972. 6 pages. View this issue

Plans for the National JACL Convention in Washington, D.C., and a dispute over a speaker filled this six-page issue. Registration materials went out for the June 27 to July 1 convention, and districts announced group flights. A coalition of Asian community groups planned a March 11 picket of the San Francisco JACL installation dinner over S.I. Hayakawa as speaker. Ron Lai and Warren Furutani wrote opinion pieces about his selection. In Los Angeles, the Pacific Southwest district council weighed how to use a $72,000 Capitol Life Insurance retention fund and gave $100 to the Manzanar Committee for its March 25 pilgrimage.

Other pages include Fred Hirasuna’s column on unfair competition, David Ushio on how one JACLer began, and Allan Beekman’s review of Outcasts from Evolution. Rep. Edward Roybal introduced a bill for an Asian American cabinet committee, and Kay Shimizu’s cookbook Asian Flavors and a Muhammad Ali bout in Tokyo also drew notice.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Pacific Southwest JACL district council discusses Capitol Life insurance retention fund and Manzanar pilgrimage support, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The PSWDC council considered how to distribute a $72,000 retention fund from Capitol Life Insurance, with options including rebates to former insurees. The council also gave a $100 contribution to the Manzanar Committee for its March 25 pilgrimage.
• Concerned Asians to picket S.F. JACL installation, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A coalition of Asian community groups planned an informational picket for March 11 to protest S.I. Hayakawa as speaker at the San Francisco JACL installation dinner. Critics cited his views on Vietnam and prior political decisions by the chapter leadership.
• Offensive book review rapped, apology issued, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The San Francisco Progress apologized after printing a book review containing anti-Japanese American remarks about WWII spies. Local Nikkei, including Edison Uno, protested the review as reflecting racist attitudes.
• MDC surveying Asian study needs, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Robert Yamada was appointed director of the Midwest District Council education committee. The MDC allocated $500 to survey Asian American studies in Midwest high school curriculums.
• Internal feud at Univ. of Hawaii ethnic studies program, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Internal dissension in the University of Hawaii ethnic studies program led to a letter of charges against director Ogawa and his subsequent resignation. The dispute centers on curriculum planning and resource allocation.
• S.F. Nisei Voters League to meet with Marumoto, by P.C. Staff, page 1. William Marumoto, a congressional staff member, will address the San Francisco Nisei Voters League dinner on March 25. The event is held at Sukiyaki House.
• Buddhist Churches of America install Mile-Hi JACLer James Kanemoto, by P.C. Staff, page 1. James Kanemoto, a Longmont, Colo. Buddhist lay leader and JACLer, was installed as president of the National Buddhist Churches of America board. The council passed resolutions including creating a salaried youth coordinator in each district.
• Central California District Governor Fred Hirasuna on unfair competition, by Fred Hirasuna, page 2. Hirasuna criticizes a federal OEO grant to a Mexican American strawberry cooperative that he views as an unfair subsidy against independent growers. He argues Japanese Americans should focus resources on their own community’s needs.
• Support for plays, by Irving Paik, page 4. Paik urges audiences to attend the premiere of Momoko Iko’s The Gold Watch and Philip Kan Gotanda’s play at the Inner City Cultural Center. He argues that Asian American theater has done more to portray the relocation experience than Hollywood.
• Asian flavors cookbook by Kay Shimizu, page 5. Kay Shimizu’s new cookbook Asian Flavors adapts Oriental recipes for American kitchens with ingredients available in local markets. The book is priced at $7.00 and published by Exposition Press.
• Roybal introduces bill for Asian American cabinet committee, page 6. Rep. Edward Roybal introduced legislation to establish a cabinet-level committee on Asian American affairs to coordinate federal programs. The bill would also create an advisory council and executive director.

JACL

• Convention fever rising fast for DC-bound JACLers, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Registration materials for the 22nd biennial National JACL Convention in Washington, D.C., June 27-July 1 were sent to chapters. The package deal covering 12 events is priced at $60 pre-registered.
• JACL flights to Washington, D.C., by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL district councils announced group flight arrangements and fares for members traveling to the Washington, D.C. convention in late June. Schedules and contacts for PSWDC, NCWNDC and PNWDC are listed.
• JACL Convention testimonial plans for Satow charted, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Plans were drawn up for a testimonial honoring National JACL Director Masao Satow at the June convention in Washington. A fund drive and collection of testimonial letters were scheduled.
• Jr. JACL meet planning for Salt Lake City convention, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Co-chairmen Allen Oshita and Diane Aramaki are coordinating the August Jr. JACL Convention at the University of Utah, expecting over 200 delegates. A transportation fund has been established with suggested contributions from chapters.
• Federated plan responses mixed, by Harry K. Honda, page 4. Responses from chapters and districts to the proposed Federated Plan have been varied, with concerns about whether current funds can sustain national programs. A summary report will go to the National Planning Commission.

Military & Veterans

• Mitsu Sonoda and PSWDC district meeting report, by Harry K. Honda, page 2. A report on the district council meeting covers Mitsu Sonoda’s leadership and the convention background information distributed. Guest speaker Kazuko Jara of the Japanese Rights Organization also addressed the group.
• Japanese Americans face postwar struggle, page 6. A piece revisits the wartime Japanese American experience and the myths that claimed disloyalty among Nisei. It cites federal officials who stated there was no sabotage or espionage by Japanese Americans during the war.

Arts & Entertainment

• Notes while watching TV, page 2. The columnist offers wry observations on how television portrays Chinese and Asian characters, from Charlie Chan films to a 1960s epic. The piece notes stereotypical imagery persists in Hollywood.

Commentary

• How one JACLer began, by David Ushio, page 3. Ushio describes a friend who grew from a casual, apolitical member into a deeply involved JACL leader through self-improvement and public speaking training. The column argues that involvement in organizations can enrich one’s life.
• Capital Scene: the silent majority in volunteer organizations, page 3. The column reflects on why only a small number of members in political parties and volunteer groups do most of the work. It argues that dues-paying members still provide the support that makes activist programs possible.
• S.I. Hayakawa, by Ron Lai, page 4. Ron Lai, co-chairman of the Bay Area Community JACL, explains why his chapter is co-sponsoring the protest against Hayakawa’s speaking engagement. He states that the chapter opposes U.S. military involvement in Southeast Asia.
• On Second Thought, by Warren Furutani, page 4. Furutani criticizes the selection of S.I. Hayakawa as speaker at the San Francisco JACL dinner, comparing him to historical mouthpieces used to divide oppressed groups. He urges a change in speaker and program.
• Our readers: Letters on JACL credit union and scholarships, page 4. A JACL president writes about the increase in letters of recommendation he has written for young Japanese Americans seeking scholarships and positions. He expresses optimism about qualified applicants being accepted into prestigious schools and jobs.

Sports

• Ali to fight Mac Foster in Tokyo on April 1, page 5. Muhammad Ali is scheduled to face Mac Foster in a 15-round bout at the Budokan in Tokyo, a rare exception to Japan’s rules on foreign boxers. The fight will be televised and ticket prices reach 30,000 yen.

In-Depth

• 19th century race misconceptions: book review of Outcasts from Evolution, by Allan Beekman, page 5. Beekman reviews John S. Haller’s book examining scientific attitudes of racial inferiority from 1859 to 1900. The review explains how Darwin, Mendel and neo-Lamarckian theories were misused to rank races.

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