Vol. 76, No. 23, June 15, 1973. 6 pages. View this issue
Housing for the elderly and the push for Asian American coalitions led this six-page issue. An ad hoc committee in New York, tentatively named JAHFA Inc., met to formalize its status, while a San Jose group announced a housing project of its own. National JACL President Henry T. Tanaka wrote that coalitions among Asian American groups show shared concerns. Ken Hironaka urged calm in the dispute over the National JACL Gerontology Grant. A bill by Sen. Ralph Dills to give retirement credit to Ineko Nagel, a teacher forced out of her job in 1942, cleared a California Senate committee.
Also inside: a Berkeley reading book that uses a racial slur, Don Hayashi’s column against whites-only clubs, and Paul Bannai’s Assembly campaign. The editorial looks at Japanese investment in Little Tokyo. Profiles of JACL scholarship winners, Nisei Relays results and a Seattle play, The Marginal Man, fill the later pages.
What’s in this issue
National
- Flag for Park, but No Pole, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A flag was presented to Gardena Mayor Ken Nakaoka at the May 23 dedication of Vincent Bell Memorial Recreation Park. As of this writing, no flagpole has been provided to fly it.
- Evacuee Teacher Bill Passes First Hurdle, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A bill by Sen. Ralph Dills to grant retirement credit to Japanese ancestry teachers who were forced out of their jobs in 1942 cleared the California Senate Finance Committee on June 4. The measure applies to only one teacher, Mrs. Ineko Nagel of Contra Costa County.
- San Jose Group Plans Housing Project, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A San Jose group announced plans for a housing project for the elderly. Details are limited in this brief.
Commentary
- Coalition of Asian American Groups, by Henry T. Tanaka, page 1. JACL National President Henry Tanaka argues that coalitions among Asian American groups signal shared concerns and should continue at the local level. He says the question of JACL’s participation matters less than ensuring Japanese American views and needs are represented.
- Big Tokyo—Little Tokyo, by Editor, page 2. The editorial comments on Japanese investment in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo and the broader U.S. business and dollar-surplus picture. It relates a Cincinnati columnist’s observations and the L.A. Times’ feature on Japanese firms moving into the area.
- Legislative Calendar, by Kaz Ohki and Henry Tanaka, page 2. Henry Tanaka proposed a legislative calendar in the PC to keep readers informed of bills of interest to JACL. Kaz Ohki responded that tracking bills through Congress is labor-intensive but worthwhile, and explained the legislative process.
- Missing Line, by Barry D. Matsumoto, page 2. A correction clarifies that a sentence in an earlier column was printed in error and reverses the intended meaning about law school applicant assessment.
- Whites-Only Clubs Must Go, by Don Hayashi, page 2. JACL chapters are increasingly challenging exclusionary white-only clubs through refusals to enter, letters to officials, and opposition to public leases. The writer argues that these policies are discriminatory and contrary to JACL policy.
- Gerontology Grant Controversy, by Ken Hironaka, page 3. A retired JACL officer urges calm and mutual understanding in the dispute over the National JACL Gerontology Grant and its impact on Kimochi. The writer argues that JACL staff should prove their credibility through performance and that the organization does not claim to represent all Asians.
Community
- Housing Corp. Organizes for Aged, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The ad hoc committee on housing for the elderly, tentatively named JAHFA Inc., met in New York to formalize its status. Organizations represented include JACL and several Japanese American groups exploring housing for aged Japanese.
- Moriguchi Resigns Gerontology Post, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Moriguchi resigned from a gerontology position amid the controversy over the National JACL Gerontology Grant. Efforts continued to clear ground for a San Francisco housing project.
- AAEC Job Opens in Los Angeles, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A position with the Asian American Education Commission of the LA Unified School District is open to permanent certificated district employees. Applications are due by June 20.
- WRA Records to Remain in National Archives, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Northern California-Western Nevada JACL District Council was told that WRA records will remain in Washington rather than moving to a San Bruno regional center. Archivist James Rhoads said keeping the case files with headquarters records is necessary to understand their context.
- Deadline July 16 for Dr. Nobe Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Applications are being accepted for the $500 Dr. Mutsumi Nobe Scholarship, open to students in the Seattle area. Completed forms must be postmarked by July 16.
- Wahoo Reader Using Racial Epithet Rapped, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Berkeley Unified School District reading program includes a book, Wahoo, that uses ‘Jap’ as a racial epithet, according to the Bay Area Community JACL. The chapter has requested a meeting with the superintendent to consider withdrawing the material.
- Bannai Bandwagon Rolls, by Polly Warfield, page 2. Paul Bannai, a candidate for the 67th State Assembly District, held a fund-raising dinner with Gov. Ronald Reagan expected to attend. The article covers his campaign momentum before the June 26 election.
- Nisei Farmers League Defends Farm Workers’ Rights, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Harry Kubo, president of the Nisei Farmers League, told a Rotary Club that farm workers should have the right to work without being forced to join unions. He argued that farmers and farm workers share common interests.
- Scholarship Winners Profiled, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Pacific Citizen profiles JACL scholarship winners across the country, including students from California, Washington, Idaho, Pennsylvania and other states. Each profile highlights academic records, school activities, and planned fields of study.
- East Los Angeles Nisei Relays Records Set, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Records were set at the 1973 East Los Angeles JACL Nisei Relays, with Gardena Valley winning the overall title. Several athletes from the area set new marks in high jump and long jump.
- Twin Cities JACL Honors High School Graduates, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Twin Cities JACL recognized high school graduates with scholarship awards at its annual event. Several students were honored for academic and community achievements.
- Eight Relays Bring Youth Together, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Youth from across Seattle and the Pacific Northwest participated in community events and cultural activities. Organizers credited volunteers for the success of the programs.
- Asian American History Staged in Seattle, by Ela Nagaoka, page 6. The Asian American musical play ‘The Marginal Man’ was presented at the University of Washington’s third annual Asian Community Festival. The production traced Asian immigration history from the Chinese of the 1840s through Japanese and Filipino laborers.
JACL
- Visual Communications Receives Humanities Grant, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded $50,000 to support Visual Communications’ film project on Issei. JACL will provide matching support and make the film available to its chapters and other community groups.
Military & Veterans
- Nisei Veterans in Action, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Several Nisei veterans and their organizations were recognized for community service. The article highlights their contributions.
Obituaries
- Deaths in the Community, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The column lists recent deaths in Japanese American communities across the country, with brief notices for each individual. Survivors and funeral arrangements are noted for several.
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