Vol. 85, No. 23, December 2, 1977. 8 pages. View this issue
Work, fairness and discrimination ran through this eight-page issue. A strike by green onion pickers in Phoenix spread to nine farms, many owned by Nisei growers who are JACL members, and Pat Tashima reported that both sides worried about racial tension. Dr. Bob Suzuki questioned the model minority image, while Karl Nobuyuki and Frank Shimomura each wrote about what the Bakke case could mean for minorities, including Asian Americans.
Elsewhere, the series on redress continued with a look at individual payments versus a trust fund, and former evacuees were asked to help save the adobe school buildings at Poston I and II. Charles Leroux told how Chicago muralist Sachio Yamashita painted a Nebraska town’s old auditorium. Bill Hosokawa wrote about the holiday season, and Bill Marutani wrote about a Philadelphia judicial campaign. Chapter news, a book fair in Little Tokyo and sumo wrestler Takamiyama fill the later pages.
What’s in this issue
National
- Supreme Court refuses appeal from Young-Chin, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Supreme Court declined to order a U.S. Appeals Court to provide Elizabeth and Kenneth Chin with a copy of an opinion affirming their gun transportation conviction. The couple claims they were unjustly accused by the Secret Service of threatening Emperor Hirohito in 1975 and later convicted on trumped-up charges.
- Nisei growers, pickers in wage row, by Pat Tashima, page 1. A strike by green onion pickers in Phoenix, mostly Mexican Americans, over low piece rates has spread to nine farms, many owned by Nisei growers who are JACL members. Both sides express concern about the racial tensions that could arise from the dispute.
- ALRB complaint filed against North San Diego Nisei farm, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The state Agricultural Labor Relations Board filed 127 alleged violations against Ukegawa Bros. tomato growers, including use of undocumented workers in union elections and firing workers for union activity. Attorney Richard Paul called the charges unfounded and said a December hearing may be delayed.
- Dismissed med student loses discrimination suit, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A 27-year-old Filipino medical student sought to be readmitted to the University of Washington senior class and certified to practice, but Superior Court dismissed his lawsuit for insufficient evidence. He had been dismissed after failing a course he said was graded on clinical performance rather than written exams.
Commentary
- Asian Americans victims of socialization, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Dr. Bob Suzuki argues that the image of Asian Americans as a model minority is premature, rooted in family socialization toward obedience and docility that suits employers of lower-echelon white-collar workers. He says these values have shaped Asian American peacefulness and industriousness while masking ongoing discrimination.
- Reverse Discrimination, by Karl Nobuyuki, page 4. Karl Nobuyuki argues that the Bakke case assumes race alone caused the rejection, ignoring many other factors such as limited medical school slots and Bakke’s age. He contends that ‘reverse discrimination’ is a facade masking a growing anti-minority backlash.
- East Wind: Bill Marutani, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Bill Marutani reflects on the campaign of Anna Ku, a Chinese American candidate for judge in Philadelphia, highlighting the multiracial Asian American campaign committee. He credits the committee’s cohesion and effort for her strong primary showing.
- Asian Influence Still Wea…, by Frank Shimomura, page 5. Frank Shimomura writes that the Bakke case before the Supreme Court matters to all minorities, including Asian Americans, because it challenges the special admissions program at UC Davis medical school. He notes the Justice Department questioned including Asians in that program.
- From the Frying Pan: Bill Hosokawa, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa reflects on the holiday season, describing a family Thanksgiving plan and his grandson’s kindergarten poster. He concludes with gratitude for friends and family despite their faults.
Incarceration & Redress
- Schools built by evacuees at Poston I and II to be razed, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Former evacuees who helped build the adobe school buildings at Poston Camps I and II are being asked to share their experiences to persuade the Colorado River Indian Tribes to preserve them. The buildings are slated for demolition.
- JACL National Reparation Committee: Individuals or Trust Fund, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Part five of the reparations series argues that direct payments to individual evacuees are the only equitable approach because the injustice was suffered by individuals. It weighs this against a trust fund model, which could fund community programs but would leave remote families without benefits.
Community
- CRA conveys land to JACCC, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency closed escrow on land for the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center’s first building at 244 S. San Pedro. Construction of the 48,000 sq. ft. project, costing $2,973,925, is expected to take about 15 months.
- Asian-Pacific staff stationed at county medical health unit, by P.C. Staff, page 2. A bilingual, bicultural Asian-Pacific Mental Health Clinic offers free mental health care temporarily at County-USC Medical Center. The county-funded clinic handles problems such as depression and family difficulties, and about 40% of its cases involve recent immigrants.
- Nakamura survives open heart surgery without transfusion, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Masayoshi Nakamura, 62, underwent coronary bypass surgery at San Jose Hospital without receiving blood transfusions, for religious reasons. The article notes the operation was routine but his case was remarkable because he declined blood.
- Univ. of Cincinnati lipid research center renamed, by Lida Fukumura, page 2. The University of Cincinnati Lipid Research Center was renamed the T.T. Ishikawa Lipid Research Center to honor Terry T. Ishikawa, a Sansei researcher who died in August 1977. Colleagues praised his innovative work on cholesterol, fatty acids, and lipid analysis methods.
- Book Fair collects books in Nihongo, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A fundraising Book Fair in Little Tokyo on Dec. 4 will sell children’s books, best sellers, and Japanese publications to raise money for more books for the Los Angeles Public Library’s Bookmobile. Donations of books are being collected in advance.
- Eden Township, Houston, Las Vegas, Mid-Columbia, San Gabriel Valley and West Los Angeles chapter news, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Several JACL chapters announced holiday parties, a cookbook sale, a mochitsuki event, and installations of new officers. San Gabriel Valley installed Toshiko Ito as president and West Los Angeles installed Toy Kanegai for her fourth term.
- Seattle criminalist heads crime lab for western Washington, by P.C. Staff, page 7. George Ishii, 49, directs the Western Washington State Crime Laboratory in Seattle, supervising a staff of 22. He began as a criminalist with the Seattle Police Department in 1963 and recently received an award from the Northwest Association of Forensic Scientists.
- Paul Shinoda Jr. loses Senate bid, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Paul Shinoda Jr., a Republican who was the first Nisei to win a Washington state race in 46 years, lost a state Senate election to Democrat Dianne Woody. The article reports the result briefly.
- Government, Media, Health, Business and Elections roundup, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A roundup of Nikkei news includes Sen. Daniel Inouye stepping down as Intelligence Committee chairman, the Fresno City-County Government Center design team led by Kenneth Fujii, and Gordon Lau’s election as San Francisco supervisor. Other items cover KNBC anchor Tritia Toyota and Akira Endo’s ballet concert.
Arts & Entertainment
- When Sachio left town, even the cows were blue, by Charles Leroux, page 3. Chicago muralist Sachio Yamashita spent a month painting murals on the old auditorium in Neligh, Nebraska, a farm town of 1,800. The project, funded by local donations, drew townspeople into the painting and became a source of community pride.
Military & Veterans
- Hectic But Happy, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa describes the busy holiday season and family Thanksgiving gathering. He reflects on the importance of gratitude and remembrance during the season.
Sports
- Takamiyama: best known American in Japan today, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Hawaiian-born sumo wrestler Jesse Kuhaulua, known as Takamiyama, rose to the Sekiwake rank in 1977 at age 33. He has also gained popularity as a singer, with a disco album due for release.
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