Affirmative action, the Chol Soo Lee case and redress planning

Vol. 86, No. 19, May 19, 1978. 12 pages. View this issue

Jerry Enomoto’s defense of affirmative action opened this 12-page issue. The state corrections director told a Davis audience he stood behind it despite a disputed promotion at Tehachapi prison. Elsewhere, K.W. Lee retraced the 1973 Chinatown shooting case against Chol Soo Lee, and an editorial tied it to a call for a JACL attorney referral service. Bill Doi reported that district representatives had agreed on a unified Action for Redress plan, and Cherry Kinoshita covered a JACL briefing in Seattle with Rep. Jack Cunningham.

The commentary pages range widely. Clifford Uyeda wrote about the longer history behind the incarceration and answered Senator Hayakawa on Japanese Canadians, while Bill Hosokawa compared driver licensing in Japan and America. Sixteen-year-old Mark Abe wrote to the Tonight Show about a racial slur. Reviews cover Years of Shame, Issei Christians and Lee Ruttle’s novel, and a brief announced a June 3 Tule Lake pilgrimage.

What’s in this issue

National

• Enomoto defends affirmative action, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Corrections director Jerry Enomoto defended affirmative action hiring and promotion despite controversy over a disputed promotion at Tehachapi prison. He argued that under-representation of minorities and women in the department must be addressed.
• Legislator admits Nisei co-worker first told him of Evacuation story, by Cherry Kinoshita, page 1. Rep. Jack Cunningham (R-Wash.) attended a JACL educational briefing in Seattle on reparations and discussed the wartime evacuation. He commended an educational filmstrip and received requests for support on redress legislation and related bills.
• The Americanization of Chol Soo Lee: Lee’s arrest, trial retraced, by K.W. Lee, page 2. Reprinted from the Sacramento Union, this article retraces the 1973 San Francisco Chinatown shooting case against Korean American Chol Soo Lee. It questions the reliability of eyewitness identification and the adequacy of his defense.
• 35 million Japanese sign U.N. petition ban on a-bomb, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A 450-member Japanese delegation carrying 35 million signatures arrived in Los Angeles en route to a UN special session on disarmament. The petitions were circulated by Gensuikyo, the Japanese committee against atomic and hydrogen bombs.

Incarceration & Redress

• Most Sansei in L.A. county job to be laid off, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Los Angeles County affirmative action officer Mike Ishikawa warned that Proposition 13 would lead to layoffs of most Sansei and other Asian Pacific county employees. He said the measure would also curtail human services programs.
• One Plan for redress reached, by Bill Doi, page 8. Bill Doi reports on an April 29-30 meeting at JACL headquarters where district representatives agreed on a unified Action for Redress plan. He notes support levels from surveys and the need for public education.

Community

• Demoted Nisei postal worker fired by Berkeley postmaster, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Hoagy Ogawa, a 20-year veteran and acting assistant Berkeley postmaster, was fired after protesting a racial slur used by his superior. He had previously been demoted and had filed an EEO complaint.
• Tule Lake pilgrimage, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Tule Lake Committee was formed to organize a June 3 pilgrimage to the former WWII concentration camp site. The brief announces the event.
• Service delivery research planned, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A national conference on service delivery research for Pacific Island and Asian American elderly will be held in Los Angeles May 19-21. Participants will include consumers, researchers, providers and policymakers.
• San Leandro mother honored, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Rev. Juko Nakashima of San Leandro was honored as outstanding Issei at the 1978 East Bay International Institute dinner. The article describes her family, church work and life in America.
• JACL life member seeks re-election, by P.C. Staff, page 3. State Sen. Ralph C. Dills, a longtime Gardena Valley JACL 1000 Club member, is seeking a third term and appointed JACLers to his campaign committee. His background and committee roles are summarized.
• 7th candidate files for Gov. Doi’s post, by P.C. Staff, page 3. State Sen. Jean Sadako King became the seventh candidate for Hawaii lieutenant governor, a post held by Nelson Doi who will not seek re-election. Her legislative background is outlined.
• Consultation on Youth, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A Consultation on Youth workshop will be held in conjunction with the MDYC workshop on Memorial Day weekend at Michigan State University. Organizer Dr. Toaru Ishiyama describes its practical goals for young Japanese Americans.
• St. Louisan seeks JACL post, by P.C. Staff, page 8. George Sakaguchi announced his candidacy for JACL Vice President for Research and Services. His JACL service and community roles are summarized.
• Sacramentans help local TV, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Seventeen Sacramento JACLers and JAYs volunteered at KVIE studio to take pledges during a community TV fundraiser. The article reports on their assistance.

Commentary

• Matter of Legal Competence, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This editorial links the reversal of Juan Corona’s conviction for incompetent counsel to the Chol Soo Lee case and the Okubo-Yamada legal fund. It argues JACL should consider developing an attorney referral service for members.
• Trade imbalance: Our trading partners must not be treated as enemies, by Rep. Norman Mineta, page 4. Rep. Norman Mineta argues that trade imbalances with Japan should not lead Americans to treat trading partners as enemies. He outlines recent trade negotiations and warns against protectionism.
• Asian American needs, by Tsutomu Toot Uchida, page 4. Tsutomu Uchida writes that elected officials give low priority to Asian American affairs and that government programs for minorities are dominated by other groups. He calls for greater attention to the Asian American community.
• Connecticut Issei, by Aiko Hiratsuka, page 4. Aiko Hiratsuka recalls kindness from Mrs. Ko Mayeda of Hartford during the wartime years, including the arrest of young Japanese men after a night gathering. She describes the Mayeda family and their church friendships.
• Japanese Canadians, by Clifford I. Uyeda, page 4. Clifford Uyeda responds to Senator Hayakawa’s remarks that dispersal was beneficial to Japanese Canadians, arguing the forced dispersal was a harsh injustice. He questions the logic of the senator’s statement.
• My Grandfather’s Past, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The author reflects on his Issei grandfather, a former Japanese soldier who requested repatriation during WWII. He explores their differing national loyalties and how Lee Ruttle’s novel helped him understand the grandfather’s past.
• Driving Around, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Bill Hosokawa compares Japan’s rigorous driver licensing process with the more casual American system. He notes that American accident rates suggest stronger competency standards may be warranted.
• An Opportunity, Not the Reason, by Clifford Uyeda, page 5. Clifford Uyeda argues that Pearl Harbor merely gave West Coast anti-Japanese groups an opportunity to achieve the expulsion they had sought for decades. He explains why the public needs this longer history to understand the incarceration.
• Moshi, moshi, by Gene Konomi, page 5. Gene Konomi explains the origin and meaning of the Japanese phrase ‘moshi, moshi,’ correcting a linguistics scholar’s explanation. He recalls childhood memories of hearing the greeting in a country town.
• Time to Beef Up Our 1000 Club, by George Inagaki, page 6. Former 1000 Club chairman George Inagaki argues the club has declined in importance and needs stronger leadership and resources. He offers several suggestions to revitalize membership and fundraising.
• Slap the Yap letter to the Tonight Show, by Mark Abe, page 8. Sixteen-year-old Mark Abe writes to NBC’s Tonight Show objecting to a racial slur made by guest host George Carlin. He asks NBC for a public apology to Japanese Americans.

Military & Veterans

• Gardena Valley Chapter Scholarship, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Gardena Valley JACL announced three $250 scholarships for graduating seniors. Applicants must meet membership and enrollment requirements.

Arts & Entertainment

• The Thousander Column: Chol Soo Lee legal assistance, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Continuation of the Chol Soo Lee article describing the trial, witnesses and defense efforts. It details the identification process and the difficulties of obtaining counsel.
• The Stern Stuff of Issei, by P.C. Staff, page 10. This review describes Issei Christians, a book of interviews with six Issei published by the Issei Oral History Project. It summarizes the life stories and themes of the collection.
• Canadian Japanese Evacuation, by Harry Honda, page 10. Harry Honda reviews Barry Broadfoot’s oral history of the Japanese Canadian removal, noting its use of survivor voices. He highlights the War Measures Act and its use against Japanese Canadians.
• A Novel by Lee Ruttle: The Private War of Dr. Yamada, by P.C. Staff, page 11. This piece presents excerpts of reviews praising Lee Ruttle’s novel about a Japanese physician on Peleliu during WWII. The reviews emphasize its humanity and anti-war theme.
• Bamboo People in Japanese, by P.C. Staff, page 11. A Japanese-language version of Frank Chuman’s legal history The Bamboo People has been published in Tokyo. The article notes ordering information and new content.
• Books from PC, by P.C. Staff, page 11. This book catalog lists titles on Japanese American history available through the Pacific Citizen, including works by Hosokawa, Chuman, Gunn and Weglyn. It provides prices and ordering information.
• Asian dance archive unveiled, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The Dance Collection of the New York Public Library unveiled an archive covering Japan and other Asian countries. The brief describes the materials included.
• Years of Shame: The Story of the Japanese Canadians in World War II, by Harry Honda, page 11. Harry Honda reviews Barry Broadfoot’s book on the Japanese Canadian evacuation told through oral histories. The review highlights its voices and its concluding discussion of whether such events could recur.

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