Vol. 112, No. 25, June 28, 1991. 8 pages. View this issue
The House of Representatives passed a bill by Rep. Mel Levine making Manzanar a national historic site, to be guided by an advisory commission of former internees, local residents, Native Americans and the public. A companion bill by Rep. George Miller, also passed unanimously, would have the Interior Department study other World War II relocation and assembly center sites for possible designation. Redress also came up in two letters, one from a non-Japanese internee asking to hear from others denied redress, and one praising JACL/LEC recommendations to the Office of Redress Administration.
Elsewhere, Rep. Robert T. Matsui was drafting a health care bill for women and children, and Los Angeles weighed a census lawsuit and a study of ethnic tensions. Bill Hosokawa wrote about the JET program in Japan, and Bill Marutani about a memorial to 62 Washington State Japanese Americans who died in military service. Richard Suenaga reviewed the film Thousand Pieces of Gold, with a profile of Rosalind Chao. A JACL Tri-District conference in Philadelphia was announced.
What’s in this issue
Incarceration & Redress
- House Approves Manzanar as National Historic Site, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House of Representatives passed a bill authored by Rep. Mel Levine designating Manzanar as a national historic site, to be managed with an advisory commission including former internees and Native Americans. A companion bill by Rep. George Miller, also passed unanimously, would direct the Interior Department to study other WWII relocation and assembly center sites for possible historic designation.
National
- Matsui Working on Health Bill for Women, Children, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Rep. Robert T. Matsui is drafting legislation to expand access to health care for all pregnant women and children up to age 21. The bill, modeled after the American Academy of Pediatrics’ ‘Children First’ plan, would require employers to provide health coverage options for dependents.
- Bill Would Restore California Civil Rights Act, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A measure to restore California’s basic civil rights act, introduced by Senate President Pro-Tempore David A. Roberti, was approved by the state Senate in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Unruh Civil Rights Act. The bill aims to prohibit arbitrary discrimination by businesses and is opposed by the state’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
- L.A. Attorney May Sue for Census Adjustment, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Los Angeles City Attorney Jim Hahn announced he would seek a federal court injunction to force an adjustment to the 1990 census count if the Commerce Department fails to act by July 15. The undercount particularly affects the city’s ethnic and minority neighborhoods, with an estimated undercount of 3.1% for Asians and Pacific Islanders.
Community
- L.A. to Study Ethnic Tensions, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Los Angeles Human Relations Commission will conduct a study of current inter-group relations in the city following media coverage of incidents involving African American and Korean American communities. Mayor Tom Bradley and Councilman Robert Farrell announced the initiative.
- Chapter News Briefs, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Multiple JACL chapters report on recent activities including a St. Louis fundraiser co-chaired by Grayce Uyehara, a Cleveland community appreciation day honoring 12 Issei, and a Seattle mentorship program pairing students with community leaders. The Mile-Hi chapter also remembered Rich Castro, former director of Denver’s Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations, who died in 1983.
- Agenda: Chapter Activities and Events, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Various JACL chapters announce upcoming events including a Sonoma County talent night, a Glendale, Arizona centennial celebration, and a San Francisco Kay Okamoto Volunteer Award nomination deadline. The Monterey Peninsula chapter’s newsletter continues a series on local Japanese American Issei farming history.
JACL
- Philadelphia to Host Tri-District Conference, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A JACL Tri-District convention is scheduled for Aug. 22-25 in Philadelphia, featuring guest speakers including Patricia Saiki of the Small Business Administration and assistant attorney general John Dunne. Sessions will cover anti-Asian violence, media relations, and intergenerational dialogue, along with recreational events and a Sayonara Ball.
Commentary
- Japan Exchange and Teaching Program Revisited, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. The column shares a letter from Torye Kambe, a Sansei who participated in the JET program in Japan and found the experience valuable enough to re-enlist for a second tour. Kambe describes the challenges and rewards of being a Japanese American navigating identity in rural Japan, and encourages other Nikkei to consider participating in the program.
- Uncommon American Patriots, by Bill Marutani, page 4. The column describes a memorial project honoring 62 Japanese Americans from Washington State who died in military service, organized by the Nisei Veterans Committee with support from Senator Daniel Inouye. A booklet documenting the fallen soldiers’ service records, from World War II through the 1983 Grenada invasion, was published alongside the memorial dedication.
- Reader Wants to Hear from Those Denied Redress, by D. Nakamura, page 4. A letter writer who is non-Japanese but was interned during WWII expresses interest in hearing from other internees who were denied redress due to their non-Japanese ancestry. The writer notes that civil rights were denied to all internees under Executive Order 9066 regardless of ethnicity and seeks support for amending redress eligibility.
- Likes Recommendation on Redress Apology, by Ike T., page 4. A letter writer praises the JACL/LEC list of 15 recommendations to the Office of Redress Administration, particularly regarding fixing the redress payment letters that failed to properly apologize to recipients. The writer urges that any corrective action be made retroactive to include all who already received the flawed letters.
Arts & Entertainment
- ‘Thousand Pieces’ Brings Dignity to Chinese, by Richard Suenaga, page 5. The film ‘Thousand Pieces of Gold,’ produced by Kenji Yamamoto and his wife Nancy Kelly, tells the true story of Polly Bemis, a Chinese woman fighting for dignity and rights during the 19th-century gold rush era in Idaho. The review praises the film’s humanizing portrayal of Chinese immigrants and its relevance to contemporary issues of discrimination, while noting its uncertain box office prospects due to lack of major stars.
- Rosalind Chao: Role of a Lifetime, page 5. Actress Rosalind Chao discusses her starring role as Lalu/Polly in ‘Thousand Pieces of Gold,’ calling it a rare opportunity for an Asian American woman to lead a film. Chao, whose parents emigrated from mainland China, reflects on her acting career and her personal connection to stories of Chinese immigrant history that were largely absent from her school textbooks.
Obituaries
- Mary Nakabayashi Furuta, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Mary Nakabayashi Furuta passed away on June 2, 1991 in Chicago, Illinois. She is survived by her husband Mich Furuta and sons Michael and Alan.
- Mitsue Okuma, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A family service was held for Mitsue Okuma, 55, who was born in Hakalau, Hawaii and was a Nisei resident. Details of the service arrangements were provided by the mortuary.
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