Vol. 113, No. 8, September 20, 1991. 8 pages. View this issue
Redress and the Supreme Court nomination of Clarence Thomas shared the front page of this eight-page issue. An Office of Redress Administration official confirmed a second round of payments would begin around the first week of October, and Illinois passed a law protecting redress payments from being counted against public aid eligibility or taken by creditors. As Senate hearings on Thomas continued, some Asian American groups announced opposition, while JACL said it would wait for the hearings to end. Harry Honda compared the Nisei’s early doubts about Earl Warren with the questions about Thomas.
Other pages include Bill Hosokawa on a Bill of Rights exhibit that left out the wartime incarceration, and Bill Marutani on illegal foreign workers in Japan. Martha Nakagawa profiled the blues-rock band B.B. Chung King and the Screaming Buddah Heads. News also covers a California bill on Asian American drug and alcohol abuse, and charges in the Arizona temple murders.
What’s in this issue
National
- Some Asian American Groups Oppose Supreme Court Nominee Clarence Thomas, by P.C. Staff, page 1. As Senate hearings on Clarence Thomas’s Supreme Court confirmation continued, Asian American organizations including the National Pacific American Bar Association announced opposition to the nomination, citing concerns over his record at the EEOC and Department of Education. JACL issued a wait-and-see statement, saying it would withhold judgment until the full hearing process concluded despite concerns over Thomas’s civil rights record.
- Five Suspects Are Charged in Thai Murders, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Five suspects were arrested and charged with nine counts of murder and other crimes in the Aug. 10 killing of Buddhist temple members near Phoenix, Arizona, easing fears that the crime was racially motivated. Authorities continue searching for two to three additional suspects as community and religious leaders, including Thailand’s ambassador, monitored the case closely.
- Asian American Drug/Alcohol Bill Passes California Legislature, by P.C. Staff, page 3. A bill addressing substance abuse issues within Asian American communities passed the California Legislature, backed by a coalition of community organizations including Chinatown Service Center, Little Tokyo Service Center, and others. The legislation aims to address the increasing problem of drug and alcohol abuse among Asian Pacific American populations.
- JETRO to Assist American Access to Japan Market, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) announced an annual program to help American businesses access the Japanese market in sectors including sporting goods, boating, and fitness. Application deadline is Oct. 11, with information available through JETRO representatives.
Community
- L.A. Reapportionment Fund-Raiser Set, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Central Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans for Fair Reapportionment is holding a fund-raiser to influence redistricting decisions. Speakers at the event include community leaders, with information available by phone.
- AGENDA: St. Louis Festival and San Fernando Valley Oral History Event, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The 17th annual Japanese festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis drew crowds despite rain, with chapter president Steve Mitori praising volunteers and performers including the Osuwa Taiko group and San Francisco Taiko Dojo. Separately, the San Fernando Valley JACL chapter announced an oral history evening on Oct. 19 where Nikkei will share memories of evacuation, camp life, resettlement, military service, redress, and Sansei-Yonsei perspectives.
Incarceration & Redress
- Second Round of Redress Assured by ORA Official, by P.C. Staff, page 1. An Office of Redress Administration official confirmed that a second round of redress payments will begin around the first week of October for eligible individuals born before Jan. 1, 1928. The ORA advised affected individuals who have not received letters or checks to contact the Help Line for case status updates.
- ORA Changes Appearance of Letter of Apology, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Although the ORA could not change the text of the presidential apology letter as recommended by the LEC, the document’s appearance is expected to be improved. National redress chairwoman Cherry Kinoshita reviewed a sample of the revised letter at a recent meeting.
- Illinois Passes Redress Protection Law, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar signed Senate Bill 442 into law on Sept. 17, amending the Illinois Public Aid Code and Code of Civil Procedure to protect redress payments from being counted against eligibility for general assistance and medical aid. The law also exempts redress payments from garnishment or attachment by creditors, a move praised by the Chicago Chapter and the Japanese American Bar Association of Greater Chicago.
Commentary
- Bill of Rights Exhibit Silent on Evacuation, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Bill Hosokawa critiques a Philip Morris-sponsored touring exhibit celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights for failing to mention the wartime incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans, a stark violation of constitutional protections. He argues the exhibit missed an opportunity to teach that when rights of some are violated, the rights of all are endangered.
- ‘Illegal’ Workers in Japan, by Bill Marutani, page 4. Bill Marutani examines Japan’s tightened immigration laws and the ongoing influx of illegal foreign workers, including Filipinos, Iranians, Pakistanis, and Japanese-descended Latin Americans, who fill labor shortages in factories, restaurants, and construction. He details the precarious living and working conditions of these workers, who often endure exploitative wages and crowded housing while avoiding authorities out of fear of deportation.
- As Warren Went in ’50s, So Goes Thomas Today, by Harry Honda, page 4. Harry Honda draws parallels between the Nisei community’s early skepticism of Earl Warren’s Supreme Court appointment, given his role in wartime anti-Japanese actions as California attorney general and governor, and the current concerns surrounding Clarence Thomas’s nomination. Honda notes that Warren later appointed the first Nisei judge, John Aiso, complicating the community’s initial wariness.
Arts & Entertainment
- B.B., the Beat, and the Blues…, by Martha Nakagawa, page 5. The article profiles B.B. Chung King and the Screaming Buddah Heads, a blues-rock band led by Japanese American musician Alan Mirikitani, who has drawn strong audiences at Los Angeles venues including the Lotus Festival. The band’s repertoire includes a song titled ‘442’ honoring the celebrated Japanese American army unit, and their track ‘Jap Blues’ has been featured on NBC’s Midnight Caller.
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