Vol. 117, No. 2, July 9, 1993. 8 pages. View this issue
JACL’s call on President Clinton to hold to his pledge to end the ban on gays in the military led this eight-page issue. The organization urged him to reject Sen. Nunn’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” proposal, and Coretta Scott King joined the appeal. JACL’s Washington representative tied its position to the World War II internment of Japanese Americans. Other front-page stories covered a meeting with Attorney General Janet Reno, a new hate crime video, and Harry K. Honda’s report from the PANA Convention in Vancouver.
Elsewhere, letters from JACL officials followed the effort to change the name of “Jap Road” in Beaumont, Texas, a name JACL called a racial slur. JACL began its search for a new national director. Bill Hosokawa and Jin Konomi wrote columns, and chapter scholarship winners from San Diego and the High Desert were honored. The New York Nichibei ended publication after 48 years.
What’s in this issue
National
- JACL Urges Clinton to Stay Firm on End to Military Ban on Gays, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL sent a letter to President Clinton urging him to stand firm on his commitment to lift the ban on gays in the military and reject Sen. Nunn’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ compromise. Coretta Scott King and JACL’s Washington representative joined the call against discrimination in the armed forces.’
- Asian Pacific Group Meets With Reno, page 1. U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno met with Asian Pacific American and Hispanic civil rights organizations to discuss issues including hate crimes, immigration, the Voting Rights Act, and English-only laws. JACL’s Karen Narasaki praised Reno’s commitment to civil rights and sensitivity to barriers faced by these communities.
- Nine Tempe Police Officers Named in $9 Million Lawsuit Alleging Anti-Semitic Tactics, page 1. A lawsuit filed against the city of Tempe, Ariz., accuses nine police officers of using anti-Semitic tactics to harass a Jewish-owned nightclub, including slurs and repeated liquor license monitoring. Officers named in the suit admitted in depositions to using racial slurs against minorities and collecting Nazi paraphernalia.
- Voting Rights of Nikkei in Canada Discussed at PANA Convention, by By Harry K. Honda, page 1. At the closing session of the PANA Convention in Vancouver, delegates discussed voting rights for overseas Japanese citizens unable to participate politically in Japan. Art Miki, a Canadian Nikkei political candidate and past NAJC president, was the convention’s keynote speaker.
- Out-Going EEOC Official Details Glass Ceiling, Model Minority Myth, page 3. Speaking at a Chinese American Librarians Association conference, outgoing EEOC Commissioner Joseph Cherian discussed the history of discrimination against Asian immigrants and the harmful effects of the ‘model minority’ myth. He cited data showing Asian Americans are underrepresented in management despite being well-represented among professionals, and urged corporate leaders to address the glass ceiling.
- N.Y. Nikkei Paper Stops Publication, page 3. After 48 years, the New York Nichibei ceased publication on July 1 due to severe financial difficulties over the past two years. The paper’s board of directors made the decision to close on June 13.
Obituaries
- In Memoriam: Z. Simpson Cox, page 1. Z. Simpson Cox, 82, an attorney active in the Arizona JACL Chapter since 1941 and a longtime member of the 1000 Club, died June 24 in Phoenix. He provided pro bono legal services to Japanese Americans during and after World War II.
- Z. Simpson Cox Survived By Family, Contributions Requested, page 7. Additional details on Z. Simpson Cox’s 1953 JACL honor for his service to Japanese Americans and his role in passage of the Walter-McCarren Immigration and Naturalization Act are provided. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and contributions are directed to a scholarship fund in his name.
- Deaths in the Community, page 8. The issue lists numerous community members who recently passed away, including WWII veterans, Issei, and Nisei from across California and beyond, with details of survivors and hometowns. Notable entries include Guy T. Hatago, a San Fernando-born WWII veteran, and Hiroshi Ben Sugimoto, a retired Nisei farmer and Yu-Ai Kai volunteer from San Jose.
Community
- Hate Crime Videotapes Now Out, page 1. The Nichi Bei Times and JACL produced a 30-second public service video, available in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and English, providing community resources for hate crime victims. Executive director Yvonne Lee said the video aims to help law enforcement address anti-Asian violence.
- Can We Talk—Better?, page 1. Some police officers believe racist cop talk will decline as departments hire more minorities and teach cultural diversity, according to a Glendale, Ariz., police spokesman. An NAACP spokesman disagreed, saying police still have an ‘us-against-them’ attitude leading to common racist remarks.
- JACL Searching for New National Director, page 2. JACL is accepting applications for a new national director to replace Dennis Hayashi, who left to direct the Office of Civil Rights at Health and Human Services. President Lillian Kimura and VP Neal Taniguchi described the position as high-profile, requiring civil rights leadership and outreach to a diverse membership.
- Arizona Chapter President Writes to Texas Senator About ‘Jap Road’, page 3. Arizona JACL Chapter President Joe Allman wrote to Sen. Phil Gramm asking for assistance in changing the name of ‘Jap Road’ in Beaumont, Texas. Local officials had previously stated the name would remain since residents opposed changing it, prompting further letters from JACL National President Lillian Kimura and Regional Director Bill Yoshino.
- San Diego Chapter Honors 17 Grads, by By Tets Kashima, page 5. The Greater San Diego JACL chapter awarded scholarships to 17 outstanding graduating students, with Elizabeth Ito winning the top $1,000 award. Ito excelled in softball, math, and science, and plans to study biology at UC-San Diego.
- High Desert Chapter Honors Two Students, by By Victoria K. Misaka, page 5. The High Desert JACL chapter awarded $750 scholarships to graduating Antelope Valley High School students Stacie A. Yamaguchi and Alayna E. Ohs based on academics and extracurricular involvement. Yamaguchi, class valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA, held numerous leadership roles and plans to attend Westmont College.
- Honors: Community Leaders Recognized, page 5. Judoist Yosh Uchida was honored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews for improving quality of life in San Jose, and morning news anchor Kohara was named ‘media advocate of the year’ for coverage of small businesses. Bombay-born engineer Arun Jhaveri was elected to Burien, Wash.’s first city council, tasked with opposing a third runway at Sea-Tac Airport.
- Health Award: Yoshio Honkawa Honored by AHA, page 5. The American Hospital Association honored Yoshio Honkawa, vice president for government and industry relations at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, for his long-lasting contributions to healthcare policy. Cedars-Sinai is the largest nonprofit community medical center west of the Mississippi.
- Letters Follow-Up: JACL Officials Respond to Beaumont ‘Jap Road’ Controversy, page 7. JACL National President Lillian Kimura and Midwest Regional Director Bill Yoshino sent letters to Beaumont officials reaffirming that the term ‘Jap’ is a racial slur and should not remain in a road’s name. Arizona Chapter President Joe Allman also followed up with a letter to Sen. Phil Gramm requesting assistance.
Incarceration & Redress
- Japanese Canadian Redress Group Gives $60,000 to PANA, page 1. The Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation announced a $60,000 gift to PANA at the convention, drawing warm applause from delegates. The foundation funds projects supporting Japanese Canadians individually and as a community, including global Nikkei connections.
Arts & Entertainment
- Nisei Week Festival Set for Aug. 7-15, page 3. The Nisei Week Festival in Los Angeles will run Aug. 7-15, featuring cultural events including actress Nobu McCarthy hosting the ondo, a Grand Parade, and art exhibits. Artist Hiro Yamagata created the commemorative poster for the 53rd annual festival.
Commentary
- A Well Written Past, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Hosokawa describes Bill Sakayama’s scrapbook of prewar Nisei writings, spanning contributors like Larry Tajiri, John Fujii, and Joe Oyama, that discussed racial discrimination and economic opportunity. He suggests such scrapbooks offer valuable historical windows for Yonsei and Gosei studying their origins, since many prewar Japanese American publication archives are lost.
- My Santa Maria Days, by Jin Konomi, page 6. Konomi recalls his teenage years attending Santa Maria High School and Junior College in the 1920s amid rising anti-Japanese political sentiment, including Sen. Hiram Johnson’s push for total immigration bans. Despite the hostile national climate, he experienced kindness and inclusion from classmates and teachers, an experience he continues to reflect on decades later.
- Letters: Wants Support for Nikkei Texans Battling ‘Jap Road’, page 6. A reader expresses concern over insufficient support from JACL staff and national leadership for two Nikkei women and the Houston Chapter fighting to rename ‘Jap Road’ in Beaumont, Texas. The writer urges JACL to mobilize veterans, civil rights groups, and other chapters to assist in the campaign.
Military & Veterans
- JACL Joins Coalition Supporting End to Gay Military Ban, page 7. JACL’s Washington representative noted the organization’s sensitivity to military discrimination given the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. JACL joined a coalition including the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and others advocating for lifting the ban on gays in the military.
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