Vol. 138, No. 10, June 4, 2004. 12 pages. View this issue
Harlemm Lee, the 36-year-old Chinese/Filipino American who won NBC’s “Fame,” was the subject of the cover story by Caroline Aoyagi, who reported on his struggle for recognition after the win. Civil liberties ran through the news as well. Lynda Lin reported that JACL joined a coalition behind the Civil Liberties Restoration Act, aimed at rolling back Patriot Act powers, and that the national board passed a 2005-2006 biennial budget. Gil Asakawa wrote about the paper’s own finances.
A preview told of Judge Robert M. Takasugi opening the 2004 Tule Lake Pilgrimage. Harry K. Honda recalled how part of Little Tokyo was cleared in 1951-52 for Parker Center. Sports pages covered Ichiro Suzuki’s 2,000th career hit, Michelle Wie and Korean golfers on the LPGA tour. This 12-page issue also announced a civil rights workshop with Angela E. Oh for the JACL convention in Honolulu.
What’s in this issue
Arts & Entertainment
- ‘Fame’ Winner Harlemm Lee Still Fighting for Recognition, by Caroline Aoyagi, page 1. Harlemm Lee, winner of NBC’s ‘Fame’ reality show, remains largely unrecognized compared to ‘American Idol’ castoff William Hung despite winning lucrative prizes eight months prior. Lee describes struggling with the entertainment industry’s reluctance to promote him, feeling his story as an Asian American winner isn’t considered marketable enough.
- Asian American Network ImaginAsian TV Set to Launch, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Michael Hong has founded ImaginAsian TV, the first national 24-hour Pan-Asian American television network, set to launch in August with programming aimed at 18-34 year olds and made accessible on basic cable. The network will feature subtitled in-language programs alongside original productions, though some industry observers remain skeptical about its appeal to English-speaking Asian Americans.
- ‘Fame’ Winner Harlemm Lee Still Fighting for Recognition (continued), by Caroline Aoyagi, page 12. The continuation details how Lee’s promised prizes from winning ‘Fame,’ including a recording contract and promotional support, have largely failed to materialize, leaving him financially struggling. Lee compares his situation to William Hung’s success, arguing the industry favors stereotypical portrayals over authentic Asian American representation.
National
- JACL Continues Battle for Civil Liberties With New Bill, by Lynda Lin, page 1. JACL joins a coalition supporting the Civil Liberties Restoration Act, a bill intended to roll back powers granted under the USA Patriot Act. Executive Director John Tateishi called the Patriot Act a ‘drastic departure from basic human rights’ at the national board meeting.
- Police Arrest 1970 Killer of JA Cop, Then Decide Not to File Charges, by Associated Press, page 1. Berkeley police arrested Don Juan Warren Graphenreed in connection with the 1970 killing of Japanese American officer Ronald Tsukamoto, but reversed course days later and declined to file charges. Tsukamoto was the first JA officer hired in Berkeley and the first Berkeley officer killed in the line of duty.
- Government Declines to Reveal Potential Patriot Act Authorizations, by Associated Press, page 3. The federal government refused an ACLU request to disclose whether it used certain Patriot Act investigative powers under Section 215 in the past eight months. The ACLU and other groups filed suit contesting the section’s constitutionality regarding due process and free speech.
- Hate Crime Prompts State Legislation; ‘Kenny’s Law’ Passes Assembly, Now Moves to Senate, by P.C. Staff, page 3. California’s AB 2428, known as ‘Kenny’s Law,’ passed the state Assembly and requires protective orders when hate crime perpetrators are released on parole or probation. The bill is named after Kenneth Chiu, a Taiwanese American teen murdered by a white supremacist neighbor in 2001.
- Claremont Professor Pleads Not Guilty to Alleged Fake Vandalism, by Associated Press, page 3. Visiting Claremont McKenna College professor Kerri Dunn pleaded not guilty to charges of filing a false police report and insurance fraud after claiming her car was vandalized with racist slurs. Witnesses reported seeing Dunn vandalize the car herself, and her false report had forced campus-wide class cancellations and student protests.
- Chicago Approves Ordinance That Removes AAs From Set-aside Program, by Melanie Coffee, page 3. Chicago’s city council approved a new ordinance continuing minority contract set-asides for blacks, Hispanics and women but dropping Asian Americans from the recognized list. Asian American leaders criticized the decision, saying it unfairly requires AAs alone to individually prove past discrimination.
- National Newsbytes, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. A roundup of national news briefs including declining minority applications to University of Michigan after affirmative action ruling, a Korean War Museum seeking mainland gallery space, a California bill allowing consideration of race/gender in university admissions, and Fresno forming support systems for incoming Hmong refugees.
- Video Game Fans Dance Off Extra Pounds, by Anita Chang, page 4. The video game Dance Dance Revolution has become an unexpected tool for weight loss among teens, with players reporting significant slimming down after regular play. A pediatrician is planning a six-month study on DDR’s health benefits, though some schools have already incorporated it into physical education programs.
JACL
- JACL National Board Passes 2005-2006 Biennial Budget, by Lynda Lin, page 1. The JACL national board unanimously passed a 2005-2006 biennial budget with over $4.2 million in revenue and program costs at its May quarterly meeting. Debate centered on whether to use the Life Trust Endowment Fund to finance the Planned Giving program, with the board ultimately deciding not to draw from that fund.
- Civil Rights: Still Relevant Today, by David M. Forman, page 6. Angela E. Oh will join William Tamayo and JACL Executive Director John Tateishi for a workshop titled ‘Civil Rights: Still Relevant Today’ at the JACL 75th Anniversary National Convention in Honolulu. The article details the extensive civil rights backgrounds of all three speakers, from EEOC litigation to redress campaign work.
- JACL National Board Passes 2005-2006 Biennial Budget (continued), by Lynda Lin, page 12. The continuation details the board’s debate over using the Life Trust Endowment Fund for the Planned Giving program, with Legal Counsel Michelle Yoshida determining it lawful to take money as a grant. The board ultimately approved raising $50,000 for Planned Giving without drawing from the trust fund, while some members voted against the budget citing lack of new initiatives.
Commentary
- The Numbers Add Up, by Gil Asakawa, page 1. P.C. Editorial Board Chair Gil Asakawa defends the Pacific Citizen’s budget after board members proposed cuts, arguing the paper actually earns money for JACL rather than just spending it. He urges readers to support the Spring Campaign fundraiser to keep the newspaper strong.
- JACL Should Not Support Mi-Choong O’Brien, by Reaneth Nishimura, page 2. A reader letter expresses outrage that the Pacific Citizen garnered sympathy for Mi-Choong O’Brien, arguing she is not a sympathetic figure since she embezzled money and never applied for citizenship. The writer objects to comparing her case to Japanese American internment and threatens to reconsider JACL membership renewal.
- Re: Engrish.com, by Hide Tanaka, page 2. A reader letter argues that whether Engrish.com is racist depends on whether one is defined by others’ words or by self-definition. The writer suggests that taking offense gives legitimacy to those making derogatory comments.
- The Importance of Awareness, by Marisa Harano, page 5. A UC Davis sophomore writes about encountering racist comments on campus and argues that young Asian Americans must raise awareness about ongoing racism rather than accepting a passive, complacent attitude. She calls on youth to be catalysts for change, building on the struggles of earlier generations who fought for civil rights.
Community
- APAs in the News, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Various Asian Americans were honored for community achievements, including former JACL president Lillian Kimura at a New Jersey heritage gala and law fellowship winners of the Judge Robert M. Takasugi Fellowship. The Asian American Federation of New York also honored several individuals, and a California history museum exhibit featured notable Asian American women.
- Berkeley Chapter Holds Annual Scholarship Banquet, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The JACL Berkeley chapter awarded $3,500 in scholarships to four graduating high school seniors at its annual luncheon, including the first Bea Kono Memorial Scholarship. The chapter also honored Pioneer Award recipients Ko Ijichi and T. Robert Yamada, with CBS anchor Sydnie Kohara serving as keynote speaker.
- Fremont Chapter Hosts Annual Graduation Luncheon, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The JACL Fremont Chapter held its annual graduation luncheon featuring keynote speaker Dennis Hayashi, former JACL executive director. Jennifer Iso, a 2004 graduate of Irvington High School, received multiple scholarships and will attend Pepperdine University in the fall.
In-Depth
- Judge Takasugi to Open Tule Lake Pilgrimage, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Judge Robert M. Takasugi will deliver opening remarks at the 2004 Tule Lake Pilgrimage, sharing his own family’s incarceration experience under the theme ‘Citizens Betrayed.’ The four-day event will feature a panel of renunciants, cultural programs emceed by George Takei, and a preview screening of the film ‘From a Silk Cocoon.’
- When Little Tokyo Lost a Quarter of Its Roots, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. The column recounts how a large section of Little Tokyo was demolished by eminent domain in 1951-52 to build the LAPD’s Parker Center, forcing a ‘second evacuation’ of businesses and residents who had just resettled after WWII internment. The piece provides a detailed inventory of the dozens of shops, hotels, and organizations that once occupied the razed blocks.
Sports
- Ichiro Gets Career Hit No. 2000, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki recorded his 2,000th career hit combining his Japan and MLB totals during a game against Detroit. Suzuki, the 2001 AL Rookie of the Year and MVP, had 1,278 hits in Japan’s Pacific League before joining the majors.
- Players Credit Se Ri Pak for Breaking LPGA Glass Ceiling, by P.C. Staff, page 7. South Korean golfers now dominate the LPGA tour, with seventeen competing in the Sybase Classic, a dramatic increase from just five in 1997. Players credit Se Ri Pak, now qualified for the LPGA Hall of Fame, for paving the way and inspiring Korean golfers to pursue the U.S. tour.
- Michelle Wie’s Master Plan, by Doug Ferguson, page 7. Fourteen-year-old golf prodigy Michelle Wie received an exemption to the U.S. Women’s Open and hopes to eventually qualify for the Masters by winning the U.S. Amateur Public Links tournament. Wie has already impressed on the LPGA Tour, finishing fourth in a major championship and earning enough money to rank 28th on the money list.
Obituaries
- Goro Hokama, Longtime Maui Councilman, Dies at 75, by Associated Press, page 11. Goro Hokama, a former Maui County Council chairman and Democratic Party leader, died of cancer at age 75. A native of Lanai, he served 40 years in county government and also worked 45 years at Dole Pineapple, becoming a labor union leader.
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