Halloween costumes, Korematsu’s school and protecting camp sites

Vol. 141, No. 7, October 7, 2005. 11 pages. View this issue

Offensive Halloween costumes led the news. APAs criticized Halloweenmart.com for geisha and samurai outfits with demeaning phrases, and Caroline Aoyagi-Stom reported on where fun ends and stereotyping begins, with comment from JACL’s John Tateishi. Davis, California, voted to name a new elementary school after Fred Korematsu. Groups raised money to acquire land at the Topaz and Minidoka sites, and Tule Lake won a recommendation for National Historical Landmark status. Lynda Lin reported on help for Vietnamese American victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Elsewhere, JACL’s board adopted a third quarter budget with a small surplus, and JACL applauded House passage of a hate crimes bill. John Tateishi asked what future JACL has in civil rights work. Yuki Llewellyn described her first return to Manzanar, and the national JACL announced 29 scholarships totaling $60,000.

What’s in this issue

National

• Halloween-Themed Web Site Brings Back Memories of ‘Kung Fool’, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. APAs are criticizing Halloweenmart.com for selling geisha and samurai costumes with offensive phrases like ‘Ready to serve her master.’ Critics including JACL’s John Tateishi say there’s a distinction between tasteless fun and racist stereotyping, though the company’s president dismissed the concerns.
• Asian American Student Fights School for Equal Rights, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Charlene Nguon, a 17-year-old Santiago High School senior, is suing her school district with the ACLU after being disciplined and forced to transfer schools for showing affection to her girlfriend. She claims the school unfairly singled her out for punishment based on her sexual orientation while straight couples faced no consequences for similar behavior.
• JACL to Sign Onto Amicus Brief in Support of Same-Sex Marriage, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. JACL continues its historic fight for marriage equality, this time supporting same-sex couples’ right to marry just as it once fought anti-miscegenation laws. The organization’s stance remains firm despite the shifting battleground.
• Roberts Sworn In as Chief Justice, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 3. John Roberts was sworn in as the 17th chief justice despite opposition from JACL and other APA groups who cited concerns over his civil rights record. JACL’s review found Roberts had taken positions opposing affirmative action, Title IX protections, and Voting Rights Act provisions.
• U-M Faculty Seek Help After Asian Students Harassed, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 3. University of Michigan faculty members asked the school president to address two incidents of ethnic intimidation against Asian students in September 2005. JACL Midwest Director Bill Yoshino sent a letter demanding a thorough investigation and appropriate charges against the accused students.
• Help Fund the JA Internment Camp Protection Initiative, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Topaz Museum, Friends of Minidoka, National Park Service and Conservation Fund are racing to raise $250,000 by Oct. 15 to acquire key lands at the Topaz internment camp site in Utah. Similar efforts are underway to acquire adjacent land at the Minidoka Relocation Center in Idaho for preservation and education.
• Relocation Camp Wins Landmark Recommendation, by Associated Press, page 5. The National Park Service Advisory Board unanimously recommended 42 acres of the former Tule Lake Relocation-Segregation Camp for National Historical Landmark designation. Tule Lake, which held a peak population of 18,789 detainees, was the largest of the WWII internment camps.
• APAs in the News, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. Madison Nguyen became the first Vietnamese American elected to the San Jose City Council, defeating attorney Linda Nguyen. Separately, Democrat Ted Lieu won California’s 53rd Assembly District special election with nearly 60 percent of the vote, avoiding a runoff.
• Reaching into the Community to Rebuild Dreams (continued), by Lynda Lin, page 11. The article continues detailing how young Asian Americans created a website to assist Vietnamese American hurricane victims and how organizations like Boat People SOS are overwhelmed trying to serve displaced communities. Advocates worry that the APA community’s self-sufficiency may cause government agencies to overlook their need for aid.
• Costumes Controversy Continues, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 11. The article continues examining the controversy over Halloweenmart.com’s Asian-themed costumes, noting the company confuses Chinese and Japanese cultural elements and has resisted changing offensive marketing language. Critics argue that ethnic stereotyping in costumes, whether targeting Asians or other groups, should not be dismissed as mere Halloween fun.

JACL

• JACL Strives to ‘Strike a Balance’ with Budget, by Lynda Lin, page 1. JACL’s national board narrowly adopted a third quarter budget showing a slight surplus of $14,375 during its September meeting in San Francisco. Despite the positive number, officials caution the organization is running with minimal staff and the surplus will likely be quickly consumed.
• JACL Applauds Passage of Hate Crimes Legislation, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The JACL praised the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crime Prevention Act, which expands federal hate crime protections to include gender, sexual orientation and disability. JACL leaders urged the Senate to pass similar legislation, citing the organization’s long history of supporting hate crimes laws.
• Davis Elementary School to be Named After Korematsu, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Davis Board of Education voted 3-2 to name a new elementary school after civil rights pioneer Fred Korematsu, who passed away earlier in 2005. The school will be called Fred Korematsu Elementary School at Mace Ranch, honoring his fight against Japanese American internment.
• Nat’l JACL Awards $60,000 in Scholarships, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The national JACL announced its 2005 scholarship winners, awarding 29 scholarships totaling $60,000 to freshmen and undergraduate students. Recipients shared personal statements about their connections to Japanese American heritage and community involvement.

Commentary

• A Future for JACL?, by John Tateishi, page 1. JACL Executive Director John Tateishi reflects on why civil rights advocacy remains relevant for Japanese Americans and Asian Americans despite assimilation. He argues that racist language and attitudes continue to shape social reality and that JACL’s mission to challenge such attitudes remains vital.
• Japanese Food Makes ‘Miso’ Happy, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 7. A UCLA college student reflects on how living away from home and eating dorm food made her appreciate Japanese cuisine and its role in connecting Japanese Americans to their culture. She describes cooking simple Japanese dishes in her apartment and watching the film ‘Tampopo’ with friends as ways of reconnecting with her heritage.
• Returning ‘Dome’ to Manzanar, by Yuki Llewellyn, as told to Lynda Lin, page 7. Yuki Llewellyn, the little girl from the famous evacuation photo, describes her emotional first return visit to Manzanar since being interned there as a child. She recounts finding her name in camp records, collecting sand and mementos from the site, and a moving encounter with a stranger who apologized for not knowing about the camps.

Community

• Reaching into the Community to Rebuild Dreams, by Lynda Lin, page 1. APA groups and leaders are stepping up to help underrecognized Asian Pacific American victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf Coast region. Community organizations like Boat People SOS and a student-created website are providing crucial resources to displaced Vietnamese Americans who feel overlooked by government relief efforts.

Arts & Entertainment

• Exploring the ‘Nitty Gritty’ Side of Paradise in ‘Fishbowl’, by Lynda Lin, page 8. Filmmaker Kayo Hatta’s last project before her untimely death, ‘Fishbowl,’ explores Hawaiian kids grappling with social issues of language and class through Pidgin English dialogue. Friends and collaborators are now celebrating her life and work with festival screenings including an Oct. 22 tribute alongside her earlier film ‘Picture Bride.’

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