Vol. 151, No. 5, September 3, 2010. 16 pages. View this issue
Fallout from the BP oil spill ran through this issue. Nalea J. Ko reported on Vietnamese American fishermen in Biloxi, Mississippi, still struggling four months on, and Tom Withers profiled Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, who kept up his work to save Gulf Coast wetlands. JACL National President David H. Kawamoto wrote about membership and the National JACL Scholarship Program, while John Tateishi questioned the Senate’s rejection of APA judicial nominees Goodwin Liu and Edward Chen.
California’s legislature passed a bill creating Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution, and a resolution on Italian Americans under Executive Order 9066. Jury foreman James Matsumoto spoke about the Blagojevich trial. Also inside: Marvel’s casting call for Runaways, JACL’s Salute to Champions Gala, and a Little Tokyo advocacy program for high school students.
What’s in this issue
Commentary
- Membership Is the Life Blood of JACL, by David H. Kawamoto, page 2. JACL National President David Kawamoto discusses fundraising efforts for the National JACL Scholarship Program, noting solicitations to past recipients brought in significant donations. He encourages members to upgrade their membership levels to support the organization’s financial challenges.
- APA Judicial Confirmations, by John Tateishi, page 8. John Tateishi criticizes the Senate’s rejection of APA judicial nominees Goodwin Liu and Edward Chen while Elena Kagan easily won confirmation to the Supreme Court, arguing the exclusion reflects lingering stereotypes about APAs. He quotes a JACL report arguing that proportional APA representation on the federal bench is vital for civil rights and symbolic representation.
- Early Days of Interracial Marriages, by Toshiko Nakamura Wilkinson, page 8. Toshiko Nakamura Wilkinson recounts marrying her husband Lee, a white Iowan, at a time when interracial marriage was illegal in many states and faced strong family objections. Despite initial resistance from her parents, the couple built a lasting marriage until Lee’s death in 2005.
National
- Asian Pacific American Gulf Coast Fishermen’s Frustrations Teem Over Four Months After the Spill, by Nalea J. Ko, page 3. Vietnamese American fishermen in Biloxi, Mississippi struggle financially and emotionally months after the BP oil spill, with compensation decreasing and seafood sales drying up due to consumer fears. Community organizations including JACL and OCA held town hall meetings to discuss concerns and explore job retraining options for displaced fishermen.
- Model Minority Myth and the ‘Miracle Drug’, by Christine McFadden, page 4. Asian American college students are increasingly misusing prescription stimulants like Adderall to cope with academic pressure, though data on APA drug abuse remains scarce. Experts say the ‘Model Minority Myth’ contributes to pressure that drives some students toward unauthorized use of the drug.
- Blagojevich’s Foreman Says Verdict Was ‘Not Enough Justice’, by Lynda Lin, page 5. Jury foreman James Matsumoto, a Japanese American whose family was interned during WWII, reflects on the Rod Blagojevich corruption trial, expressing disappointment that the jury only convicted the former Illinois governor on one count. Matsumoto describes his family’s wartime internment history and his own path to becoming the jury’s spokesperson.
- Calif. Legislature Urges Swift Funding for Filipino Vets, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 6. The California Legislature unanimously passed a resolution urging the federal government to expedite payments to Filipino WWII veterans under the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund and ease documentation requirements. Many aging veterans have been denied benefits due to lost military records, with most expected to have died by 2015.
- Police: Pa. Asians Targeted Again by Criminals, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 6. Police in suburban Philadelphia report a new wave of home invasions targeting Asian American business owners in Delaware County, believed to be motivated by assumptions that victims keep cash at home. Local authorities have issued alerts after several violent robberies against nail salon, restaurant and beer distributor owners.
- Korematsu Day Bill Closer to Becoming Law, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 7. California’s legislature passed Assembly Bill 1775 establishing Jan. 30 as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution, honoring the man who challenged WWII Japanese American incarceration. Korematsu’s daughter Karen says the day will help teach students about his fight for justice and the importance of civil liberties.
- Calif. Lawmakers Address WWII Treatment of Italian Americans, by Robin Hindery, page 7. California lawmakers unanimously passed a resolution acknowledging the wartime displacement, arrest and harassment of thousands of Italian Americans during WWII under Executive Order 9066. The resolution, prompted by a constituent’s suggestion, expresses regret for the treatment as a ‘fundamental injustice.’
- NAPABA, AAJC Concerned by Blocking of Judicial Nominees, page 11. APA advocacy groups NAPABA and AAJC criticized the Senate’s failure to vote on judicial nominees Edward Chen and Goodwin Liu before its August recess, noting that minority nominees face disproportionately long delays. Both nominees received unanimous ‘well-qualified’ ratings from the American Bar Association but had their nominations returned to President Obama.
Arts & Entertainment
- Marvel Is Now Casting Asian Americans for the ‘Runaways’, by Nalea J. Ko, page 9. Marvel Studios revised its casting call for the film adaptation of ‘Runaways’ to specifically seek Asian Pacific American actresses for the character Nico Minoru after pressure from Racebending.com and other APA advocacy groups. The change is seen as a positive contrast to the ‘whitewashing’ controversy surrounding ‘The Last Airbender.’
Sports
- Scott Fujita Talks Environmental Activism in New Orleans, by Tom Withers, page 10. Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, who played four years with the New Orleans Saints, continues environmental activism to save Gulf Coast wetlands even after signing with Cleveland. Fujita has donated to coastal restoration groups and organized fundraisers, driven by what he witnessed of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation and the region’s vulnerability.
Community
- Seattle JA Memorial to Be Dedicated Sept. 5, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. A memorial wall honoring Japanese Americans who were interned or served in the military during WWII will be dedicated in Seattle’s International District, funded through community purchases of commemorative bricks. The $1.2 million memorial spans 90 feet and includes about 2,780 bricks, with donors given the opportunity to help install them.
- JACL PSW’s High School Advocacy Program Comes to a Close, page 12. JACL Pacific Southwest District’s Project: Community! program concluded its third year with a Culmination event honoring 23 high school participants who studied identity, community organizing and preservation in Little Tokyo. The event featured videos created by students in partnership with filmmaker Tad Nakamura and launched an alumni component for continued community engagement.
- CDC Funds Bay Area HIV Project, page 12. The CDC awarded $1.9 million over five years to Bay Area organizations for a collaborative HIV prevention project targeting Asian and Pacific Islander men who have sex with men, citing sharply rising HIV rates among APIs in San Francisco. Organizers say traditional prevention programs often fail to address cultural stigma, language barriers and homophobia within API communities.
- SF JACL Sponsors Volunteer Workday at AIDS Memorial, page 12. The San Francisco JACL chapter is hosting its annual volunteer workday at the National AIDS Memorial Grove on Sept. 18, seeking helpers for weeding, planting and maintenance. Organizer Greg Marutani says the event is rewarding for volunteers of all ages who help maintain the memorial grounds.
- Teachers’ Workshop to Look at WWII from Hawaii Point of View, page 13. A teacher-training workshop in Maui will explore World War II history from the perspective of Hawaii’s Japanese American community, featuring veterans from the 100th Battalion, 442nd RCT and MIS. New curriculum materials incorporating Go For Broke’s oral histories are being developed to align with Hawaii state standards.
JACL
- JACL to Honor Women Leaders at Sept. 16 Gala, page 11. JACL will honor Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Etsu Mineta Masaoka, actress Christine Toy Johnson, journalist Roxana Saberi, and corporate partner Eli Lilly at its ‘Salute to Champions’ Gala in Washington, D.C. The event’s honorary committee includes several members of Congress and civil rights leaders.
- JACL’s PSW District to Honor Three Outstanding Community Advocates, page 13. JACL’s Pacific Southwest District will honor filmmaker Tad Nakamura, social marketing executive Debra Nakatomi, and activist Iku Kiriyama at its 14th Annual Awards Dinner for their community contributions. Several chapter members will also be recognized for their service across the region.
- NJAMF to Honor Code Breakers, page 13. The National Japanese American Memorial Foundation will honor Justice John Paul Stevens, MIS veteran Grant Ichikawa, and the National Park Service at its Nov. 4 gala celebrating the memorial’s 10th anniversary. The event highlights code-breaking contributions during WWII and the preservation of the memorial’s legacy.
Obituaries
- Roberta Lynn Tsuboi, page 15. Roberta Lynn Tsuboi of Portland, a bookkeeper and community volunteer, passed away at age 60 after a long career and dedication to causes including Dignity Village, the Minidoka Swing Band she founded, and animal rescue. She was remembered for her passion for dance, Japanese American history preservation, and her warm, giving spirit.
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