Vol. 101, No. 9, August 30, 1985. 8 pages. View this issue
Asian American groups across the country protested the film ‘Year of the Dragon,’ and the Pacific Citizen made it the lead story of this issue. J.K. Yamamoto reported on pickets at theaters in New York, San Francisco, Hollywood and Seattle, and the JACL joined the protest, with national director Ron Wakabayashi calling the film’s portrayal of Chinese Americans degrading. Yamamoto’s column added his own view. The front page also reported that the Young Democrats of America voted to support redress for Japanese Americans, and that the California Senate approved $750,000 for a Japanese American museum in Little Tokyo.
Elsewhere in the issue, Yosh Nakashima wrote on JACL’s redress fundraising, and G. Tim Gojio examined the Hirabayashi, Yasui and Korematsu cases through the lens of rights and redress. Bill Hosokawa asked whether the wartime incarceration helped or hindered Japanese American advancement, and Sandi Kawasaki wrote on sexual harassment of Asian women. Sylvia Watanabe won the James Clavell literary award.
What’s in this issue
National
- Coast-to-Coast Protests by Asians Greet ‘Year of the Dragon’, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. Asian American community groups across the country are protesting the film ‘Year of the Dragon,’ arguing it presents a distorted, racist view of Chinese Americans and encourages anti-Asian sentiment. Protests included pickets at theaters in New York, San Francisco, Hollywood, and Seattle, with organizations demanding disclaimers and more positive portrayals in future productions.
- Young Democrats Pass Redress Measure, page 1. The Young Democrats of America voted to support redress for Japanese Americans interned during WWII at their national convention in Miami. The measure was presented by California Young Democrats, who had earlier adopted redress into their platform.
- Calif. Senate Appropriates $750,000 for JA Museum, page 1. The California Senate passed a bill to appropriate $750,000 for a Japanese American historical museum in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, authored by Sen. Art Torres. The funds are contingent on Los Angeles providing $1 million in matching funds, which the City Council has already pledged through redevelopment funds.
- Immigrant Restaurant Worker Found Not Guilty, page 1. Chinese immigrant Long Guang Huang was found not guilty on charges of soliciting a prostitute and assaulting a police officer following an altercation in Boston’s Chinatown. Witnesses supported Huang’s claim that he was merely walking home when he was attacked by the officer, and a hearing on the officer’s conduct continues.
- Six Asians Victims of California Killer, page 1. Six of the 14 known victims of the serial killer dubbed the Valley Intruder have been Asian Americans, including a WWII veteran of the 442nd RCT and several immigrants. Investigators say victim selection is based on area and locale rather than ethnicity, though the attacks have alarmed Asian communities.
- Mineta to Be Honored at D.C. Reception, page 3. Friends in Washington are sponsoring a reception to honor Rep. Norman Mineta’s first 11 years in Congress, held at the home of Mike and Etsu Masaoka. Mineta, the first JA mayor of a major U.S. city and first JA elected to Congress on the mainland, has been a leader on redress and other JA issues.
JACL
- JACL Joins National ‘Year of the Dragon’ Protest, page 1. National JACL joined other Asian organizations in protesting ‘The Year of the Dragon,’ with national director Ron Wakabayashi calling its depiction of Chinese Americans degrading and insulting. The American Jewish Committee also expressed disapproval of the film’s negative portrayals.
Community
- Fremont Councilman to Run for Mayor, page 1. Fremont city councilman Yoshio Fujiwara is running for mayor against two other candidates, risking his council seat to do so. A financial planner and father of five, he has criticized his opponents’ records and plans to delegate responsibilities if elected.
- Asian American to Run for School Board, page 3. Dr. Judy Chu is running for the Garvey School Board in Monterey Park, where the Asian American student population has grown to 30% but has never had representation on the board. Chu teaches Asian American studies at UCLA and is active in numerous community and educational organizations.
- A/A Candidates Vie for King County Seat, page 8. Several Asian American candidates, including Bob Santos and Cheryl Chow, are running for King County Council and other Seattle-area offices, with Pacific Rim trade and community engagement as key themes. Candidate forums organized by Asian Americans for Political Action and the Asian Pacific Democratic Caucus drew dozens of attendees to discuss issues affecting the Asian community.
Arts & Entertainment
- Clavell Literary Award Winner Announced, page 3. Sylvia Watanabe of Honolulu won the $1,000 James Clavell American Japanese Literary Award for her short story ‘Colors,’ about aging and the passing of old customs in Hawaii. The award was announced at the 21st annual Miss Sansei California Pageant, with actor Keye Luke accepting on her behalf.
Commentary
- To: A Civil Rights Organization, page 4. The author argues that JACL, as a civil rights organization, has an obligation to speak out against racism in South Africa given the parallels to the Japanese American internment experience. The piece urges JACL leadership to move beyond a provincial posture and address broader civil rights issues both domestically and internationally.
- Fear of the ‘Dragon’, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 4. The columnist criticizes ‘Year of the Dragon’ for its racist and sexist portrayals of Asians and women, noting that only actor John Lone has publicly defended the film while its director and producer stayed silent. He calls for a public screening with filmmakers present to answer community concerns and warns of similar films to come.
- Time to Decide, by Yosh Nakashima, page 4. The columnist discusses JACL’s redress fundraising efforts, noting confusion following the activation of the LEC lobbying committee in June 1985 and a breakdown in communication with local chapter leaders. He warns that the redress program is at a crisis point due to fundraising shortfalls and lack of coordination.
- A Blessing in Disguise?, by Bill Hosokawa, page 5. Hosokawa reflects on complaints that Japanese Americans have not reached top corporate boardrooms despite high income and education levels, recounting a conversation with a skeptical friend. He raises the open question of whether the WWII Evacuation ultimately helped or hindered Japanese American upward mobility by forcing dispersal from West Coast enclaves.
- Sexual Harassment, by Sandi Kawasaki, page 5. The author examines how the stereotype of Asian women as passive has made them vulnerable to sexual harassment, citing cases involving Peggy Joslyn, Un Chong Kerr, and Carole Fujita. She urges Asian women to learn their legal rights and become more assertive in confronting workplace abuse.
- Rights and Redress, by G. Tim Gojio, page 5. Gojio applies legal scholar Wesley Hohfeld’s framework of rights, duties, and privileges to analyze the WWII-era internment court cases like Hirabayashi, Yasui, and Korematsu. He argues the redress movement seeks recognition that the federal government had no privilege to commit such racist actions and owed Japanese Americans their constitutional rights.
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