Vol. 103, No. 11, September 12, 1986. 8 pages. View this issue
Proposition 63, California’s ‘English Only’ ballot initiative, led the front page. Gov. George Deukmejian announced his opposition, and JACL national director Ron Wakabayashi welcomed the decision. Inside, JACL’s written statement against the English Only movement, a radio series on bilingualism and Cherry Kinoshita’s account of coalition-building by the Seattle JACL Anti-Discrimination Committee carried the same civil rights concerns. The front page also reported that Minoru Yasui resigned as chair of the JACL-LEC for health reasons, with Grant Ujifusa named interim chair.
Redress and the incarceration years ran through the issue. A joint redress forum was planned for Sept. 20 in San Francisco with Gordon Hirabayashi and William Hohri. A painting of Manzanar by C.T. Hibino was donated to the Manzanar Committee. Linda Tamura asked readers about Tule Lake, and a columnist recalled a Rohwer and Gila River reunion. Other pages carried Lon Kurashige on the Nikkei Sports Festival in Mexico City and a review of the book ‘Our Recollections.’
What’s in this issue
National
- Deukmejian Announces Opposition to Prop. 63, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Gov. George Deukmejian announced his opposition to Proposition 63, California’s ‘English Only’ ballot initiative, calling it unnecessary and potentially divisive. JACL and civil rights groups praised his stance, while proponents’ concerns about a common language were acknowledged but not endorsed as requiring constitutional action.
- New L.A. Redistricting Plan Considered; Asians Opposed, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 3. The Los Angeles City Council tentatively adopted a new redistricting plan to resolve a Justice Department lawsuit, but Asian American groups say it continues to fragment their communities across multiple districts. A Korean American Coalition bid to intervene in the federal suit was denied, and other Asian groups were warned the same argument may be used against them.
JACL
- LEC Chair Yasui Resigns Post Due to Poor Health, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Minoru Yasui resigned as chair of the JACL-LEC effective Aug. 31 due to health reasons, entering a Denver hospital for surgery Sept. 8. Grant Ujifusa will serve as interim chair until the LEC Board elects a new chair in February.
- Coalition-Building: How Do You Start?, by Cherry Kinoshita, page 5. Cherry Kinoshita describes the Seattle JACL Anti-Discrimination Committee’s successful initiative to convene a meeting of diverse civil rights organizations to explore coalition-building. The meeting drew about 20 representatives from groups like the American Jewish Committee and ACLU, resulting in plans for a follow-up meeting.
- NJAHS Dropping ‘Go For Broke’ from Name, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Go For Broke, Inc./National Japanese American Historical Society voted to drop ‘Go For Broke’ from its name, becoming simply the National Japanese American Historical Society. Clifford Uyeda argued the change was needed because the old name discouraged women and Sansei from joining, due to the perception it was solely a veterans’ organization.
Community
- Newspaper’s Caricature of Nisei Sparks Criticism, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A London publication’s cartoon depicting Michi Yasui Ando’s belated graduation in a Japanese fighter pilot uniform drew criticism from JACL and Ando herself. JACL national director Ron Wakabayashi called the cartoon racially insensitive and reflective of misconceptions about Japanese Americans during WW2.
- Asians Praise Washington’s Achievements, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Members of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Asian American Affairs praised Chicago Mayor Harold Washington for his visibility in the Asian American community and support of minority business enterprise programs. The committee also raised concerns about safety and the lack of qualified Asian Americans in city police and fire departments.
- Radio Series to Focus on Bilingualism, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A two-part radio documentary, ‘Bilingualism in America,’ will air on public radio stations across California, exploring bilingualism issues with a focus on Spanish speakers. A live call-in show will follow featuring guests including S.I. Hayakawa, Richard Rodriguez, and Art Torres discussing the topic, with Proposition 63 expected to arise in discussion.
- Presbyterian Church Ordains First JA Woman Minister, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Mariko Yanagihara became the first Japanese American woman ordained as a Presbyterian minister on Sept. 7 at First Presbyterian Church of Altadena, where she was installed as associate pastor. She previously worked as a registered nurse before pursuing theological studies at San Francisco Theological Seminary.
Incarceration & Redress
- 4 Groups to Sponsor Joint Redress Forum, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL, NCRR, NCJAR, and the coram nobis legal teams will co-sponsor a community forum on redress updates Sept. 20 in San Francisco. The panel will feature Gordon Hirabayashi, William Hohri, Mollie Fujioka, and Mari Matsumoto discussing progress in Congress and the courts.
- JACL Position on ‘English Only’, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JACL issued a written statement opposing the English Only movement, arguing it would impose linguistic conformity and curtail services that encourage participation in the broader community. JACL representatives joined other civil rights groups at an Aug. 20 Washington D.C. press conference opposing the movement.
- Painting of Manzanar Donated, by P.C. Staff, page 7. An original painting of Manzanar by C.T. Hibino was donated to the Manzanar Committee by Clifford Robbins in honor of his late sister, Eva Robbins, who worked with interned children at the camp during WW2. The donation was made on the anniversary of her birthday.
Obituaries
- Bert Motoru Tanaka, San Diego JACL Leader, Dies at 68, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Bert Motoru Tanaka, who served as San Diego JACL Chapter president in 1957, died Aug. 26 of a cerebral hemorrhage. He is survived by his wife, three sons, a daughter, a brother, five sisters, and 11 grandchildren.
Commentary
- Return to Stockton: Reunions and Redress, page 4. A columnist recounts attending a reunion of Japanese Americans formerly incarcerated at Rohwer and Gila River relocation centers, held in Stockton, and reflects on redress lobbying efforts underway across the country. The piece also discusses continued letter-writing campaigns to Congress and veterans’ involvement in redress advocacy.
- Incident Over Tule Lake, by Linda Tamura, page 4. A researcher writing a history of Hood River Issei describes an unconfirmed story of ‘stones from the sky’ (possibly meteorite fragments) at Tule Lake before segregation. She seeks information or confirmation of this incident from readers since other sources have been unable to verify it.
- From the Frying Pan: Another Missed Connection?, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Bill Hosokawa recounts how Metropolitan Life Insurance’s new marketing efforts toward Asian Americans contrast sharply with past discriminatory practices that denied Japanese Americans standard life insurance policies. He recalls personal experiences being charged higher premiums solely due to race, even after WW2.
- Notes on ‘Nikkei’, page 5. A columnist explores the linguistic debate over the term ‘Nikkei’ and its proper translation, arguing it technically means ‘Japanese ancestry’ rather than specifically ‘Japanese American.’ He suggests JACL should adopt an official Japanese translation of its name to avoid inconsistent translations in Japanese publications.
Arts & Entertainment
- Experiences Worth Recollecting: Book Review of ‘Our Recollections’, by Asami Oyama, page 4. A review of ‘Our Recollections,’ a collection of memoirs by Issei and Kibei women from East Bay Japanese for Action, highlights their stories of discrimination, incarceration, and resilience. The reviewer praises the book as a moving record of the women’s struggles and as a worthwhile fundraiser for community services.
- ‘Jukebox’: Music With a Message, by Robert Shimabukuro, page 6. A live radio music drama, ‘Jukebox: Music to Live By,’ produced by Community Information Network and featuring Danny Glover and Nobuko Miyamoto, dramatizes a racially diverse community’s fight against eviction and gentrification. The production, inspired by the International Hotel tenant struggle, was praised for its powerful music blending Latin, Afro-American, and Asian influences.
Sports
- My First Encounter With the Third World, by Lon Kurashige, page 5. A Japanese American athlete reflects on his experience competing in the 11th International Nikkei Sports Festival in Mexico City, where he confronted his own assumptions about Third World nations. He describes a transformative moment of humility and unity among Nikkei athletes from different countries during the games.
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