Vol. 116, No. 4, January 29, 1993. 12 pages. View this issue
A Hawaii legislator’s planned apology to Sen. Daniel Inouye led the news, but much of the issue turned to civil rights. Thurgood Marshall died on Jan. 24, and JACL National President Lillian Kimura praised his work, including his amicus briefs backing JACL positions. Bill Marutani wrote about meeting Marshall’s legacy in court, including Loving v. Virginia. Marge Schott told baseball officials they could not suspend her over racial slurs, and Karen K. Narasaki reported on the new Glass Ceiling Commission.
Elsewhere, JACL co-sponsored a forum on race relations for children in Los Angeles, and Harry Honda reviewed a revised book on redress. Bill Hosokawa wrote about his grandson, and Tyler Tanaka described a cruise up the Nile. Community pages covered a marrow donor drive, a Japan Prize and a Hawaiian monarchy centennial.
What’s in this issue
National
- Hawaii Politician Set to Apologize to Inouye Over Harassment Claims, page 1. Hawaii State Rep. Annelle Amaral planned to formally apologize to Sen. Daniel Inouye after none of nine women who allegedly told her they were harassed by him came forward publicly. Amaral acknowledged she may have overstepped by acting as judge and jury regarding anonymous complaints against the senator.
- A Civil Rights Champion Dies, by Staff reports, page 1. Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court justice, died Jan. 24 after a lengthy illness, prompting tributes from JACL and other civil rights organizations. JACL National President Lillian Kimura praised Marshall’s decades of civil rights work, including his role in Brown v. Board of Education and his amicus briefs supporting JACL positions.
- Can’t Suspend Me for Racial Remarks, Says Marge Schott, page 1. Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott told Major League Baseball’s executive council it could not legally suspend her for making racial and ethnic slurs, with her attorney demanding a formal hearing. Schott responded to a critical letter from Paul Ito of Monrovia, Calif., attributing her past slurs to ‘old habits,’ but Ito found her explanation condescending and reiterated that Japanese Americans are not seeking special treatment.
- Glass Ceiling Commission Created, by Karen K. Narasaki, page 1. A 20-member Glass Ceiling Commission was created under the Civil Rights Act of 1991 to address workplace advancement barriers facing women and minorities. Henry Tang, the only Asian Pacific American appointed to the commission by President Bush, will participate in a series of public hearings scheduled across the country in 1993.
- Trial Set in Beating of Asian, page 3. A federal trial began in Camden, N.J., for three defendants accused of beating Asian Indian doctor Kashual Sharan with a baseball bat in 1987, a case tied to broader anti-Asian Indian violence including hate groups called the Dotbusters. AALDEF attorney Elizabeth OuYang said statements from a defendant confirmed the case was racially motivated.
- U.S. Scientists Win Japan Prize, page 4. Americans Dr. Kary B. Mullis and Dr. Frank Press were named recipients of the 1993 Japan Prize for scientific achievements advancing global peace and prosperity. The award ceremony will be held in Tokyo on April 28, with each recipient receiving 50 million yen.
- U.S. Flag Lowered for Hawaii Event, page 4. Native and part-Hawaiians observed the centennial of the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy with a torchlight parade and other memorials, during which Gov. John Waihee ordered only the Hawaiian flag be flown over the state capitol. The event drew mixed reactions, with Sen. Daniel Akaka denouncing the decision while others saw it as an assertion of Hawaiian identity and a call for redress.
JACL
- JACL Co-Sponsors Forum, Film on Race Relations for Children, page 1. JACL and the Asian Pacific Americans for a New Los Angeles co-sponsored a forum for children featuring the ABC-TV special ‘City Kids,’ which explores racial diversity and harassment among teens. The event, part of JACL’s anti-Asian hate crime awareness campaign, aimed to encourage dialogue about racial and cultural understanding among youth.
- Detroit Chapter Plans Membership Activities, page 5. The Detroit JACL chapter launched a membership campaign with goals including recruiting 30 or more new members and retaining 100 percent of its current 200 members. The chapter also co-sponsored a Japanese American Historical Society photo exhibit featuring works by Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange and obtained a Legacy Fund grant to develop a teaching guide on internment camp history.
- Criss-Crossing America: Making the Rounds, by Lillian C. Kimura, page 8. JACL National President Lillian Kimura recounts her travels to chapter installation events across the country, including Dayton, Cincinnati, Washington D.C., and several California chapters. She notes the growing involvement of Sansei leaders in JACL chapters and efforts to engage with the American Jewish Committee regarding the Marge Schott situation.
Commentary
- Short Takes, page 1. Former JACL national president Cressey Nakagawa gave a keynote address in Albuquerque honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., reflecting on how King might view current race relations and the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Nakagawa suggested King would have been encouraged by Bill Clinton’s election but troubled by rising bias crimes.
- It Makes the World Kin, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Hosokawa responds to an anonymous letter criticizing his columns for focusing too much on his family, then proceeds to share a story about his grandson Patrick treating him and his wife to dinner for the first time. He reflects on the passage of generational responsibility despite the criticism.
- Justice in the Land, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Judge Bill Marutani reflects on his personal encounters with the legal legacy of Thurgood Marshall, including a 1965 Louisiana school desegregation case and his own 1967 admission to argue before the Supreme Court on JACL’s behalf in Loving v. Virginia. He recounts Marshall’s biography, from his rejection by University of Maryland law school to his landmark victories including Brown v. Board of Education.
Community
- Kato Murder Still Mystifies, page 3. The 1992 murder of land developer Yasuo Kato in Camarillo, Calif., remains one of Ventura County’s most elusive unsolved homicides, according to Lt. Kathy Kemp. Investigators have ruled out a racial motive after initial reports of threats against Kato’s son, and are now examining his personal and business connections through a State Department liaison.
- Marrow Donor Push Scheduled, page 3. A coalition of Orange County Nikkei groups announced a marrow donor drive for Asian Americans scheduled for Feb. 28 at Rancho Alamitos High School in Garden Grove, Calif. Roughly 200 Asian Americans are currently seeking matching marrow donors, with particular need for donors of mixed-Asian descent.
- JASSI Awarded $10,000 Grant, page 3. The Community Trust of New York awarded a one-year $10,000 grant to the Japanese American Social Services, Inc. (JASSI) of New York City. The funds will help expand outreach through a new brochure targeting the growing number of young Japanese students, artists and professionals in the East and West Villages.
- Arizona, Asia, Mexico Office Set, page 3. Maricopa County announced plans to open an economic development office in Phoenix in March to promote relationships between metropolitan Phoenix, Asia and Mexico. Outgoing supervisor Tom Freestone championed the project, working with Arizona JACL and other community organizations.
- SBA Expands Pool of Loan Eligibility, page 4. More than 47,000 businesses became newly eligible for U.S. Small Business Administration loan and procurement programs under a major rule overhaul announced Jan. 4. The change was one of the last actions by outgoing SBA administrator Patricia Saiki of Hawaii before she left office.
- 2nd Year for Inter-Ethnic Group, page 4. The Leadership Development in Interethnic Relations Program began its second year with about 25 trainees from South Bay, South Central L.A., Koreatown and West San Gabriel Valley areas working to address racial tensions. The program is sponsored by three community-based coalitions including the Asian Pacific American Legal Center.
- Speaking Up: Media, Education, Youth and Government Notes, page 6. This roundup column covers notable Japanese American achievements in media, education, youth and government, including Rick Mitemato’s Sacramento Bee honor, KRON-TV reporter Emerald Yeh’s advisory board appointment, and Eagle Scout Brett Shibata’s community service project. It also highlights government appointees including Frank Kuwahara, Matthew Fong, Marsha Tadano Long and Dennis Sato.
- Asian American Students Make Up Minority in LAUSD Schools, page 11. An annual racial/ethnic survey found Asian Americans make up 5.1 percent of the 641,206 students in the Los Angeles Unified School District, down 0.1 percent from the previous year. Hispanic students remain the largest group at 65.1 percent of all K-12 students.
Sports
- Paul Isaki Named Seattle Mariners VP of Business Development, page 6. Paul S. Isaki, former director of the Washington State Department of Trade and Economic Development, was named the Seattle Mariners’ new vice president of business development. His mission includes expanding marketing and broadcast reach into Portland, Vancouver B.C., and Japan.
In-Depth
- First Update Book Out on J.A. History, by Harry Honda, page 7. Harry Honda reviews the revised edition of ‘Japanese Americans: From Relocation to Redress’ by Roger Daniels, Sandra C. Taylor and Harry H.L. Kitano, which adds a new section on redress achievement. The book compiles scholarship from a 1983 University of Utah conference and features contributions from numerous historians and researchers on the internment experience.
- Egypt—An Incredible Journey, by Tyler Tanaka, page 9. Tyler Tanaka recounts his travel experience cruising the Nile River from Aswan to Luxor, visiting ancient temples, tombs and the pyramids, and describes the warmth and humor of the Egyptian people. He also offers practical shopping tips for tourists, recommending gold cartouche jewelry and fine Egyptian cotton.
Obituaries
- Frank Yamaguchi, Fort Lupton JACL Leader and Farmer, Dies, page 10. Frank Yamaguchi, 78, a Gresham, Ore.-born Kibei farmer who served as Weld County commissioner from 1964-88 and Fort Lupton JACL president in the 1950s, died Aug. 28 in Platteville, Colo. He was also active in numerous local boards including the school board, potato growers association and county board of adjustment.
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