Vol. 130, No. 11, March 17, 2000. 8 pages. View this issue
Asian Pacific American voters and the legacy of Mike Masaoka shared the news in this eight-page issue. Martha Nakagawa reported on California exit polls that showed Vice President Al Gore favored among Asian Pacific Americans, with divisions among ethnic groups. On the commentary pages, former Civil Liberties Public Education Fund board members warned that the Masaoka controversy could divide the community over the National Japanese American Memorial, while another piece defended Masaoka. The cover story, a conversation with the Los Angeles band Hiroshima, covered their music and their Food Network appearance.
Community news included a Day of Remembrance dinner in Sacramento, where Jerry Enomoto spoke about the redress movement, and a Utah program honoring over 740 Japanese American veterans. The JACL pages covered the June national convention in Monterey, with a winery tour and new T-shirts. Letters included a call to rename a peak with a racial slur in its name, and Christine Minami offered survival tips for Washington, D.C.
What’s in this issue
National
- Exit Polls Show Support for Al Gore Among APAs, by Martha Nakagawa, page 1. Preliminary exit poll results from California show Vice President Al Gore was the favored presidential candidate among Asian Pacific Americans over Republican rivals. The polls also revealed divisions among ethnic groups and increased Democratic turnout, attributed partly to issues like the Wen Ho Lee case and welfare reform.
- Exit Poll (Continued), by P.C. Staff, page 3. Continuing coverage of the APA exit poll shows detailed breakdowns of votes by ethnicity for candidates like Campbell, Nakano, and Felando in various California races. Analysis suggests many Republican APAs crossed over to support certain candidates and highlights the growing influence of immigrant voters reached through non-English media.
Arts & Entertainment
- Talking Shop with Hiroshima, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Los Angeles-based Japanese American band Hiroshima discusses their music, career highlights, and appearance on Ming Tsai’s Food Network show. Band members share candid stories about tours, influences, and hopes for the future of Asian American music.
JACL
- Next Generation Club to Host Tour of Monterey County Wineries During National Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Next Generation club, affiliated with the West Valley JACL chapter, will host a wine tour of Monterey County during the JACL national convention in June. The tour will visit several wineries including Bernardus, Chateau Julien, and Ventana Vineyards, showcasing the region’s wine-growing history.
- Committee Introduces Clothing Products to Benefit Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The JACL national convention committee announced new T-shirts and sweatshirts featuring a Japanese-style wave logo to raise funds for the 2000 convention in Monterey. Designed by artist Jerry Takigawa, the items symbolize an ‘Endless Wave of Leadership’ honoring new and past generations of JACL leaders.
- Fund Makes Last Call for Congressional Fellow Candidates, by P.C. Staff, page 4. An announcement calls for candidates for a congressional fellowship program, open to American citizens currently in college who wish to gain experience working in a congressional office. The fellowship is arranged directly between the awardee and the sponsoring congressional office.
Community
- Utah Japanese American Veterans: A Proud Legacy, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Utah JACL chapters and the Intermountain District Council held a Day of Remembrance event honoring Japanese American veterans of the U.S. military with ties to Utah. The program featured speeches, video clips, and a plaque honoring over 740 veterans.
- ‘DOR’ and Senior Appreciation Dinner Draws Large Crowd, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A Day of Remembrance and Senior Appreciation dinner in Sacramento drew about 200 attendees, featuring keynote speaker Jerry Enomoto discussing the history of the redress movement. Enomoto also defended the actions of past JACL leaders, including Mike Masaoka, during a period of leadership uncertainty among Nisei.
- Nikkei 2000 Conference Set for April 27-30, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Nikkei 2000 Conference will bring together representatives from across the U.S. and abroad to San Francisco’s Japantown to discuss the sustainability of Japanese American institutions. The four-day event will feature workshops, dialogues, and performances from artists including Dr. Anthony Brown and Johnny Mori of Hiroshima.
- San Mateo JACL Community Center Selected as QAC for Census 2000 Questionnaire, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The San Mateo JACL Community Center was selected as a Questionnaire Assistance Center to help educate and motivate residents to participate in Census 2000. Bilingual staff will be available to assist with questionnaires, including Japanese-language versions.
Commentary
- Masaoka Will Cause Rift Says Former CLPEF Board, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Former Civil Liberties Public Education Fund board members expressed concern that controversy over Mike Masaoka’s legacy could create division within the Japanese American community regarding the National Japanese American Memorial. They emphasized the importance of historical accuracy and honoring the patriotism and sacrifice of interned Japanese Americans as a collective group.
- Defending Mike Masaoka, Japanese American Creed, page 5. A commentary piece defends Mike Masaoka against critics who label him negatively for his actions during World War II. The writer argues for a fuller understanding of the context and pressures Masaoka faced as a Japanese American leader during a turbulent period.
- Letter: NJAM Inscriptions Should Use ‘We’ Not ‘I’, by Sandra Diane Kawashima, page 7. A reader writes to criticize proposed engraved inscriptions for the National Japanese American Memorial, arguing that using the word ‘I’ rather than ‘We’ inappropriately centers individual ego over collective experience. She calls for revisions to reflect the shared suffering and patriotism of all interned Japanese Americans.
- Letter: China Peak Name Should Be Changed, by Vicki Kawakami, page 7. A letter from the Pocatello-Blackfoot JACL chapter discusses efforts to rename a location called ‘Chinks Peak’ due to its racially offensive origin referencing Chinese immigrant laborers. The writer urges readers to send letters of support to the U.S. Geological Survey advocating for a name change to something non-racial.
- Letter: Re: George Igawa, by Mas Manbo, page 7. A reader responds to an obituary for George Igawa, recalling his role as leader of a Los Angeles jazz band that toured Japan in 1937. The writer, a former bandmate, reflects on being possibly the last surviving member of that group.
- Survival Tips for Navigating Washington, D.C., by Christine Minami, page 7. JACL’s Washington, D.C. representative offers a humorous list of tips for navigating the city, from avoiding summer humidity to understanding metro etiquette and bureaucratic jargon. The piece encourages readers attending the upcoming Leadership Conference to familiarize themselves with D.C. culture and institutions.
Obituaries
- Obituaries, by P.C. Staff, page 7. This week’s obituary section includes tributes to several community members including Shigeru Kawagoye, Koma Minamide, Cleo Yonekawa, and Sunao Yoshimura, detailing their surviving family members and community ties. A death notice for George Y. Suzuki of Chicago is also included.
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