Vol. 155, No. 10, November 16, 2012. 8 pages. View this issue
Sergio Romo’s T-shirt at the Giants’ World Series parade, reading ‘I Just Look Illegal,’ made the front page. In his column, John Tateishi tied the gesture to the long history of anti-immigrant and anti-Asian discrimination, including Japanese American incarceration. Elsewhere in the issue, the P.C. Staff reported on the five new Asian American and Pacific Islander members elected to the 113th Congress, among them Mazie Hirono, Tammy Duckworth, Tulsi Gabbard, Grace Meng and Mark Takano.
Lisa Doi wrote about a visit to Manzanar with Chicago JACL’s Kansha Project, and Nalea J. Ko interviewed actress Suzy Nakamura about her NBC series ‘Go On.’ JACL announced its 2013 National Scholarship and Awards Program, with about 30 scholarships and deadlines of March 1 and April 1. The issue also covered the dedication of 24 cherry blossom trees at Grand Park in Los Angeles.
What’s in this issue
Commentary
- Reflections From Manzanar, by Lisa Doi, page 2. The author reflects on a visit to the Manzanar National Historic Site with Chicago JACL’s Kansha Project, exploring how the WWII incarceration continues to shape her family’s identity and America’s ongoing struggles with division and fear. She argues that seeing shared humanity across differences is essential to preventing such injustices from recurring.
- Saying What Matters, by John Tateishi, page 2. The author recounts his enjoyment of the Giants’ World Series run and highlights closer Sergio Romo’s powerful statement at the victory parade, where he wore a T-shirt reading ‘I Just Look Illegal.’ He connects Romo’s defiant gesture to the history of anti-immigrant and anti-Asian discrimination, including Japanese American incarceration.
National
- Congress Welcomes Newly Elected AAPIs, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Five new AAPI members were elected to the 113th U.S. Congress, marking the largest group of AAPI congressional members in history, including Mazie Hirono, the first Asian American woman senator. Other historic firsts include Tammy Duckworth, Tulsi Gabbard, Grace Meng and Mark Takano, each breaking barriers for their states or communities.
JACL
- National JACL Kicks Off 2013 Scholarship Program, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JACL announced its 2013 National Scholarship and Awards Program, offering about 30 college scholarships for freshmen, undergraduates, graduates and those in law or creative/performing arts. Applications and deadlines vary by category, with freshman applications due to local chapters by March 1 and other categories due directly to national committees by April 1.
Arts & Entertainment
- Go On Funny Lady Suzy Nakamura Talks Comedy Therapy, by Nalea J. Ko, page 4. Chicago native and Japanese American actress Suzy Nakamura discusses her role as Yolanda on NBC’s ‘Go On,’ her path through Second City improv to Hollywood, and how her family’s WWII incarceration experience shaped her comedic sensibility. She also reflects on coping with her parents’ deaths through humor and her ongoing work in television and film.
Community
- Los Angeles City Holds Cherry Blossom Tree Dedication, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Los Angeles County and Japanese officials dedicated 24 cherry blossom trees at Grand Park’s Sakura Grove, marking the centennial of the original cherry trees gifted from Japan to Washington, D.C. The ceremony included Japan Consul General Jun Niimi, Grand Park’s director and a performance by the R&B gospel group Heavenese.
Obituaries
- Misako Ishii Shigekawa, 103, page 7. Misako Shigekawa, born in Los Angeles in 1909, became a pharmacist and served as president of the Terminal Island JACL chapter before being incarcerated at Poston during WWII, where she gave birth to her children. After the war she resumed her pharmacy career in Anaheim and Santa Ana before retiring in the mid-1960s.
- John Jiro Saito, page 7. John Saito, incarcerated at Poston during WWII and later a U.S. Army veteran, became the Pacific Southwest District’s JACL regional director during the redress campaign and witnessed President Carter sign legislation establishing the wartime relocation commission. He continued volunteering with JACL for decades, serving on the PSWDC board and as East Los Angeles chapter president, and ran for national president in 1992.
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