Census outreach, ethnic media and a special youth issue

Vol. 150, No. 2, February 5, 2010. 16 pages. View this issue

Immigrants and the 2010 Census were the main concern of the front page, where a report found gaps in outreach to immigrant communities in major cities and JACL launched a Census 2010 web page. Nalea J. Ko asked what lies ahead for ethnic newspapers, wrote about the racial attacks at South Philadelphia High School, and profiled Grant Imahara of Mythbusters and Olympic hockey player Julie Chu. Floyd Mori’s column and Lia Shigemura’s essay on marriage equality fill out the commentary pages.

The history of the World War II incarceration runs through the rest of the issue. Christine McFadden reported on newly found Alien Land Law case files, Katie Nakano wrote about discovering her family’s story at Tule Lake through Day of Remembrance events, and JACL met with the Interior Secretary about Minidoka. Placer County dedicated a 442nd Regimental Combat Team memorial, and the Topaz Museum and a National Park Service grant program for Heart Mountain, Manzanar and other confinement sites were covered too.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• Letters to the Editor: Holiday Issue Praise, Membership Crisis, and Camps, by Dr. Frank Sakamoto, Ed Mitoma, Stanley N. Kanzaki, Yoshie Tanabe, page 2. Readers wrote in praising the Holiday Issue for its significant JACL history, while others raised concerns about the ongoing JACL membership crisis and staffing gaps. A letter from Honolulu also urged the paper to remember President Roosevelt’s own use of the term ‘concentration camps’ when discussing wartime incarceration.
• About Honor, by John Tateishi, page 8. The author reflects on the contrast between the loyalty demonstrated by Nisei WWII veterans and Lt. Ehren Watada’s refusal to serve in what he saw as an illegal war, arguing both deserve respect for their principled choices. He concludes that honoring Watada’s courage does not diminish the sacrifices of the Nisei soldiers.
• Public Disclosure: My ADHD, by Ema Nakano, page 8. The author shares her personal struggle with undiagnosed ADHD that hindered her academic performance for years until she was diagnosed at 29. She hopes her story will encourage other Japanese Americans and APA students to seek help rather than stigmatize mental health issues.
• Waiting For Marriage Equality, by Lia Shigemura, page 11. Former JACL national program director Lia Shigemura recounts her personal journey as a lesbian JACL leader and her marriage to Helen Zia, which was invalidated and then legalized amid California’s Prop. 8 battle. She reflects on how marriage strengthened family bonds and calls on JACL to continue standing for equality and human dignity.
• Finding a Buried Past, by Katie Nakano, page 14. A high school student reflects on discovering her family’s history at Tule Lake through Day of Remembrance events, including her grandmother’s status as a wartime renunciant. She argues that hearing survivors’ spoken stories creates an understanding of the incarceration experience that textbooks cannot replicate.

JACL

• JACL Continues Its Important Work, by Floyd Mori, page 2. National Director Floyd Mori reports on JACL’s ongoing programs, including Inouye and Mineta Fellows serving in Washington, D.C., corporate donations from UPS, AT&T and Ford, and an upcoming D.C. Gala planned for Sept. 16. He also reflects on continued civil rights struggles facing Asian Pacific Americans and stresses the importance of grassroots membership.
• JACL Receives Grant from The UPS Foundation, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The UPS Foundation awarded JACL a $30,000 grant to continue its Collegiate Leadership Program, which brings future APA leaders to Washington, D.C. for leadership training. JACL National Director Floyd Mori thanked UPS for its continued commitment to developing community leaders.
• Mark Your Calendar for the 2010 JACL Gala, page 12. JACL announced its annual Washington, D.C. gala dinner will be held Sept. 16, continuing its ‘Salute to Champions’ tradition honoring civil rights leaders. Past honorees include Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka and former Secretary Norman Mineta.
• JACL Meets With the Secretary of Interior, by Phillip Ozaki, page 12. JACL National Director Floyd Mori met with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to discuss preservation of WWII Japanese American confinement sites, including opposition to a proposed power line over the Minidoka National Historic Site. Salazar expressed support for the preservation effort and committed to working with JACL to resolve the issue.
• JACL D.C. Fellows: D.C. Experience was Inspiring, page 13. Shirley Tang and Sakakihara, recent JACL Washington, D.C. fellows, reflect on their experiences advocating for health care reform and working in Congressional and White House offices. Both praised the fellowship for inspiring continued civic engagement and advocacy for underrepresented communities.

National

• Pondering the Fate of Ethnic Media, by Nalea J. Ko, page 3. As ethnic newspapers like the Hokubei Mainichi and Nichi Bei Times face financial struggles and closures, journalism veterans and newcomers express cautious optimism about the future of ethnic media. Experts note that while some publications are shrinking, others are finding new life online, and community support remains vital to their survival.
• Documents Tell Government’s Side of Alien Land Law Cases, by Christine McFadden, page 4. Two boxes of long-lost government documents discovered in the San Joaquin County Courthouse reveal how California state officials investigated Japanese American families under the Alien Land Laws during World War II. The papers, including material related to the landmark Oyama v. California case, are being preserved at the University of the Pacific for future research.
• Gaps Emerging in Census Outreach to Immigrants, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 5. A report by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund found that Census Bureau outreach to immigrant communities is falling short in major cities, raising concerns about undercounting. JACL has launched a new Census 2010 web page to educate members about the importance of participating in the count.
• Angst Still Felt at South Philly High, by Nalea J. Ko, page 5. Nearly two months after racial attacks against Asian Pacific American students at South Philadelphia High School, students and community leaders say school officials still refuse to take accountability. Community organizers argue the attacks were racially motivated and are pushing for lasting changes through public hearings and a task force.
• APA Groups Press For Immigration Reform, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 6. Asian Pacific American community leaders are urging lawmakers to pass comprehensive immigration reform to address family immigration backlogs affecting APA communities. JACL’s Floyd Mori linked the fight to the historic struggles of Issei immigrants.
• Filipino WWII Veterans Still Waiting for Payments, by Associated Press, page 6. More than a year after the U.S. promised lump-sum payments to Filipino WWII veterans, thousands are still waiting due to a processing backlog, with some dying before receiving their benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs has increased staff to handle the surge of applications, but veterans have until Feb. 16 to file claims.
• National Newsbytes, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 6. Brief news items include President Obama’s proclamation of Angel Island Day, $1.5 million in new funding for the Go For Broke National Education Center, Publix’s discontinuation of its calendar after omitting Pearl Harbor, a report on immigrant employment rates in California, Hawaii’s postponement of a same-sex civil unions bill, and USC’s launch of Asian Pacific Arts magazine.
• JACL Criticizes Statement By Ohio Lt. Gov., page 11. JACL called on Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher to retract statements criticizing Japan’s exclusion of American cars from its ‘cash for clunkers’ program, warning that such rhetoric could incite anti-Asian sentiment. JACL vice president Ronald Katsuyama called Fisher’s comments misleading and irresponsibly inflammatory.
• NPS to Host Q&A Sessions, page 13. The National Park Service is holding question-and-answer sessions to help applicants apply for its Japanese American Confinement Site Grant Program, with a March 4 deadline. Grants fund preservation projects at sites like Heart Mountain, Manzanar, Topaz, and others, with $3 million appropriated for this funding cycle.
• CCLPEP Grant Priorities Announced, page 14. The California Civil Liberties Public Education Program announced funding priorities for 2010, including grants for gathering Nisei stories, preserving internment documents, and site preservation. The application deadline is Feb. 26, with up to $450,000 available in this grant cycle.

Community

• Placer County Dedicates 442nd Memorial, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 7. Placer County, Calif. dedicated the first phase of a memorial honoring local World War II veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, with three surviving veterans in attendance. A second phase will add a bronze sculpture depicting the famous rescue of the ‘Lost Battalion.’
• Southeast JACL Honors WWII Heroes, page 11. Southeast JACL honored WWII veterans Michael Doi and Bruce Estes for their roles in the famed rescue of the ‘Lost Battalion’ over 65 years ago. The two men, from opposing units in the battle, later became friends after settling in Georgia.
• So Cal Edison Sponsors JACL Fellowship, page 12. Southern California Edison sponsored a new JACL Pacific Southwest District fellowship named for Rep. Mike Honda, awarded to Kristin Fukushima, a recent Pomona College graduate. The fellowship focuses on public policy advocacy and youth engagement programs within the JACL.
• Topaz Museum Hold Meetings to Discuss Architectural Plans, page 13. The Topaz Museum is hosting meetings in the San Francisco Bay Area to gather public input on plans for a new 5,000-square-foot permanent museum building in Delta, Utah. Officials are seeking community feedback on architectural designs created by Kawasaki Architects and West Office Exhibition Design.

Arts & Entertainment

• He’s Bringing Geeky Back, by Nalea J. Ko, page 9. Grant Imahara, star of Discovery Channel’s ‘Mythbusters,’ discusses how the show is changing perceptions of geeks and his path from engineering studies to working on ‘Star Wars’ effects at Industrial Light and Magic. He also reflects on being an Asian Pacific American role model and finding inspiration from George Takei’s ‘Star Trek’ role.

Sports

• Cool As Ice, by Nalea J. Ko, page 10. U.S. women’s hockey player Julie Chu discusses preparing for her third Olympic appearance in Vancouver, her calming influence on younger teammates that earned her the nickname ‘Saint Chuey,’ and her role as a trailblazing Asian Pacific American athlete. She also encourages young women not to shy away from male-dominated sports.

Obituaries

• John Kashiwabara, page 15. John Kashiwabara, a Long Beach physician and community leader, passed away Jan. 16, 2010 at age 88. He was deeply involved in Long Beach civic and sports organizations, serving on numerous boards including the Port of Long Beach and JACL Long Beach chapter.
• Ben Komatsu, page 15. Ben Komatsu, an Arizona native who served in the 442nd Battalion as an MIS interpreter, passed away Nov. 20, 2009 at age 86. He spent much of his life farming in Glendale, Arizona and is survived by his wife Mae, brothers, children, and grandchildren.
• Katsuto Takei, page 15. Katsuto Takei, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from UC Berkeley’s School of Optometry and longtime Stockton resident, passed away Dec. 12, 2009. He is survived by his daughter, two sons, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
• Helen Kazuye Taniguchi, page 15. Helen Kazuye Taniguchi of Boise, Idaho passed away Jan. 19, 2010 with her family at her side. She is survived by her husband George, four children, and several grandchildren.

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