Sept. 11 ten years on, the Heart Mountain museum and Sei Fujii on film

Vol. 153, No. 5, September 2, 2011. 16 pages. View this issue

Ten years after Sept. 11, JACL’s friendship with Muslim American communities was the subject of an In-Depth story by Christine McFadden, who spoke with leaders from both communities about the Bridging Communities programs for young people. Martin Kidston reported on the opening of the Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center in Wyoming, where more than 250 former internees and guests including Norman Mineta and Sen. Daniel Inouye gathered. Gil Asakawa’s column urged support for preservation at all ten camp sites, and Christine Fukushima profiled the short film ‘Lil Tokyo Reporter’ about Issei journalist Sei Fujii.

Elsewhere, Harry K. Honda wrote about Nisei MIS soldier Roy Matsumoto in Burma, and the Japanese American Historical Society of Southern California defended the term ‘American concentration camps’ on pages 2 and 16. Fukushima also covered social smoking among Asian Pacific American youth and the Seattle duo Blue Scholars. JACL announced a Sept. 29 gala honoring Don Wakamatsu, and Little Tokyo’s Far East Building won a restoration grant.

What’s in this issue

Commentary

• JACL Must Unite All APAs, by Cheryl Mano, page 2. A reader responds to columns by James Kumpel and Bill Yoshino, agreeing that JACL should focus on issues that unite Asian Americans rather than partisan causes. She describes her family’s long JACL involvement but hesitance to fully embrace national JACL due to feeling underrepresented.
• Special Food Issue: Yummy!, by Gordon Yoshikawa, page 2. A reader praises a strawberry angel food cake recipe from the special Food Issue, noting it turned out well compared to a previous failed attempt. He also plans to try the crab and cucumber salad roll recipe for a potluck.
• Compliments to the P.C. Team, by Grace Masuda, page 2. A reader compliments the Pacific Citizen’s improved format and more interesting articles. She asks that her compliments be passed along to the editorial team.
• JA WWII Experience is about ‘American Concentration Camps’, by Japanese American Historical Society of Southern California, page 2. JAHSSC responds to the American Jewish Committee’s objection to using the term ‘American concentration camp’ for the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans, arguing the term is historically accurate and not meant to equate with the Holocaust. The group explains the euphemisms used by both American and Nazi governments to obscure their actions and calls for continued dialogue between JACL and AJC.
• MIS in Action, by Harry K. Honda, page 8. Harry Honda recounts the heroics of Nisei MIS soldier Roy Matsumoto, who infiltrated enemy lines with Merrill’s Marauders in Burma and famously stood up to give a false order in Japanese that led to a decisive American victory. The column draws on historical accounts from James McNaughton and Ulrich Straus to detail the contributions of Nisei linguists in combat.
• Support Concentration Camp Preservation, Across the States, by Gil Asakawa, page 8. Gil Asakawa reflects on visiting Heart Mountain and Camp Amache, remote and desolate former concentration camp sites, and praises the opening of the Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center. He urges readers to support preservation efforts at all ten camp sites to honor the memory of those incarcerated.
• The Score: Ozaki vs. National Board, by Phillip Ozaki, page 12. JACL national membership coordinator Phillip Ozaki describes a friendly membership recruitment contest he launched against the 17 national JACL board members to boost membership numbers. He encourages members to join his team by upgrading their JACL membership before the Oct. 24 deadline.
• JAHSSC, by Japanese American Historical Society of Southern California, page 16. This continuation of the JAHSSC commentary further explains why the term ‘American concentration camp’ accurately describes the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans, distinguishing it from Nazi death camps while still validating the seriousness of the injustice. The group calls for a meeting between AJC and JACL representatives to discuss the issue further.

In-Depth

• On 10th Anniversary of Sept. 11 JA, Muslim American Friendship Grows, by Christine McFadden, page 3. JACL was the first national organization to publicly support Arab and Muslim Americans after 9/11, sparking a decade-long relationship built on programs like Bridging Communities that connect JA and Muslim American youth. Leaders from both communities reflect on how this bond has strengthened civil rights advocacy and mutual understanding over the past ten years.
• Social Smoking on the Rise Among Asian Pacific American Youth, by Christine Fukushima, page 4. Despite APAs having the lowest overall smoking rates among racial groups, researchers are increasingly concerned about a rising trend of ‘social smoking’ and light/intermittent smoking among APA youth. Experts say current cessation methods are designed for heavy smokers and don’t address the unique risks faced by this growing population of light smokers.
• Heart Mountain Museum Opens at Former Wyo. Incarceration Camp, by Martin Kidston, page 6. More than 250 former internees and dignitaries including Norman Mineta, Sen. Daniel Inouye, Al Simpson and Tom Brokaw gathered for the grand opening of the Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center. Speakers reflected on the injustice of WWII incarceration and praised the new center as a symbol of resilience and a lesson for the future.

Arts & Entertainment

• Keeping JA History Newsworthy in ‘Lil Tokyo Reporter’, by Christine Fukushima, page 5. A new short film, ‘Lil Tokyo Reporter,’ dramatizes the life of Issei journalist and civil rights advocate Sei Fujii, who fought gangsters exploiting Little Tokyo farmers and later challenged California’s Alien Land Law. The film, starring Chris Tashima, aims to spotlight overlooked APA contributions to civil rights history and showcase APA acting talent to Hollywood.
• The Blue Collar Music of Blue Scholars, by Christine Fukushima, page 9. Seattle hip-hop duo Blue Scholars, made up of MC Geologic and DJ Sabzi, blend socially conscious lyrics with diverse beats rooted in their community involvement and life experiences. The group is launching a nine-week Cinemetropolis tour after successfully crowdfunding their third album, joined by fellow rapper Bambu and others.

Community

• Finding Community Through JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Ken Inouye of SELANOCO JACL shares how joining the organization over 30 years ago connected him to JA community leaders and led him to serve as JACL national president and in various civil rights roles. His family’s history with WWII injustice inspired his lifelong advocacy for the voiceless within JACL and beyond.
• ‘What’s Your Story?’: White House AAPI Initiative Launches Video Challenge, by P.C. Staff, page 10. The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders launched a video challenge asking participants to share personal stories about people who have made a difference in their communities. Selected entries will be featured on the White House website and some contributors will be invited to a White House briefing this fall.
• 2012 NPS Grant Applications Now Available, by P.C. Staff, page 11. The National Park Service announced that 2012 Japanese American Confinement Sites grant applications will be available starting Sept. 1 for organizations working to preserve WWII JA history. JACL’s national director Floyd Mori was also appointed to the NPS Advisory Council’s Relevancy Committee to help the agency better engage diverse communities.
• Children Explore Culture, Impact of Bullying at JACL Day Camp Program, by Christine Munteanu, page 13. The Chicago JACL’s 2011 Project Community! Day Camp Program taught children ages 7-10 about Japanese American history, culture, and the importance of standing up to bullying through books, activities, and guest speakers. Campers learned about WWII incarceration, Min Yasui’s court challenge, and the Redress Movement while also participating in cultural crafts and cooking activities.
• Little Tokyo’s Former Far East Cafe Building to be Restored, by P.C. Staff, page 15. The historic Far East Building in Little Tokyo, home to the former Far East Café, will receive a $7,500 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to repair earthquake-damaged brick walls. The LTSC Community Development Corporation will oversee the restoration of the 1896 building, which also houses affordable housing units and a computer learning center.
• PSW District to Honor Community Leaders at Annual Awards Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 15. The Pacific Southwest District of JACL will honor several community leaders including Bill Watanabe, Madeline Ong-Sakata, Mary Anne Foo, Bill Campbell and Assemblyman Warren Furutani at its 15th Annual Awards Dinner on Oct. 29. The event’s theme, ‘Looking to the Future: Partnerships Across Communities & Generations,’ celebrates JACL’s legacy of collaboration on civil rights issues.
• Arizona Matsuri Committee Receives Commendation Award, by P.C. Staff, page 16. The Arizona Matsuri Steering Committee received Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Commendation Award for promoting relations between Japan and the U.S. over its 27 years organizing the Arizona Matsuri festival. Co-chairs Doris Asano and Ted Namba accepted the award on behalf of the committee, which includes many Arizona JACL members.

National

• California Senate Committee Clears Shark Fin Ban, by P.C. Staff, page 10. A California Senate committee passed a bill banning the sale, possession and trade of shark fin, moving it closer to becoming law. While some in the Chinese American community argue the bill discriminates against a cultural tradition, others including Assemblyman Paul Fong support it citing environmental concerns.
• National Newsbytes, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 10. This roundup covers Vice President Biden’s visit to Japan’s tsunami zone, U.S. Treasury grants for Native Hawaiian families, a discrimination lawsuit against a San Jose Panda Express, healthcare grants for uninsured children in Chicago, and new banner designs for San Francisco’s Japantown. Each brief highlights news affecting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities nationwide.
• APAs in the News, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 11. This roundup covers a San Francisco school renamed for artist Ruth Asawa, Barry Mizuno’s appointment to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, an award for Hawaii State Registrar Alvin Onaka, Maggie Mui’s promotion at Wells Fargo, and director Justin Lin’s new deal with Universal Pictures. Each brief highlights notable achievements by Asian Pacific Americans.
• N.Y. Judge Sets Date for Immigrant Program Papers, by Associated Press, page 11. A New York federal judge ordered the government to release documents about the Secure Communities immigration program to civil rights groups by Sept. 13. JACL and other Asian Pacific American groups have criticized the program for promoting racial profiling and family separation.

JACL

• JACL to Honor MLB History Maker at Gala, by P.C. Staff, page 12. JACL will honor Don Wakamatsu, the first Asian Pacific American manager in MLB history, at its Sept. 29 gala in Washington, D.C. The gala will also recognize NBA pioneer Wat Misaka and Rep. Eni Faleomavaega as part of the ‘Salute to Champions’ program.

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