Vol. 150, No. 7, April 16, 2010. 16 pages. View this issue
The future of the Pacific Citizen itself was the main subject of this 16-page issue. The JACL national board voted 8-6 to pass a 2011-2012 budget that includes a dues increase and a proposal to move the paper from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Nalea J. Ko reported on the divided board, and Margie Yamamoto wrote on pages 2 and 11 about the risks of the move. Readers’ letters on page 2 asked to keep the printed paper. The national council was to vote at the July convention in Chicago.
Elsewhere, Harry Honda traced the formation of national JACL in 1929, and a special sports section profiled Oakland A’s catcher Kurt Kiyoshi Suzuki and NFL linebacker Scott Fujita. Other stories covered a memorial at the former Turlock Assembly Center site, a dedication on Bainbridge Island tied to the Minidoka memorial, and Frank Kajikawa’s recollections of Minidoka and service in the 442nd.
What’s in this issue
Commentary
- Racism in Texas History Books, by Margaret S. Okagawa, page 2. A letter writer argues that Texas public school history textbooks are racially biased against Nisei, citing the sacrifice of the 442nd RCT to save the Lost Battalion. She contends that the Texas government’s designation of these soldiers as ‘honorary Texans’ was a way of erasing their Japanese American identity.
- P.C. Readers Voice Their Support, page 2. Multiple JACL members write in support of keeping the printed Pacific Citizen newspaper rather than moving to a paperless format. Letter writers including Patricia Tashiro, Richard Kushino, and Dr. Frank Sakamoto cite reasons including elderly members’ preferences, chapter fundraising from Holiday Issue ads, and the improved quality of the paper’s content.
- Proposed JACL Budget Could Imperil the P.C., by Margie Yamamoto, page 2. The P.C. editorial board chair critiques the JACL national budget committee’s recommendation to move the Pacific Citizen from Los Angeles to San Francisco to balance the budget, arguing the financial justification was incomplete and poorly documented. She warns the move could disrupt publication, cause loss of experienced staff, and damage the newspaper’s central role in JACL’s mission.
- Formation of National JACL, by Harry Honda, page 7. Editor emeritus Harry Honda recounts the historical milestones leading to the founding of national JACL on April 5-6, 1929 in San Francisco, tracing roots back to the 1918 American Loyalty League. He details the key Nisei leaders and organizations across the West Coast that eventually united to form the JACL to fight anti-Japanese discrimination.
- The Death of Objectivity, by Peter Shigeki Frandsen, page 7. Columnist Peter Shigeki Frandsen reflects on the erosion of objectivity in modern media and advertising, arguing that constant partisan framing makes it difficult to discern truth. He worries about how younger generations will navigate this information landscape and calls for a return to rational, honest discourse.
- Yamamoto: A P.C. Move Would Bring Deep Consequences, by Margie Yamamoto, page 11. In a continuation of her column, JACL P.C. editorial board chair Margie Yamamoto emphasizes the value of the Pacific Citizen’s experienced staff and warns that a move to San Francisco could cause staff attrition and loss of institutional knowledge. She urges the national council to consider alternatives that preserve the P.C.’s presence in Los Angeles.
- Fighting Piracy on the High Seas, by Lt. Janelle Kuroda, page 13. Navy Judge Advocate General Janelle Kuroda describes her experience aboard the USS Anzio combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden as part of Combined Task Force 151. She details the coordination between multinational naval forces to protect merchant vessels and reduce successful pirate attacks by 40 percent.
National
- Divided National JACL Board Passes Biennial Budget, Includes Dues Increase and Proposed P.C. Move, by Nalea J. Ko, page 3. The JACL national board voted 8-6 to pass a 2011-2012 budget that includes membership dues increases and a proposal to move the Pacific Citizen from Los Angeles to the San Francisco JACL headquarters. Board members are divided over whether the move would actually save money, with a feasibility study now planned before the national council votes at the July convention in Chicago.
- Former APA Gang Members Erase Tattoos, Their Past, by Nalea J. Ko, page 4. Former gang member Julio Lee is using a free tattoo removal program through the nonprofit Clean Arms For Community to erase reminders of his violent past and gang affiliation. The program, which requires participants to write essays and perform community service, has helped Lee and others like Art Santana move away from gang life toward new futures.
- JACL Urges USC to Award Honorary Degrees to Interned Nisei Students, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. The JACL national board passed a resolution urging the University of Southern California to award honorary degrees, rather than just honorary alumni status, to former Nisei students forced to leave school during WWII internment. USC was reportedly the only West Coast university that refused to release affected students’ transcripts.
- Shining a Light on APA Leaders, by Nalea J. Ko, page 6. Ahead of APA Heritage Month in May, community leaders discuss whether an Asian American equivalent to Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X exists, generally concluding that the APA community instead has many unsung heroes rather than one central figure. Leaders cited include Richard Aoki, Yuri Kochiyama, Dale Minami, and Patsy Mink, with events planned nationwide to honor APA contributions.
- Comedian Apologizes for Filipino Remarks, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 12. Radio personality Adam Carolla apologized after making disparaging comments about Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao and the Philippines on his podcast. Filipino American advocates, including psychology professor Kevin Nadal, say the apology is insufficient and are demanding accountability from Carolla and CBS radio for a pattern of racist jokes.
- JACL Asks Ohio School to Change ‘Oriental’ Nickname, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 12. The JACL is calling on East High School in Akron, Ohio to change its ‘the Orientals’ nickname, calling the term steeped in racism, colonialism, and xenophobia. The organization notes similar mascot controversies nationwide and highlights the history of anti-Asian discrimination in the U.S.
Community
- JACL PSW Announces Project: Community! 2010, page 5. The JACL Pacific Southwest District has opened registration for its 2010 summer high school leadership program, Project: Community!, running from June 22 to Aug. 24 at the JACCC in Little Tokyo. The 10-week program focuses on leadership skills, identity, grassroots organizing, and Little Tokyo preservation for 15-20 students.
- Memorial to be Dedicated at Former Turlock Assembly Center Site, by Christine McFadden, page 10. Graduate student Kayla Canelo led an effort to install a memorial at the former Turlock Assembly Center site, which held 3,692 Japanese Americans during WWII but previously had no historical marker. A dedication ceremony is planned for May 1, though organizers face challenges locating former internees since they scattered across California after the war.
- Dedication Held for Bainbridge Island WWII JA Memorial, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. A memorial called Nidoto Nai Yoni was dedicated on Bainbridge Island, honoring the first group of Japanese Americans forcibly removed after Pearl Harbor, including 99-year-old survivor Fumiko Hayashida. The $6 million project includes a memorial wall, pier, and future interpretive learning center, and was designated a satellite unit to the Minidoka memorial in 2008.
JACL
- Constitution & Bylaw Amendment Forms Now Available, page 5. JACL constitution and bylaw amendment forms are now available online with an April 24 deadline for preliminary review and May 1 for submission to the national director. Chapters must comply with credentials guidelines, including filing fees and 990 tax forms, to participate as voting members at the national convention in Chicago.
- Floor Nominations Still Available for JACL Nat’l Office, page 5. The JACL nominations committee is seeking candidates for national board positions who must now run from the convention floor since the filing deadline has passed. Positions include national president, secretary/treasurer, and several vice president roles for the 2010-12 biennium, to be decided at the Chicago convention.
Sports
- Major League Baseball’s Japanese American Catcher, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 8. Oakland A’s catcher Kurt Kiyoshi Suzuki discusses his pride in representing his home state of Hawaii and his Japanese American heritage as he heads into a new MLB season. Suzuki, regarded as a top AL catcher, also raised over $61,000 for a teammate’s recovery fund and reflects on being a role model for young fans.
- Celebrating Sainthood, by Lynda Lin, page 9. NFL linebacker Scott Fujita, son of Ventura County JACLers, discusses his Super Bowl win with the New Orleans Saints and his upcoming move to the Cleveland Browns. Fujita reflects on his Japanese American family legacy, including his grandfather’s WWII internment and forthcoming honorary UC Berkeley degree, and what it means to be Japanese American.
In-Depth
- Nisei Recalls Life Behind Barbed Wire, by Thao Nguyen, page 13. 84-year-old Frank Kajikawa shares his experience being forcibly removed from his Washington home as a teenager and incarcerated at Minidoka during WWII, later serving in the 442nd Infantry Regiment. He has launched a personal campaign to educate people, especially young generations, about this history and the importance of protecting civil liberties.
Obituaries
- Gumpe Honda, page 15. Gumpe Honda, born and raised on Terminal Island and interned at Manzanar, died March 31, 2010 in Las Vegas at age 83. He was a member of JACL and the Las Vegas Buddhist Sangha, and is survived by his wife Tomico, three sons, and a grandson.
Arts & Entertainment
- Fujita: Celebrating Sainthood (Continued), by Lynda Lin, page 16. This continuation of the Scott Fujita interview covers his thoughts on being ‘post-racial’ America, his family’s connection to Gila River internment camp, and personal reflections including a slight case of OCD. Fujita shares lessons from his parents about chasing dreams fearlessly and hopes to pass that same freedom on to his daughters.
Thank you for exploring the Pacific Citizen archive. The title, introduction and contents on this page were written by an AI model from scans of the printed issue, so they may contain mistakes. If you spot one, we would be grateful if you let us know.