Convention time: JACL looks ahead to Chicago in 1970

Vol. 71, No. 1, July 3, 1970. 6 pages. View this issue

The coming 21st Biennial National Convention in Chicago ran through this issue. National President Jerry Enomoto previewed it and the work of host chapter chairman Ross Harano, and candidates for national office made their cases in letters and profiles, among them Henry T. Tanaka and Tom T. Shimasaki. Mike Masaoka paid tribute to Enomoto, and a testimonial dinner for Masaoka, with Congressman Sidney Yates due to attend, was set for July 16. An anti-war resolution drafted by Chicago JACLers was headed for the convention floor.

Other pages looked at the push to repeal the Emergency Detention provision of the Internal Security Act, a Harvard professor’s recollections of Poston, and efforts to save a Japanese class at Dorsey High School. Ron Wakabayashi wrote on Asian American Studies, Warren Furutani on facing social problems, and Jim Henry offered tips for visiting Expo ’70 in Osaka. This is a six-page issue.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• Convention Time, by Jerry Enomoto, page 1. National President Jerry Enomoto previews the 21st Biennial National Convention in Chicago and the work of host chapter chairman Ross Harano. He also highlights JACL’s push for Asian American Studies in education and the organization’s continuing role among minority communities.

Community

• L.A. Groups Ask Board to Save Japanese Class at High School, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Teachers, parents and community members appealed to the Los Angeles Board of Education to keep the Japanese language program at Dorsey High School. The program is threatened by budget cuts and the non-permanent status of instructor June Hatanaka.
• Rep. Sidney Yates Due at Testimonial, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Chicago Congressman Sidney Yates will join others in honoring Mike Masaoka at a July 16 testimonial dinner in Chicago. Yates has long supported Japanese American causes, including naturalization rights for Japan-born parents of citizens.
• Urban Planning Award Given Fresno State Grad, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Roy M. Imai of Clovis was selected as a National Urban Fellow to study at Yale and then serve with a top-level city administrator. The Japan-born landscape architect with the City of Sacramento is expected to assume an urban planning management post.
• Fashions on the 17th Floor, by Karen Yamasaki, page 1. The What’s Going On mixer and fashion show at the 1970 National JACL Convention will be held July 14 at the Furniture Club in Chicago. The evening features music, cocktails, and fashions from leading Chicago stores modeled by local residents.
• Calif. Senate OKs Bill for Evacuee Employment Claim, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The California Senate passed a bill allowing state employees who were evacuees to count time spent in relocation centers toward retirement. The measure was sent to the governor after passing the Assembly.
• Cal Expo Booth, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The Sacramento JACL will staff a booth at the Western Regional Afro-American Unity Festival at Cal Expo July 3-5, exhibiting Japanese cultural pieces. Proceeds from the festival support Sacramento State College scholarships.
• Mike Masaoka Testimonial Fund Boosted to $34,051, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Mike M. Masaoka Testimonial Fund reached $34,051 from 2,017 contributors by the sixth week of its campaign. Fund chairman Harry Mizuno reported the total and the list of donors by region.
• Masaoka Family Round-the-World Trip Fund Nears Goal, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Contributions to the Masaoka Family Round-the-World Trip fund reached $9,230 toward a $10,000 goal as of June 23. The drive was set to close June 30.
• Nikkei Art Show, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A four-generation Japanese American art show will be held July 11-12 at the Harbor Community Center in Long Beach. Part of the exhibit highlights art made by Issei and Nisei in relocation camps, and proceeds will improve the community center.
• Summer Art Workshop, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Jim Yanagisawa directs summer art workshops in Chicago’s Northside sponsored by the Japanese American Service Committee and partially funded by the Model Cities program.
• Dream Man Contest, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Five Sansei collegians are competing in the Central California YBA Dream Man contest held in conjunction with the July 3-4 carnival in Fresno.
• Fukushima Mixed Chorus, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The 80-voice Fukushima Mixed Chorus will give a free concert at Burbank High School auditorium in Sacramento on July 16. The group will also visit the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony historical monument.
• Imperial D & B Wins, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Imperial Drum and Bugle Corps of Seattle won major awards at the Washington State VFW competitions in Yakima. The group is preparing for the American Legion state meet and VFW national competitions.
• Alameda to Push Agency Referrals, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Alameda JACL designated three contact representatives to assist Japanese-speaking residents in reaching social service agencies. The chapter aims to help with interpreting and referrals for Issei and recent arrivals.
• Mile-Hi Administers 18 Scholarships, by Tom Masamori, page 5. Mile-Hi JACL honored Japanese American high school and college graduates from Colorado at a community-wide dinner-dance. Scholarships and awards were presented to top students from participating organizations.

Incarceration & Redress

• L.A. County Pushes a Third Time for Title II Repeal, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Los Angeles County Supervisors asked President Nixon and Attorney General Mitchell to support legislation repealing the Emergency Detention provision of the Internal Security Act. Senator Daniel Inouye’s Senate Bill 1872 would end the threat of wholesale imprisonment without legal safeguards.
• Life of Evacuees, Administrators at Poston Recalled by Harvard Professor, by Dr. Clifford Uyeda, page 1. Dr. Alexander Leighton, a Harvard social psychiatrist who served at the Poston relocation camp, spoke to the San Francisco Center for Japanese American Studies about camp life and social disintegration. He contrasted his conclusions on managing stress with earlier remarks by Dr. Stanford Lyman.

National

• Immediate Desegregation of S.F. Schools Sought, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A federal lawsuit filed by attorney Arthur Brunswasser seeks immediate and complete desegregation of the San Francisco Unified School District. The suit alleges that 80% of black pupils are confined to 27 schools with high concentrations of black students.
• Nat’l JACL Stands on International Affairs Previewed, Backed by EDC, by Ellen Nakamura, page 1. The Eastern District Council endorsed positions prepared by the National JACL International Affairs Committee on the US-Japan Security Treaty, Southeast Asian policy, and JACL’s role in Asia-Pacific affairs. The EDC also agreed on changes to dues, the Washington office, and nominations for national board positions.
• Nisei Appointed to Key Mormon Post, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Adney Y. Komatsu became the first American of Asian ancestry appointed regional representative of the Mormon Church’s Council of the Twelve. He previously served as the first Japanese-ancestry mission president in Japan and Okinawa.
• US International Air Policy on Pacific Told, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The White House criticized transpacific excursion and promotional fares as justifiable grounds for restricting US carrier operations abroad. The statement noted the lack of economic comparability with fares in effect over the North Atlantic.

Commentary

• The Name: Yellow Brotherhood, by Victor Shibata, page 1. Victor Shibata explains why the Los Angeles group chose the name Yellow Brotherhood and what it aims to do about youth drug abuse, dropouts, and identity struggles. He argues that Asian Americans should embrace their heritage and stand proud rather than assimilate.
• Capitol Comments and Tribute to Jerry, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Mike Masaoka reviews recent Washington developments, including executive reorganization, Supreme Court conscientious objector rulings, and the renewed US-Japan treaty. He pays tribute to outgoing National President Jerry Enomoto for his leadership and urges continued use of his talents.
• Evelyn Studies, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 4. Ron Wakabayashi reflects on Ethnic Studies and Asian American Studies as taught by his friend Evelyn Yoshimura at Long Beach State. He argues that knowing one’s heritage builds pride and cultural understanding, and that American history must include minority contributions.
• Ron Wakabayashi, by Ron Wakabayashi, page 4. Ron Wakabayashi writes about Ethnic Studies and the value of learning Asian American history for individual and cultural pride. He notes that a candidate for Nisei of the Biennium disagreed with his views.
• Henry T. Tanaka Candidate Profile, by P.C. Staff, page 5. A profile of Henry T. Tanaka, past Midwest district governor and Cleveland JACL president, who is seeking national office. It highlights his 20 years of JACL service and his work on uniform membership dues.
• Touring Expo ’70, by Jim Henry, page 5. Jim Henry offers practical advice for visiting Expo ’70 in Osaka, including the best pavilions, food options and prices, and the value of visiting in the evening. He also suggests clothing choices for the visit.
• Editorial: Ye Calton’s Desk, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. The editorial discusses the importance of chapter relations and public relations within JACL, noting that chapters need active members to thrive. It argues that leadership must serve members’ interests and revive internal public relations.
• What a President Finds After Three Months in Office, by Dr. James Tsujimura, page 6. Portland JACL President James Tsujimura describes a disappointing turnout at a political forum that featured 24 candidates. He argues that members must become involved if the chapter is to remain active.
• Support for Henry Kanegae and Tom Taketa, by Grant Shimizu, page 6. Letters from JACL members advocate for candidates for national office, including Henry Kanegae for president and Tom Taketa. The letters praise their dedication and experience in JACL.
• We’ll Keep on Changing, by Tom T. Shimasaki, page 6. Tom T. Shimasaki, a candidate for National JACL President-Elect, discusses the need for JACL to adapt to change and to involve the Sansei generation. He emphasizes that people, programs, and planning must work together.
• Deal With It, by Warren Furutani, page 6. Warren Furutani argues that Asian American communities often ignore social problems such as drug abuse, dropouts, and unemployment because of a desire to save face. He calls for dealing directly with these issues and for social welfare funds to go toward services rather than administrators.

Military & Veterans

• Resolution Seeks Anti-War Stand by National JACL, by P.C. Staff, page 1. An ad hoc committee of Chicago JACLers drafted an anti-war resolution calling for immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Southeast Asia for consideration at the national convention. The resolution also urges redirecting war spending toward social needs and supports self-determination in Vietnam.
• An Inspiring Souvenir Booklet, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The editorial praises the NVR-70 souvenir booklet from Los Angeles Nisei veteran groups, which documents Japanese American military service from the Civil War through Vietnam. It highlights early Japanese servicemen, the Issei in World War I, and the Nisei units of World War II.

Arts & Entertainment

• Reissue of Stories by Akutagawa, by Allan Beekman, page 4. A review of two reissued volumes of Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s short stories, including Rashomon and The Hell Screen. The reviewer discusses Akutagawa’s style and the translation quality.

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.