Man in space, civil rights bills and an open letter to a Sansei son

Vol. 52, No. 16, April 21, 1961. 4 pages. View this issue

The Soviet flight that put the first human into space opened this four-page issue. Mike Masaoka’s Washington Newsletter argued that the space race demands a priority commitment from America. On the same page, news from legislatures covered Representative Francis E. Walter’s bill to reserve unused immigration quotas for relatives of citizens and resident aliens, Oregon’s ban on discrimination in barber shops and beauty salons, and the defeat in committee of California’s Hawkins Fair Housing Bill.

Page 2 carried Elmer Ogawa’s open letter from a Nisei father to his Sansei son, tracing the Issei and Nisei through immigration, wartime incarceration and resettlement. Bill Hosokawa wrote about a Denver chow mein dinner and a reader’s reply on The World of Suzie Wong. Saburo Kido’s history series reached the 1932 national convention in Los Angeles. Chapter news covered a Pasadena Boy Scout camporee win, a Philadelphia JACL installation and community picnics in Fresno and French Camp-Tracy.

What’s in this issue

National

• Man in Space, by Miké Masaoka, page 1. The Soviet Union’s orbital flight of the first human into space is described as a major milestone with strategic and psychological implications for the United States. The author argues that the space race demands a priority commitment from America, while warning that the Soviet achievement could be used to pressure free nations.
• Walter Ready to Loosen Rigid Immigration Law, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Representative Francis E. Walter introduced a bill to reserve unused immigration quotas for relatives of American citizens and resident aliens. The measure would not change the basic national-origins allocation system but would redirect unused visas.
• Oregon Outlaws Discrimination in Barber Shops and Beauty Salons, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Oregon’s legislature passed a measure prohibiting racial discrimination in service establishments such as barber shops, beauty parlors, and reducing salons. Providers may refuse customers only for just cause, not for race, creed, or color.
• Hawkins Fair Housing Bill Fails in Committee, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California Hawkins Fair Housing Bill, which would have prohibited discrimination in private housing sales and rentals, was amended and then faced strong opposition from real estate lobbyists. The measure was ultimately defeated in committee by a narrow margin.
• Legislature Approves Cal-Vet Rights for Nisei, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California State Senate passed legislation allowing Nisei GIs who were evacuated in 1942 to receive Cal-Vet benefits, provided they joined the armed services before evacuation. The bill was forwarded to the Assembly.

JACL

• Open Letter to My Sansei Son, by Elmer Ogawa, page 2. A Nisei father writes an open letter to his Sansei son urging him to understand and take pride in his heritage, tracing the struggles of the Issei and Nisei through immigration, wartime incarceration, and resettlement. He offers five personal commitments for the son, including dignity, vigilance, and faith in the American system.
• Forging Forward: Living with JACL, Part IV, by Saburo Kido, page 4. This installment covers the 1932 National JACL Convention in Los Angeles, including opening-day proceedings at City Hall, the welcome addresses, and the adoption of the constitution. Speakers emphasized unity and loyalty to the American flag.

Commentary

• Hawaii Prejudice Not Based on Race, by Allan Beekman, page 2. The author argues that James Michener’s charge of racial discrimination in Hawaii misidentifies the problem, since prejudice against Nikkei stems from ancestry and national origin rather than race. He notes that Nisei have nonetheless become politically influential and actively combat bias.
• Suzie Wong, Continued, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. Bill Hosokawa follows up on earlier commentary about the film The World of Suzie Wong by sharing a reader letter from Murray Sprung. Sprung reflects on minority pride, the sting of stereotypes, and the need for acceptance and fair play.

Community

• Bill Hosokawa’s From the Frying Pan: Brimming Reservoir, by Bill Hosokawa, page 3. The Mile Hi JACL chapter’s chow mein dinner and cultural exhibit drew a large, diverse Denver crowd and showcased goodwill toward the local Issei and Nisei. The column notes the event was a community-wide success despite internal bickering.
• Placer JACL Picnic Earns Editorial Commendation, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Auburn Journal editorially praised the Placer County JACL for its community picnic, which drew about 5,000 attendees. The editorial credited the chapter with fostering better community relations.
• Youth Services Committee Develops Referral System to Aid Nisei Welfare, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Japanese American Community Services of Southern California’s Youth Services Committee is working with police and probation officials to address juvenile delinquency. The group plans to establish a referral system to professional social welfare agencies for Nisei and Sansei youth in trouble with the law.
• Pasadena Troop 41 Captures Camporee Honors, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Pasadena’s Nisei Boy Scout Troop 41 won top honors at the Rose Bowl District camporee, with Ken Mayekawa’s patrol scoring nearly perfect points. Six troop members were also inducted into the Order of the Arrow.
• Chicago JACLer Picked for Evangelistic Team Heading to Hawaii, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Rev. Victor T. Fujii, pastor of the Christian Fellowship Church in Chicago, was selected as one of about 15 ministers to join an evangelistic mission to Hawaii from April 28 to May 13. The mission is directed by the General Board of Evangelism of the Methodist Church.
• West Los Angeles JACL Women Serve as Hostesses at Smith College Alumnae Tea, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Members of the West Los Angeles JACL women’s group served as hostesses at a Smith College Alumnae Tea held at a Beverly Hills home decorated in Japanese style. Program features included koto playing and flower arrangement demonstrations.
• Fresno Community Picnic Set for Sunday, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Fresno Japanese community picnic is scheduled for Sunday at Kearney Park, with games, prizes, and refreshments planned. Eddie Ishikawa and Jim Ishikawa are co-chairmen.
• Downtown L.A. JACL to Honor Issei Women’s Club Officers, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Downtown Los Angeles JACL will honor officers of the Southern California Japanese Women’s Club at its May 10 dinner meeting. The event recognizes the women’s longstanding contributions to community welfare.
• Philadelphia JACL Installs Allen Okamoto as 1961 Chairman, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Allen H. Okamoto was installed as chairman of the Philadelphia JACL at a dinner held at the Valley Forge Hotel. He succeeds prior leadership and is joined by a new board of governors.
• French Camp-Tracy Community Picnic at Micke Grove April 23, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The annual French Camp-Tracy community picnic, sponsored by the local JACL, will be held Sunday at Micke Grove with games, races, and a fukabiki. Tosh Hotta and George Komure are co-chairmen.
• Alameda JACL Members to Hold Bowling Meet, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The Alameda JACL annual bowling tournament will be held Saturday at Mel’s Bowl with seven events including singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Trophies will be awarded to winners in each class.
• Intermountain DC Looks Ahead, by Joe Nishioka, page 4. Intermountain District Council Youth Chairman Joe Nishioka reviews plans for the upcoming IDC convention hosted by Pocatello and reports on membership progress. He also notes legislative action to repeal Idaho’s constitutional voting restriction on Orientals.

Sports

• San Francisco Wins Berkeley Invitational Cagefest, by P.C. Staff, page 3. San Francisco JACL won the fourth annual Berkeley JACL invitational high school basketball tournament. Berkeley finished second, Sacramento third, and Sequoia took the consolation title.

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