SOME ARE THINKING it's time to change the name of JACL, an organization about to celebrate its 80th anniversary. Organized in 1929 by a group of civic-minded Nisei to promote and protect the welfare of the Japanese in America, they paved "Security Through Unity" as the JACL road and motto.
Without question, Issei naturalization, the repeal of the Japanese exclusion law, riddance of alien land laws and rich harvest of scholarship funds were born in JACL's name.
For good measure, fighting racial discrimination, hate crimes and promoting ethnic concerns continue in conjunction with other like organizations. This has been a key JACL endeavor, known a generation ago as "coalition building." Long-range, these kinds of encounter will hardly diminish.
In the mid 1970s, an opinion poll revealed that more than 75 percent of Americans consider the Japanese among "our most dependable allies." Mike Masaoka (1915-1991) pondered: Is there a real need for an organization like JACL now? Is it vital for persons of Japanese ancestry in this country to have an organized public voice of its own? Is it necessary for a JACL to safeguard the general welfare of persons of Japanese ancestry in America?
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There was a time when the Houston JACL - lead by Sandra Tanamachi -called for removal of the "Jap Road" and "Jap Lane" road signs. Cincinnati JACL rebuked baseball owner Marge Schott for her racist language. Spokane JACL rebuked discriminatory actions of the Washington State Democratic Party based on ethnicity. And a racist fire-bombed the Sacramento JACL office.
Times-Warner Cable pulled a Bugs Bunny cartoon from its video stores after Sacramento JACL complained of its racist and offensive slurs. New York JACL got its Republican Sen. Alfonse D'Amato to apologize for mocking Judge Lance Ito on a radio show in 1995, but Chicago JACL couldn't get Cubs broadcaster Harry Carey to apologize for his "slanty-eye" reference of Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo.
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When legislators spoke of "Americans first and our own people" with respect to immigrant bills, then Congressman Norman Mineta found some were openly hostile to Asian Pacific Americans. He pointed to a Republican welfare reform proposal to cut off legal immigrants from Aid to Families with Dependent Children and all but emergency medical care under the Medicaid program. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus responded with support from JACL through its Washington office and grassroots network.
At a major JACL event in Los Angeles in 1994, Mineta said: "Time and time again, we have stood up as an organization for our own rights, and the rights of others. That leadership must continue. As a member of JACL, and as someone who owes much of the success in my life for your support, your encouragement and your dedication, I know the strength of our community can summon when we are challenged."
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As one from the school of Nisei who knew what it was like being a Japanese American in the 1930s, I remember ...
"Being called you Jap were fighting words." My judo teacher was angry when accosted by a police officer. He got out of his car, grabbed the officer's collar and flipped him to the ground.
"Being a dual citizen became a Nisei problem" as U.S.-Japan relations deteriorated. Nisei traveling to visit relatives in Japan might have been drafted into the Japanese military.
"We didn't want to go to Nihon Gakko." Classes were held after regular school time or a good part of Saturday. But today we are blessed by those who did and made MIS history.
"We felt proud of the fact that Nihonjin stayed out of trouble." For instance, going on public welfare was haji, a no-no tattooed in our make-up.
"And some were timid about their ancestry. I am an American period." And feeling proud then was like being (as sociologists would say) a 110 percent American.
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Postscripts: Winter is the traditional time for swearing in new officers. Many JACL chapters have renewed their strengths at installations.
In January, listening to George Tanaka wrap up his year as SELANOCO chapter president, his two-year-old son (I'm guessing about the age), who was scurrying about the room, was momentarily picked up in the course of his speech, making an indelible scene. I said to myself, the Yonsei are here.
A month later, Riverside JACL President Michiko Yoshimura gave friends and social ties near and far in JACL something one can treasure. A signature of this installation is distributing the pride of Riverside packed in a basket of navel orange and citrus fruit. This year, the sweet-skin and tart kumquat (of Asian ancestry) was added.
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