Why I joined the Japanese American Citizens League

Childhood shame for being Nikkei in Enumclaw, Washington Recalling Pinedale and Tule Lake concentration camps Impressions of student relocation in South Dakota Challenges of finding a summer job Why I joined the Japanese American Citizens League Becoming active in the Civil Rights Movement Figuring out a dollar amount for redress Deciding to serve on the CWRIC On hearing of CWRIC selection from Senator Inouye Personal feelings as a Nikkei commissioner A memorable CWRIC testimony of an unjust situation Understanding the passion behind the people giving testimonies Rationale for rejecting redress payment Post-redress future of Japanese Americans

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I was too busy trying to make a living before the war—too young. Nobody’s going to listen to a nineteen-year-old kid. My motivations for getting into the JACL [in the mid-1950s]—well first of all, I think it was social. I’m married now, and I have a couple of kids. But it’s nice to sit down with other Nikkei and just chat, share food, enjoy. And JACL provided that here. Also, I think, some of the work the JACL was doing I thought was quite worthy of support, so I got involved.

Date: August 27, 1998
Location: Pennsylvania, US
Interviewer: Darcie Iki, Mitchell Maki
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum.

community organizations identity jacl