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Abstract

s to study abroad, but they also often faced discrimination.Many Japanese immigrants and their American-born children encountered prejudice on a daily basis. As the second generation became young adults, they started to fight the discrimination that they and their parents faced.The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) was formed in 1929 as a civil rights organization to change the laws and attitudes which were aimed at Japanese Americans to hold them back. The JACL is the oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization in the nation.After the start of World War II when the Japanese Naval Forces bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, people of Japanese descent living on the West Coast of the United States faced the ultimate humiliation when their liberty and freedoms were taken away. The Constitution did not protect these innocent American citizens and their immigrant parents. They were forced from their homes and incarcerated in camps surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards. Many had no choice but to remain imprisoned for the duration of the war.The JACL leaders earnestly worked after the war’s end on the civil rights issues which were considered in 1929. They were able to get laws which were clearly discriminatory removed from the books. The JACL continues to work today to make a better life for all Asian Americans as well as becoming involved with civil rights for everyone.There has been recent discussion on the Voting Rights Act, which is an important piece of civil rights legislation. The right to vote without intimidation is the first step to citizenship. Newer immigrants, who have become naturalized and are now citizens of this country, should be sure to register to vote. Becoming informed of the issues and candidates is important. However, the most important matter is actually going to the polls and casting a ballot to vote. Just registering to vote is not enough. Voting is a privilege of which we should all take advantage whenever it comes around.There are ways for each of us to become a force to bring about good policy in government and in our communities. Participation in an advocacy organization is a good way. Being a member of an organization such as you have here, the Institute for Corean American Studies, is an important step to becoming involved. Finding organizations which work for the benefit of Asian immigrants or anything which interests you and becoming active in them is a way to make a difference.Becoming involved in leadership is important for our community. We need to make our voice heard and show support of the matters of importance to us. Leadership is a way to affect change.Become involved in issues that concern you. There are many local issues which affect immigrant communities with which we can become involved and participate. There are local issues of zoning, education, utilities, etc. There are state issues of

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education, infrastructure, and government. There are many national issues affecting our communities such as immigration policies, health care reform, and the Voting Rights Act.Becoming a policy maker is always helpful to the community. There are various ways which a person could do this, including public service. Running for office and becoming an elected official is a good way, but it is not something that many can or will do. Those who have become successful are paving the way for others to become a bigger influence in the nation and to bring the issues of concern to their communities to the forefront. We can show support for these people by becoming aware of them and possibly giving them financial help for their campaigns.When I was in my early thirties and teaching Economics at a community college in the Bay Area in California, there was a city council race going on in the city where I lived. On the last day of filing, I threw my hat in the ring. I started to knock on doors in that small city of thirty thousand plus, and I think I knocked on almost every door. I told people I was running for the city council, and consequently, I became the top vote getter in that election out of a field of more than ten candidates. I served on the city council and was made Mayor Pro Tem. I later became Mayor of the City of Pleasanton, California.After that, I was elected to and served in the California State Assembly for six years.It is possible to get involved if one is interested and willing to put in the effort to do so. Elective office is not an easy life and it takes sacrifice, but it is a good way to make a difference and to help your community.Working in a government job or for a nonprofit organization is a way to be a policy maker. Public policy is an important area of involvement for all Americans. Having our faces in these areas and making decisions which affect us will be beneficial. Becoming a volunteer in public and political arenas can help us shape the future.There is something each of us can do to become involved in policy making. Empowerment for the Asian American community requires us all to become involved. While there is something which we can all do, we may need to look for it. We need to find what suits us. We should test the system and do our part to make our voices heard.America is a wonderful place to live, and we should exercise our rights as Americans by becoming more involved in the community and the nation.Thank you for allowing me to share these thoughts with you.[This excerpt is from the book, The Japanese American Story As Told Through a Collection of Speeches and Articles. Most of the speeches and articles were for different audiences so there is some repetition. <a href="http://www.thejapaneseamericanstory.com,">www.thejapaneseamericanstory.com,</a> <a href="http://www.jacl.org]">www.jacl.org]</a></article></body>

The Japanese American Story…Part 6

Part 6 — Becoming involved

This excerpt from the book is a speech to a Korean American Group, The Institute for Corean American Studies, in 2006 in Philadelphia. (They use Corean for Korean.)

Thank you for the invitation to meet with you to discuss some of the issues we have as Asian Americans in this country today. I commend you for attending this symposium to learn more about the issues facing you as Korean Americans and as Asian Americans.

Being of Asian heritage several decades ago was extremely difficult for the immigrants who came to the United States in the early 1900s. Some of the Asian immigrants who have come to this country in recent years may be suffering some of the same discrimination.

There were many laws against immigrants with Asian backgrounds in those early days. They were not allowed to become citizens of the United States because of their race. There were many immigration barriers placed upon them. There were land ownership barriers as they were not allowed to purchase property in some areas of the country.

They were not looked upon favorably because they were different in appearance than the mainstream population. Their physical characteristics were not the same as their European counterparts, and they did not speak the English language. They faced prejudice and discrimination at nearly every turn as they tried to earn some money and make a life in this land of opportunity.

This all added up to the Asian immigrants being seen as non-entities. They were not recognized as part of the communities in which they lived. They were ignored in most aspects of the community. There were economic barriers in America to these immigrants who had come to this country with such high hopes of gaining some of the wealth that was promised here. They were shunned and passed up for opportunities for meaningful employment. This continued for many years.

More recent Asian immigrants may have come to this country as refugees, and they should be welcomed as they embrace the freedoms and opportunity offered here.

That was not how most of the earliest Asian immigrants were treated. The early Japanese immigrants came to America to find work and earn money. They were generally not from the upper classes of their country where they enjoyed privilege and riches. The immigrant men saw this land as a place where they might be able to experience some financial well-being. As they began to see limited progress in their lives, they faced even more discrimination and prejudice. They began to be seen as a threat and were treated poorly.

Some young men from the upper class in Japan came to the United States as college students to study abroad, but they also often faced discrimination.

Many Japanese immigrants and their American-born children encountered prejudice on a daily basis. As the second generation became young adults, they started to fight the discrimination that they and their parents faced.

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) was formed in 1929 as a civil rights organization to change the laws and attitudes which were aimed at Japanese Americans to hold them back. The JACL is the oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization in the nation.

After the start of World War II when the Japanese Naval Forces bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, people of Japanese descent living on the West Coast of the United States faced the ultimate humiliation when their liberty and freedoms were taken away. The Constitution did not protect these innocent American citizens and their immigrant parents. They were forced from their homes and incarcerated in camps surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards. Many had no choice but to remain imprisoned for the duration of the war.

The JACL leaders earnestly worked after the war’s end on the civil rights issues which were considered in 1929. They were able to get laws which were clearly discriminatory removed from the books. The JACL continues to work today to make a better life for all Asian Americans as well as becoming involved with civil rights for everyone.

There has been recent discussion on the Voting Rights Act, which is an important piece of civil rights legislation. The right to vote without intimidation is the first step to citizenship. Newer immigrants, who have become naturalized and are now citizens of this country, should be sure to register to vote. Becoming informed of the issues and candidates is important. However, the most important matter is actually going to the polls and casting a ballot to vote. Just registering to vote is not enough. Voting is a privilege of which we should all take advantage whenever it comes around.

There are ways for each of us to become a force to bring about good policy in government and in our communities. Participation in an advocacy organization is a good way. Being a member of an organization such as you have here, the Institute for Corean American Studies, is an important step to becoming involved. Finding organizations which work for the benefit of Asian immigrants or anything which interests you and becoming active in them is a way to make a difference.

Becoming involved in leadership is important for our community. We need to make our voice heard and show support of the matters of importance to us. Leadership is a way to affect change.

Become involved in issues that concern you. There are many local issues which affect immigrant communities with which we can become involved and participate. There are local issues of zoning, education, utilities, etc. There are state issues of education, infrastructure, and government. There are many national issues affecting our communities such as immigration policies, health care reform, and the Voting Rights Act.

Becoming a policy maker is always helpful to the community. There are various ways which a person could do this, including public service. Running for office and becoming an elected official is a good way, but it is not something that many can or will do. Those who have become successful are paving the way for others to become a bigger influence in the nation and to bring the issues of concern to their communities to the forefront. We can show support for these people by becoming aware of them and possibly giving them financial help for their campaigns.

When I was in my early thirties and teaching Economics at a community college in the Bay Area in California, there was a city council race going on in the city where I lived. On the last day of filing, I threw my hat in the ring. I started to knock on doors in that small city of thirty thousand plus, and I think I knocked on almost every door. I told people I was running for the city council, and consequently, I became the top vote getter in that election out of a field of more than ten candidates. I served on the city council and was made Mayor Pro Tem. I later became Mayor of the City of Pleasanton, California.

After that, I was elected to and served in the California State Assembly for six years.

It is possible to get involved if one is interested and willing to put in the effort to do so. Elective office is not an easy life and it takes sacrifice, but it is a good way to make a difference and to help your community.

Working in a government job or for a nonprofit organization is a way to be a policy maker. Public policy is an important area of involvement for all Americans. Having our faces in these areas and making decisions which affect us will be beneficial. Becoming a volunteer in public and political arenas can help us shape the future.

There is something each of us can do to become involved in policy making. Empowerment for the Asian American community requires us all to become involved. While there is something which we can all do, we may need to look for it. We need to find what suits us. We should test the system and do our part to make our voices heard.

America is a wonderful place to live, and we should exercise our rights as Americans by becoming more involved in the community and the nation.

Thank you for allowing me to share these thoughts with you.

[This excerpt is from the book, The Japanese American Story As Told Through a Collection of Speeches and Articles. Most of the speeches and articles were for different audiences so there is some repetition. www.thejapaneseamericanstory.com, www.jacl.org]