Unfinished Business
By GWEN MURANAKA
RAFU ENGLISH EDITOR IN CHIEF
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008

JANM redress symposium focuses on struggles of other minorities.

Photos by MARIO G. REYES/Rafu Shimpo
Dr. David L. Horne, professor of Critical Thinking at Cal State Northridge, discusses the national reparations movement for slavery, during a symposium on Sunday marking the 20th anniversary of the passage of redress legislation at the Center for the Preservation of Democracy.

Mitch Maki

The struggles of other minority groups seeking redress was the focus of a special program in Little To­kyo on Sunday, the 20th anni­versary of the signing of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 by President Rea­gan.

Moderator Mitch Maki, who has written on the redress movement, explained that Japanese Americans, having accomplished redress for their forced incarcera­tion and resettlement during World War II, must continue to seek social justice for other groups.

“If Japanese Americans are the only group to attain redress, our story becomes an asterisk,” said Maki.

Sponsored by the Japanese Ameri­can National Museum, “America’s Promise” is part of a year-long series of talks on the redress move­ment. Speakers at the event included Professor Francisco E. Balderrama, professor of Chicano Studies, Cal State L.A.; Clyde Namu’o, adminis­trator, Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Dr. David L. Horne, professor of Critical Thinking, Cal State Northridge and Dr. Christine Valenciana, professor of education at Cal State Fullerton.

Dr. Valenciana, whose mother was unconstitutionally deported during the 1930s, described hearings on the issue that echoed the JAexperiences on the Commission on Wartime Re­location of Civilians.

“On the day of the hearing it was almost as if Iwas living a dream. Someone was finally listening to us,” said Dr. Valenciana.

Approximately 500,000 Mexi­can and Mexican Americans were forcibly repatriated back to Mexico between 1929 and 1937. In 2005, the California State Legislature issued an apology for the illegal de­portations. A bill is pending in the State Senate which would include the story in California textbooks.

Namu’o explained that Na­tive Hawaiians are the last group following Native Americans and Alaskan Inuits to receive official recognition by the U.S. govern­ment. A bill is in Congress that would grant Hawaiians federal recognition, which would help Hawaiians receive affordable hous­ing, preserve their culture and seek government financial support.

“The reality is we are the poorest, have the worst health and the worst scores in education,” said Namu’o.

Horne, former chair of North­ridge’s Pan African Studies Depart­ment, explained that the idea of reparations for former slaves has been around since before slavery was abolished. A crucial distinction be­tween Japanese Americans and other groups seeking redress, he said, was that Nikkei have won key victories, particularly the redress bill.

“I recommend here that we establish a reparations council to bring together similar interests and tactics,” said Horne. “You’ve already gotten it done, but you’re also still working on it.”