Yoshino, William (12/6/2022)

Yoshino, William (12/6/2022)

William Yoshino, a Sansei whose parents were incarcerated at Heart Mountain, descibes his family's wartime experience and his own experience moving from Washington State to Chicago's South Side as a teenager. In this interview, he reflects on his involvement with the JACL's Chicago chapter and his role as the JACL's Midwest Director beginning in 1978. He recalls that in Chicago, JACL leadership passed from the Nisei generation to the Sansei generation relatively early, perhaps leading the chapter to be more progressive than others. He recalls campaigns prior to the Redress movement that helped JACL members hone their lobbying and organizing skills, shares details about the JACL's Redress strategies, and describes some of the interracial coalition building that proved to be effective in Chicago. He concludes with detailed recollections about the Chicago CWRIC hearings in 1981, particularly the selection of the location, coverage by news media, and his personal experience as a member of the audience hearing the witnesses give testimony.

2022-12-06

video

Doi, Mary

Yoshino, William

Sansei

Japanese American Citizens League

JACL Chicago chapter

JACL Midwest Director

JACL Midwest District

Legislative strategy

Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians

CWRIC hearings

Northeastern Illinois University

Portland Assembly Center

Heart Mountain

Edgewater Beach Hotel

South Side

Calumet High School

9850