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The Japanese-American Citizens League

Decent Essays

In 1929, the most widely recognized political organization for Japanese Americans was founded: the Japanese American Citizens League. In just six years of its formation, there were already thirty-eight chapters established. The organization sought to unite Nisei, second-generation Japanese Americans (typically born inside the U.S.). They also aimed to bring about change for their community, resist racism and anti-Asian American sentiments, and promote citizenship. As a generation, Nisei believed their identities and issues were unique which is what led them to create their own organizations, such as JACL. They played an influential role throughout the Japanese-American communities, drawing support from them, and also inspiring independence …show more content…

Their goals included, but not limited to, bettering conditions inside Japanese communities and fortifying relationships with local politicians and non-Japanese businessmen. Actually, one of the executive directors in 1936, Patrick Okura, became one of Los Angeles’ first Japanese-American civil servants. Accordingly, in 1930, JACL held their First National Convention. From there, they set up a few goals. First, the organization campaigned for the amendment of the Cable Act and in 1931, JACL proved to be successful as Congress returned Japanese American women’s citizenship that had been previously revoked by this act if they were married to men “ineligible for citizenship,” aka Japanese male immigrants. Second, they pushed for obtaining citizenship for those of Asian descent that fought for our country. With help from a Japanese veteran, Tokutaro Slocum, the Nye-Lea Act was passed in 1935 which accomplished this goal. Furthermore, in 1936, to aid funding for projects for Americans of Japanese Ancestry, the group created the JACL endowment fund. That’s not all, activities such as the Nisei Week Festival which began in 1934, created by the second generation, promoted “civic virtue and political allegiance.” Those seeking positions in politics that were white, began to attend these events, and with that, the league aimed to strengthen Nisei’s electoral power. The Japanese Citizens League had a huge impact in this aspect, spreading awareness politically for Nisei and encouraging involvement in politics, especially for their civil

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