Exploration of Complicated History
February 18, 2024
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The event began with a welcome from Jay Heritage Center President Suzanne Clary, who introduced Jackie Alexander, JSFC President. Jackie described the growing collaboration between the two organizations.
On display was the painting "Topaz Internment Camp", owned by the Topaz Museum in Delta, UT. It is on loan to the Jay Heritage Center. It is the work of Sumi-e artist Koho Yamamoto. Yamamoto studied under Chiura Obata and became a celebrated teacher and exhibitor in her own right.
Nearby was an ikebana flower arrangement specially made for the occasion by Judith Setsuko Hata. She led the Ikebana International New York Chapter for more than half a century, and has taught and demonstrated Ikebana in dozens of cities around the U.S.
Keynote speaker Grant Ujifusa
Conversation between
Grant Ujifusa and Kermit Roosevelt
This year’s Presidents’ Day Weekend coincided with a Day of Remembrance of Japanese American Incarceration, the anniversary of Franklin Delano Roosevelt‘s signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942. President Roosevelt’s action resulted in the traumatic detention of 120,000 Japanese Americans at 10 desolate camps during World War II. Two thirds of those imprisoned were American citizens. In his talk, keynote speaker Grant Ujifusa attributed Roosevelt’s unconscionable policy to “race prejudice, war hysteria and the failure of political leadership”. Ujifusa was the Redress Chair of the Japanese American Citizens League in the 1980s, working for the passage of HR 442, the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 (the “Redress” bill that secured an apology and monetary reparations for loyal Americans who were forced into prison camps during World War II).
Following Ujifusa’s keynote, Penn Carey Law Professor Kim Roosevelt III, an expert in constitutional law, spoke further with Ujifusa and they discussed the Supreme Court decisions related to the Japanese American Incarceration. The audience then participated in an extended question-and-answer session. Afterwards the Jay Heritage Center provided a reception at which the audience was able to meet the speakers, and view books about incarceration and other historical subjects.
Photos by JHC, Kim Crichlow, and Julius Alexander
More information and photos can be found on the Jay Heritage Center website:
Yoshie Ito introducing speakers
Judith Hata, Jackie Alexander, and Grant Ujifusa
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