Embedded Files
Inspiration Between These Walls: Yuri Kochiyama's Ongoing Influence
Inspiration Between These Walls: Yuri Kochiyama's Ongoing Influence
by Angelina Song
The Yuri Kochiyama Multicultural Lounge is not just a study space; it’s a meaningful reminder of how one person’s dedication to justice can inspire countless others. Every detail of the room at the University of Michigan's South Quad reflects Kochiyama’s commitment to standing with marginalized communities, inviting students to connect and continue the conversations she championed.
Yuri Kochiyama Multicultural Lounge (September 20, 2024). Photo by Angelina Song.
Established in 1997 with the goal of fostering dialogue and building connections among students from various backgrounds, its walls are adorned with powerful imagery of Kochiyama’s life, work, and words, offering inspiration to all who visit ("Yuri Kochiyama Multicultural"). Although Kochiyama has no direct ties to UM, her story still inspires students through the space named in her honor.
Yuri Kochiyama at Central Park anti-war demonstration, 1968. Photo Courtesy: "Yuri Kochiyama".
Kochiyama’s activism began with a personal tragedy- her family’s internment in a Japanese camp during World War II ("Person"). Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the U.S. government forcibly relocated over 120,000 Japanese Americans to internment camps, driven by widespread fear and racial prejudice ("Japanese"). This experience pushed Kochiyama toward a lifelong fight for social justice. When she moved to Harlem in the 1960’s, she got heavily involved in the civil rights movement and formed a close bond with Malcolm X ("Person" ), who was not only a leading advocate for Black nationalism but later evolved to support global human rights ("Malcom X"). This shift aligned with Kochiyama’s belief in unity among all oppressed people ("Person"). Inspired by this connection, she expanded her activism to support Black liberation, Asian-American identity, Puerto Rican empowerment, and the rights of political prisoners ("Rise Up").
Even after Malcolm X’s assassination in 1965 ("Malcom X"), Kochiyama’s dedication to justice never wavered. She expanded her efforts, becoming a leading voice in the Asian-American movement and pushing for reparations to Japanese-Americans who had been unjustly interned during the war ("Person"). Her work reached a global scale, as she actively supported anti-imperialist and anti-colonial movements around the world. She once remarked, “Racism has placed all ethnic peoples in similar positions of oppression, poverty, and marginalization” ("Person" ). Even in her later years, she remained a tireless advocate of social, civil and human rights, demonstrating her enduring passion for justice ("Rise Up").
Image of Yuri Kochiyama Multicultural Lounge Wall (September 20, 2024). Photo by Angelina Song.
In Japanese, the name “Yuri” means “lily” or “abundant,” ("Yuri"), which symbolizes the grace and strength Kochiyama showed throughout her life. Her legacy reflects these traits, as her activism touched many different communities and left a lasting impact. The lounge, like her name, represents an abundance of unity, diversity, and activism.
The Yuri Kochiyama Multicultural Lounge isn’t just a room, it represents values of inclusion, justice, and activism. By dedicating this space to her, the University of Michigan keeps Kochiyama’s legacy alive, inspiring students to continue her fight for justice and unity.
Works Cited
“Japanese American Relocation.” History, A&E Television Networks, 1 Dec. 2009, history.com/topics/world-war-ii/japanese-american-relocation. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.
Markovich, Ally. “Renaming of Berkeley School Delayed as Parents Decry Erasure of Asian American Activist.” Berkeleyside, 4 Aug. 2022, www.berkeleyside.org/2022/02/18/washington-elementary-school-renaming-yuri-kochiyama. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
"Malcolm X." Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 21 Sept. 2023, britannica.com/biography/Malcolm-X. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.
"Person: Yuri Kochiyama." National Park Service, nps.gov/people/yuri-kochiyama.htm. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
"Rise Up for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: Yuri Kochiyama." Stanford University Rise Up Exhibit, exhibits.stanford.edu/riseup/feature/yuri-kochiyama. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
"Yuri." Behind the Name, behindthename.com/name/yuri-2 . Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
"Yuri Kochiyama Cultural Center." UMass Amherst Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success, University of Massachusetts Amherst, umass.edu/cmass/get-involved/multicultural/ykcc. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.
"Yuri Kochiyama Multicultural Lounge." University of Michigan Housing, housing.umich.edu/cultural-lounge/yuri-kochiyama-lounge-2/. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
Page updated
Report abuse