Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Redress Video Collection, 1988-1991, undated

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Summary

Creators:
Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Redress Video Collection
Language:
Materials are written in English.
Preferred citation:

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Redress Video Collection, 1988-1991, undated, Visual Communications Archives and Media Resource Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Redress Video Collection, 1988-1991, undated , consists of interviews conducted by Visual Communications, writer and director John Esaki, and producer Amy Kato. The collection consists of ¾” U-matic tapes, the majority of which are digitized.

Interviewees included JACL members, activists, and politicians (some of who were former internees during World War II) about their respective experiences of internment, the initial discussions about redress and reparations, the introduction of the “Seattle Plan,” mobilization efforts and legislative action toward redress, and the political processes involved in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1988. Other footage covers JACL Legislative Education Committee meetings, annual dinners, and speeches.

Biographical / historical:

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is a civil rights organization founded by and for Japanese Americans in 1929. At the time of its founding, JACL addressed civil rights concerns that affected Japanese Americans. Currently, JACL focuses its attention on any segment of the American population that faces human and civil rights discrimination, with a particular focus on the Asian Pacific Islander American community. The JACL led legislative campaigns to combat bigotry and discrimination, such as the campaign for redress for former internees during World War II that led to the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.

In May 1989, JACL commissioned Visual Communications to produce a half-hour program called Redress: JACL Campaign for Justice, to document and tell the story of JACL’s role and activism contributing to the redress movement. The program was funded through the Minoru Yasui Trust Fund, as well as the Kawabe Memorial Fund and the Motoda Foundation. Work on the project was completed in the spring of 1992.

Processing information:

This collection was processed by Helen Kim and Kimberly Zarate, August 2012.

Arrangement:

The holdings are organized into four series: I. Interviews; 1988-1991; II. Events 1988-1991; III. Meetings 1988-1991; IV. Narrations, 1988-1991. All of the materials are in English. Synopses of video are available in repository. Series I. makes up for the bulk of the collection and consists of video interviews varying in length and detail. Series II. Contains footage of speeches at events. Series III. Consists of footage of JACL LEC meetings. Series IV. Includes short narrations by Tritia Toyota, who narrated the final program.

Physical description:
5 ft., 10 in.; digital files.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research use. Advance notice required for access. Contact repository for appointment.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Redress Video Collection, 1988-1991, undated, Visual Communications Archives and Media Resource Library.

Location of this collection:
120 Judge John Aiso Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012, US
Contact:
(213) 680-4462
helen@vconline.org
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