<Begin Segment 8>

EK: You mentioned in passing earlier that there were other people who were considering redress or reparation programs. Do you remember what other groups might have approached ORA to discuss how the program operates?

JC: Yeah. So I was approached... so this must have been in the mid-1990s, and it had to do with, I think it was in Nevada where it was testing of nuclear... nuclear testing from the, not the War Department, Defense, it was... what was it? Something to do with nuclear waste or nuclear testing. And they were asking us, is that what you're asking?

EK: Well, I was also thinking about the Tuskegee Airmen (study).

JC: Yes, well, that's another one. But there were two, actually.

EK: And wasn't there a Black Farmers from the Agriculture --

JC: Black Farmers from the Agriculture. So we'd get calls, and we'd get calls about how did you do this and what did you do, and how did you even create a basis or a foundation? And my first question would be what's your eligibility requirements, because it makes a big difference whether people have to apply to you in order to be eligible or if you had to find them. And our program was unique as far as having to identify and locate the individuals. So most already had records, most had to apply for relief or reparations, but I think my main message was, get to know the community, if this is something that the government did to them, then you need to gain their confidence and trust, and you need to show your compassion for the program, and you just need to be really honest. If you were ineligible, we showed a lot of compassion, and we did our best to find a way within the law to see what was the oversight of not creating this class. And if people know you tried your best, and that you communicated this issue, or perhaps this oversight with those who can change something in the program or change the law. Then at least you had their respect, that you just didn't give up and say, "You're not eligible. Next." And people who are wrong, you don't want to create that divisiveness, I would say. I know that's a strong word, but that's what it is, it's them and government. And so show your compassion, create a system of record, make sure you pay those who are only eligible, because one thing that would kill your program is paying ineligible people. Not only from a government oversight perspective, but from a complainant perspective. You're wasting resources, and we had a budget of 1.6 billion dollars, 1.64, I think, at the end, billion dollars. We had ten years, we had to pay twenty-five thousand a year, so you wanted to make sure you were paying those who were wronged. But I think compassion and outreach were my main messages to those individuals. This is not a paper process, and if you don't go see, feel, and get a sense of who you're trying to pay, then you're going to lose sight of your mission. That was my main message.

<End Segment 8> - Copyright © 2019 Emi Kuboyama. All Rights Reserved.