<Begin Segment 7>

FA: Finally, you were the historian for Japanese America, or the unofficial historian, by default perhaps, but you were the one published author in Japanese America. The resisters mentioned to me, why didn't you write about them in Nisei and JACL: Quest for Justice, and East to America, why no mention of the principled resistance of the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee?

BH: I think this is a question that Jimmie Omura, that stuck in Jimmie Omura's throat for long, long time. The truth, the facts about the situation in Nisei is that I was under pressure, I did not have the information I needed for the full research I needed for that particular episode. It was not an effort to suppress that information at all. I just didn't mention it.

FA: You mean under pressure politically not to mention it?

BH: No, no.

FA: I didn't think so. You mean time pressure.

BH: Nobody told me what to write in that book. The JACL committee did not tell me what to write. They did not see manuscript until it was completed and sent to the publisher.

FA: Then what did you mean by "pressure"?

BH: Time pressure. Deadline pressure.

FA: East to America? JACL: Quest for Justice?

BH: Well, the JACL: Quest for Justice was primarily a story of the organization and the various presidents and the administration of the various presidents. It was not supposed to be an in-depth examination of the organization as such. As for East to America, that was Bob Wilson's book and I just helped polish it up for him.

FA: Do you think now, well, do you think the story of the Heart Mountain -- the protest and resistance of the Fair Play Committee is an important story?

BH: Yes, I think it is. And they've been getting an enormous amount of publicity in the Rafu Shimpo and elsewhere.

FA: Do you resent that?

BH: Do I resent it? No, I haven't, I never read it because I never see the Rafu Shimpo. But I've heard of it.

FA: Good. Thanks for your time, Bill. Pleasure talking to you.

BH: All right.

<End Segment 7> - Copyright © 1994, 2005 Frank Abe and Densho. All Rights Reserved.