Densho Digital Repository
Seattle JACL Oral History Collection
Title: Joy Misako St. Germain Interview
Narrator: Joy Misako St. Germain
Interviewers: Ana Tanaka, Dr. Kyle Kinoshita
Date: March 2, 2022
Densho ID: ddr-sjacl-2-35-4

<Begin Segment 4>

KK: I want to interject before you ask the next question, because there was something I was curious about going back to your time when you were president. 1992, of course, was four years after redress, the victory of redress was attained. And were there any issues about... 'cause prior to that time, of course, that was a really a big part of JACL's work. Post redress, were there any issues of JACL? Really, kind of looking at their identity in terms of its role? Just on the, both the national and local scene? Can you remember anything in that regard?

JSG: Yes, that's a great, a great question, Kyle. I do think that I remember some of it, it's not as though we said, hurray, we accomplished this, our work is done. So, but it really was, during that time where there was discussions about not wanting to ever have this history be lost. And some focus on curriculum, education with the schools, how can we make sure -- and similar to this legacy project, how can we preserve the history of what happened? Because still, many, many people then, and I would say even today, don't really know about the history of the Japanese Americans during World War II. They do not know about the incarceration, so many things and in this region, in particular. So there was... that's where some of the discussion was not only with what next. So having retreats with the board, and really trying to clarify the mission, or reinforce it, and then bring it to today to say or back then, '92, what are the issues that we want to address? And I think at that time, I remember that that's where they were some really -- not that it was ever exclusive only to Japanese Americans, but really recognizing that we want to be allies with other racial ethnic groups and expand our reach and also to make sure that we would continue to add value and be legitimate and sustain all the good work that we've done. So that is a good question. I do think that was the beginning of the discussion and also membership, wanting to increase membership not because of the money, but it's the same theme of what is our mission. Let's reinforce the direction we're going in that we still really are relevant. But like any organization, there's a need to refresh the mission and adjust accordingly so that it can be effective.

AT: Do you remember if you specifically, like during that time, did, I guess, ally with certain organizations or groups, if you remember or recall?

JSG: Yeah, I don't, I think it's probably more recent time with the Muslims after September [2001], so that's much, much later. So at the time, I don't recall specific groups that were -- we allied with, really strengthened, but I do recall the conversation and the concern about the future and clarifying. So there was some sense of, so we accomplished this big huge goal of redress, but clearly, our work is not done. There's still racism, and there's a lot of issues to will work on at the time.

AT: Yeah, definitely.

<End Segment 4> - Copyright © 2022 Seattle Chapter JACL. All Rights Reserved.