Densho Digital Repository - Arlene Oki Interview (Densho ID: ddr-sjacl-2-37-4)

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EK: Yeah. Thank you, Arlene. You basically hit almost every question on what I was going to ask you. And I know just one thing that I really appreciate behind the work that you've done thus far is like, especially for Seattle Public Schools, I went to Seattle Public Schools during high school. I went to Roosevelt, and it's predominantly white and Caucasian, very limited minority. And so, it just made me think that all the work that you've done kind of opened doors for the stuff that I've worked on as well at Roosevelt. I worked with other high schools and did -- I was on student government -- So I worked on, worked with different high schools to raise more awareness about the issues surrounding BIPOC communities and the lack of discussion and conversation surrounding the microaggressions, and macro aggressions, and the prejudice that still exists within our education. So, I just want to say I really appreciate that you put this effort in at such an early stage of our education for it to come to this point. But just going into the specifics, I was just wondering, because you are, as you say, a political junkie and everything, what would you say the Seattle JACL chapter has helped you achieve the goals that you worked on with Mayor Charles, and just in politics in general?

AO: My goal in getting involved in politics is to seek equity for Asian Pacific Americans at every facet of life in America. I see so many Asian parents working so hard to create educational opportunities for their children. When I was working for the city, I used to work late sometimes, and there was a Cambodian custodian who I would talk to. And he worked so hard. He was working two and a half jobs in order to pay for his daughter to go to college. And I've seen so many parents doing that. And it seems unfair that their children who graduate don't have the same opportunities that the Caucasian, the white kids, have. There are still very negative stereotypes about Asian Pacific Americans, especially the women, because they think we're all so docile, that we don't complain, that we quietly do our work, and they don't see us taking charge. Because of the way we were raised, it seems like we are handicapped in that way. We're not taught to speak up and make, create waves in the organizations we belong to. We're mainly "yes" people. And some of the most brilliant ideas have come from Japanese Americans. I don't think many people know that the man who invented contact lenses is a Japanese American. He's now passed away, but he lived in Denver, and he would come to our national JACL conventions because he believed in supporting our community. There are many physicians and jurists who have achieved a lot of success. But when you see anybody discussing an Asian candidate for the U.S. Supreme Court, it's with so many jurists now in the state of Washington and California, New York, it seems to me that there should be an Asian on the U.S. Supreme Court. That's just one example.

EK: Absolutely. I actually just had this conversation recently with my parents, because I want to go to law school and I'm a big political junkie, as well. And just the lack of representation for Asian American communities, especially the idea that it's, that we have this model minority myth...

AO: Yes.

EK: ... that we don't have, that Asian people are not, like elites, political elites are still not appointing Asian or Asian American leaders, despite this myth that exists. So, it's really telling and disappointing. And you mentioned how Asian American women and Asian women are just stereotyped as these silent women who just kind of succumb to certain standards or certain orders. But for you, through all the work that you've done, from what the research I've done, in from hearing from you, I can just conclude that you are a powerhouse for women, that you trailblaze for women. And so, I was wondering, what values do you hold most important to you as an Asian American woman when working alongside or working in a predominantly male sector? I know that for politics and law and everything surrounding that, it's always been a male dominated sector. So, I'm wondering what values you carry specifically as an Asian American woman?

AO: Yes. How many times have you sat in a meeting and offered ideas and the meeting facilitator, or president, or a chair would write down what you are saying, and the next thing you know, the comment that you made is said by that chair in a larger meeting, and it becomes an issue? But you just... it just happens all the time. And I think we are always like our mothers. I mean, I had a lovely mother, but she was not very outspoken about her role in the family, and she complied with everything my father said or wanted.

EK: Yeah, and so then you would find so much, I guess, importance in speaking out for women.

AO: I'm sorry, you said what?

EK: I just asked. I'm saying that at the end of the day, you find grave importance in speaking out for women and women speaking out for themselves.

AO: Uh-huh.

EK: Okay, yeah. Perfect.

AO: I'm very encouraged to meet you.

EK: Thank you.

AO: You're going to be a great lawyer.

EK: I hope so. Thank you. I mean, like I said, it's individuals like you who really set paths for individuals and women like me who believe, who tried to break the status quo.