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EK: But, as you mentioned before, you were the past president of the Seattle JACL. And in fact, you were the third female president of the Seattle JACL. So, if you could speak to what the significance of this role meant to you, as well as what your experience was as... I would say you're definitely a trailblazer for future women leaders within this chapter and also, I just think within just a general basis, that you're a trailblazer for future women leaders. But also, if you don't mind sharing your potential barriers that you experienced as well during your time as the president of the JACL, and if that had anything to do with the role of being a woman.

KB: Well, thank you. I mean, first of all, I think you're being too generous to me. But I'm pleased to talk about my experience. In 1982, I think the most significant role I played was in representing the chapter at the National JACL convention. At a meeting of the National JACL Redress Committee, the national committee sought a vote in support of establishment of a foundation as the approach to redress. In representing the Seattle chapter's position, I made a vigorous objection to the proposal. The Seattle chapter held a firm belief that individual redress payments were an essential component of Japanese American redress. And, as I argued, the Seattle chapter's view was that the proposed foundation approach amounted to a breach of faith with the many members who have joined the redress movement on the basis, with the understanding, that the National JACL would seek individual redress payment. The national convention that day supported their proposal to establish a foundation. However, of course, the chapters -- the chapter ultimately prevailed in its position because the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 provided payments to individuals. I think, it may sound kind of strange to say that I think that that was -- I identify that as a significant role that I played as president when I basically failed. But I think, it's important to me because it just showed how principled the chapter was in its fidelity to its membership. And it's sense that, even if you're going to lose, you need to stand up for what is right. I think that is part of the essence of the Seattle chapter. Speaking with a loud... speaking with a reason but a clear voice.

As for being a female president, I think it's really noteworthy that Shigeko Uno was the first female president in 1948. This was thirty-four years before I was president. That's just extraordinary and I think that the chapter should get some credit for that. That was two years before I was born. Cherry Kinoshita was the second female president in 1977. I never served under Cherry as president because 1977 was the year that I finished law school in California. However, I got to know Cherry when I moved to Seattle in 1978 and became involved. And she was always active during the time that I was in Seattle. The Seattle chapter became the founding member of the Community Committee on Redress Reparations and Cherry was the co-chair of that committee. In informal ways, through intermittent contacts and observation, she influenced my development as a young leader in understanding the value of one on one personal communications and the importance of strategic approaches in the redress movement. I never think about redress without recalling Cherry's key role, her many contributions, and her persistence. She was just an exceptional role model, and I think I and the chapter owe a great debt of gratitude to her.

EK: Was there -- I was just wondering, in particular, was there anything that you want to share about your own experiences during your presidency, as a woman, and there's anything started that you wanted to mention?

KB: I think that, in terms of the chapter itself, I always felt supported. I felt it was... it was an extraordinarily good environment for me to be developing as a leader in which, and for me to... as I stated, with the Japanese Canadian project, I was just told, "Just go to it, we've got your back." And I felt that way about being chapter president as well. If you're interested, I will tell an anecdote about Cherry that I think says something about the chapter. Spark Matsunaga was in Seattle, I think in 1982, the year I was president. And my recollection, he was there because the chapter had organized this wonderful tribute to Asian and Pacific American volunteers. It was a way of really uplifting, in the greater Seattle area, the incredible work that was being done by APA organizations and volunteers. I think it was also significant that this wasn't a Nikkei tribute and appreciation, it was an APA event. And they invited Spark Matsunaga to be the keynote speaker. And, I think it was probably Cherry who decided, well, then we should have a luncheon with Spark Matsunaga to talk about redress because, of course, this would have been... he was in the U.S. senate. It was an opportunity to talk about individual redress payments. And these were relatively early days, of course, this was really... it was on the heels of the CWRIC hearing in September of 1981. And so we had a luncheon at Bush Garden, kind of, they have these, large sort, of tatami rooms with long tables. And before the luncheon, Cherry pulled me aside and said, "Kathryn, I want you to feel free to speak up in this meeting and tell Spark Matsunaga what you think. Because we, as Nisei, can talk about redress and what we want, but we have... we are in a position to personally gain as beneficiaries of these individual redress payments. Whereas you present a viewpoint as a Sansei and as a lawyer as to why it is so important that, in fact, the U.S. government acknowledge the wrongdoing and provide compensation to those who suffered from the unjust actions of the government." And I thought it was really extraordinary that she did that. Because I think otherwise I would have gone to the meeting, even though I was president, and felt, this is the Niseis' issue. This is something they've worked on for decades, that they're passionate about, they are the story. And they could speak in a way that is so articulate about redress beyond what I could do. And I thought this was a really good... illustrates the Seattle chapter's approach, which is let's develop our leaders, let's look at how our next-gen, our younger generation, has something to say that we ourselves might not or would not say. So I... and it says a lot about Cherry Kinoshita, I think, as a mentor, as a strategist. And so, in terms of how I became president, is because of people like Cherry who kind of saw the future, and said, okay, let's... how are we going to -- how are we going to realize the future that we have in mind for this Seattle chapter? Is that helpful?

EK: Absolutely. More than helpful.

<End Segment 7> - Copyright © 2022 Seattle Chapter JACL. All Rights Reserved.