Celebrating Michi Weglyn
November 26, 2008
Author, researcher, costume designer, poet, painter and civil rights activist Michi Nishiura Weglyn died on April 25, 1999, at age 72, but her life continues to serve as an inspiration. As we approach the tenth anniversary of her passing, major commemorations are being planned around the country and a new video is coming out that will focus on her life and accomplishments.
For those who do not know Michi’s life story, I described it in an essay last March (asianweek.com/2008/03/17/2009-the-year-of-michi-weglyn ). Her 1976 book Years of Infamy: The Untold Story of America’s Concentration Camps is widely credited with providing the documentary underpinnings of the Japanese American redress movement, which culminated in a presidential apology and redress payment of $20,000 to all survivors in 1988.
Celebration activities kick off in southern California the week of Jan. 26, when events devoted to Michi will be held Jan. 28 at UCLA, Jan. 29 at Cal Poly Pomona and Jan. 31 at the Japanese American National Museum. Cal Poly Pomona is the home of the Michi and Walter Weglyn Endowed Chair in Multicultural Studies, which is sponsoring several activities throughout the year and which serves as an organizing center for those who want to make donations to promote Michi’s life projects and legacy.
Another Weglyn-related event is set for Feb. 19 at Iowa State University, and dates are being finalized in February for events at Indiana University and the University of Maryland.
Rafu Shimpo columnist Sharon Yamato and writer Nancy Kapitanoff are the co-producers and directors of a new short documentary on the life and work of Michi Weglyn, which will be completed in January. It will be available for showings on campuses and in other venues. More information is available at syamato@ca.rr.com.
“Hers is an American success story, not just an Asian Pacific American success story,” said Sharon Yamato, in describing why she has decided to devote her film to Michi’s life. “Before Michi, most people believed that there was a military necessity for interning Japanese Americans. Through years of research and writing, Michi proved that was false. More than any other single individual, she paved the way for the redress movement and showed us that the efforts of one visionary and dedicated person can indeed make a difference.”
As a modest and community-minded person, Michi would have been the first to remind us that her personal efforts would not have resulted in redress without the support and dedicated efforts of thousands of others, both within and outside the APA community. Nevertheless, it is important that we declare 2009 the “Year of Michi Weglyn” in our campus, professional and membership-based groups so that we can celebrate one extraordinary American while reaffirming our support for human rights and the need for continued collective vigilance and action to preserve our constitutional form of government.
Here are ways you can participate in this year-long community event:
- Buy copies of Years of Infamy for your town and school libraries. janmstore.com/151658.html
- Sponsor a house party where you and your friends read Years of Infamy, and get together to discuss its current relevance.
- Integrate discussion about Michi and Years of Infamy into your K-12 and college curricula.
- Organize an event on your campus or in your academic, church or community group that invites scholars and activists to discuss Years of Infamy and Michi’s contributions.
- Support the Michi and Walter Weglyn Endowed Chair in Multicultural Studies at Cal Poly Pomona.
- Contact the Japanese American National Museum (janm.org/collections/) and your local Asian American studies department for more details about Michi’s life and legacy.
Phil Tajitsu Nash serves as Michi Weglyn’s literary executor. Please contact him at phash[at]umd.edu to share your ideas for celebrating Michi and to learn about videos, speakers and other resources.
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