The Nisei, the “second generation”, were the ultimate groundwork of the JACL. They were frustrated with the social and economic discrimination placed upon them and especially the legal status of their parents as second-class. They believed they were able to change the injustice through the American democratic system. The Asian race, culture, and history contrasted greatly with the Caucasian majority of the United States. They were regarded as unassimilable and they were denied citizenship through naturalization. Only by birth did the Nisei were granted with citizenship.
The Nisei grew up in a time of hostile anti-Orientalism. Citizens in the frontier West regarded the Chinese immigrants, who helped build the railroad, equivalent to black slaves …show more content…
The organization had two goals in mind dealing with citizenship; to amend the Cable Act of 1922 and restore citizenship to veterans of World War I.
The Cable Act removed the citizenship status of women who married aliens or particularly Asian immigrants. Nisei women had the choice of “remaining single and a citizen, or marrying an alien and giving up United States citizenship for life.” This was a direct discrimination towards the Nisei women due to their sex and race. The organization lobbied and not until 1931 did Congress amend the Cable Act.
The second goal was to bring justice to the Japanese veterans who had served in the United States army in World War I. Recruiters told the young Issei that they would be able to gain American citizenship by joining the army. The law provided that any alien enlisted in the army would gain citizenship and hundreds of Japanese believing this enlisted. However, after the war the court ruled that this did not apply to the Japanese aliens and were unable for naturalization. The Issei veterans were able to become citizens by 1935 after congress passed the Nye-Lea …show more content…
The Nisei were the “young American-born, American-educated, American-oriented seeking to assert themselves,” while the Issei were “the community elders who were upset by their sons and daughters, and who feared the traditional Japanese virtues were being abandoned.” The Issei viewed them as irresponsible children having fun during a difficult time and viewed the JACL as a challenge to their authority. Not only was the cultural gap between them large but as well as the age gap. Their differences contrasted greatly among these two generations as there was no bridge between their language barriers. Very few Issei could speak fluent English and few Nisei could speak in their native tongue.
As war approached the JACL took a different route with new leadership of the organization. President Saburo Kido and Executive Secretary Mike Masaoka began to launch campaigns to increase membership, raise funds, and promote a positive image of a loyal American Nisei. Masaoka urged the JACL to separate themselves from the Issei as a way to defend themselves from the accusations of the split loyalties between the United States and Japan. This caused a rift and more tension with the
The Nisei grew up in a time of hostile anti-Orientalism. Citizens in the frontier West regarded the Chinese immigrants, who helped build the railroad, equivalent to black slaves …show more content…
The organization had two goals in mind dealing with citizenship; to amend the Cable Act of 1922 and restore citizenship to veterans of World War I.
The Cable Act removed the citizenship status of women who married aliens or particularly Asian immigrants. Nisei women had the choice of “remaining single and a citizen, or marrying an alien and giving up United States citizenship for life.” This was a direct discrimination towards the Nisei women due to their sex and race. The organization lobbied and not until 1931 did Congress amend the Cable Act.
The second goal was to bring justice to the Japanese veterans who had served in the United States army in World War I. Recruiters told the young Issei that they would be able to gain American citizenship by joining the army. The law provided that any alien enlisted in the army would gain citizenship and hundreds of Japanese believing this enlisted. However, after the war the court ruled that this did not apply to the Japanese aliens and were unable for naturalization. The Issei veterans were able to become citizens by 1935 after congress passed the Nye-Lea …show more content…
The Nisei were the “young American-born, American-educated, American-oriented seeking to assert themselves,” while the Issei were “the community elders who were upset by their sons and daughters, and who feared the traditional Japanese virtues were being abandoned.” The Issei viewed them as irresponsible children having fun during a difficult time and viewed the JACL as a challenge to their authority. Not only was the cultural gap between them large but as well as the age gap. Their differences contrasted greatly among these two generations as there was no bridge between their language barriers. Very few Issei could speak fluent English and few Nisei could speak in their native tongue.
As war approached the JACL took a different route with new leadership of the organization. President Saburo Kido and Executive Secretary Mike Masaoka began to launch campaigns to increase membership, raise funds, and promote a positive image of a loyal American Nisei. Masaoka urged the JACL to separate themselves from the Issei as a way to defend themselves from the accusations of the split loyalties between the United States and Japan. This caused a rift and more tension with the