The Cultural Vignettes are a special presentation of the 15th Annual Day of Remembrance illustrating our 1996 theme of "Communities United: Fighting for Justice." These Vignettes are unique partnerships between artists and community advocates, highlighting four major issues challenging the Japanese American and Asian Pacific Islander (API) communities today. They bring together people of various ages and ethnicities who are actively involved in the issues being presented.
For many, the campaign for Japanese American Redress did not end in 1989, and NCRR is continuing to work on behalf of those who were denied. We chose to highlight one of the most dramatically compelling categories that have been denied reparations, the controversial and long-hidden Prisoner Exchange program. In this first vignette, the stories of NCRR's Reiko Nimura who was 13 years old during WWII, and the tragedy which befell Brian N.'s family will be dramatized. Both families were coerced into leaving their country, sailing on the Gripsholm to India where they were exchanged for White Americans who were held prisoners in Asia.
In the second Vignette, the voices of immigrant workers who are currently involved in campaigns for decent wages, safe working conditions and the American right to join a union are visually highlighted to the music of "Profits Enslave the World" written by Pilipino labor hero, Philip Vera Cruz.* The piece will close with six of the recently liberated El Monte Thai garment workers performing a Thai dance- a first.
Asians have historically seen receiving welfare as shameful. Our third vignette dramatizes the actual story of a first generation Asian, a U.S. citizen who worked 15 years in aerospace. He paid $10,000 a year in taxes and supported a stroke-ridden mother and mentally incapacitated brother, both too ill to pass the U.S. citizenship tests. With the aerospace industry lay-offs, he was forced to seek public assistance for the first time. The skit reminds us that welfare is a right to survival, a safety net for those in need.
Affirmative Action may become one of the defining issues in the 1996 elections. API students have been a visible and vocal force in the efforts to defend Affirmative Action, and are working with other advocates to reframe the debate in positive ways that do not pit Asians against women and other communities of color. This final vignette will be an education "Rap" complete with API Rappers, D.J. and Break Dancers.
The Cultural Vignettes will open with a multicultural drumming performance coordinated by Johnny Mori of the band Hiroshima on Taiko Drum, with performances by Korean, Pilipino and Thai drumming groups. The drummers will also perform to provide a connecting "bridge" between the Vignettes.
* Philip Vera Cruz was a first generation, "manong', who came to the USA with the first wave of Pilipino immigrants. He spent over 50 years laboring in the fields and for farmworker's rights. He was part of the strike of Filipino farmworkers in Coachella in 1965 which helped to launch the United Farm Workers union. He served as the Vice President of the union. He passed away on June 10, 1994. |
| |
Vignette Coordinators:
Chancee Martorell & Kathy Nishimoto Masaoka
Slideshow:
John Delloro, Mike Murashige, Kathy Nishimoto Masaoka
Slide Production: Kaz Ota & Judy Nishimoto
Slides:
John Delloro, Mike Murashige, Local 11, Korean Immigrant Workers Advocates
Song:
Bong Vergara ("Profits Enslave the World" by Philip Vera Cruz)
Guitar:
Vernon Villanueva
Dancers:
Wila Chunbomrung, Instructor and El Monte Thai Workers |
| |
Writers:
Sue Cho, Betty Song with Jaenam Ko
Actors:
Ping Wu (Paper Angels), Molina Lee
Drummers:
Korean American Cultural Troupe: HA NU RI with Jaenam Ko |
| |
D.J.:
D.J. Dwenz, Madd Haus Entertainment, Funkollective
Rapper:
Randall Park, Funkollective
Crew:
Goof Troop Breakers
Back-Up Rappers: R-RAP Crew
(Ayako, John D., Miya, Kathy, Sue, Eric, Betty) |