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Today in 2024, JACL is working to preserve the history of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans however, 80 years ago they had a more difficult mission on hand. JACL, otherwise known as the Japanese American Citizens League, was founded to fight for equal rights for Japanese Americans. They put in a tremendous amount of effort in combating the crimes against Japanese Americans during WWII and continue to fight the inequalities towards Asian American citizens today. In Jeanne Wakatsuki’s memoir, Farewell to Manzanar, and other sources the creation of this organization and its impacts have been heavily discussed.

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Even before JACL was officially created several organizations existed to fight for the rights of the Issei and the Nisei. The Issei were Japanese immigrants that were denied rights even though they had become permanent residents. The Nisei were the children of the Issei who had been born into citizenship yet, like the Issei were still being denied rights even though they were natural born citizens. One example of this was the Cable Act. Densho Encyclopedia authors describes this act as an act that “stripped women of their citizenship if they married men ineligible for citizenship, or in other words if they married immigrants from Asia.” These organizations were few and far between and would merge into JACL, becoming the first ten chapter locations. When the organization was first established many were “fearing that [the inclusion of the word Japanese] would only raise doubts about the organization's loyalties,” (Japanese American Citizens League). This caused several names to be used for this organization during the early years including The American Loyalty League. A name such as the American Loyalty League may seem a bit silly or out of place today, but back when JACL was created in 1929 the organization faced discrimination and hatred simply for the fact that it was an East-Asian organization. Throughout the years JACL would continue to receive such hate, especially during WW 2, but its efforts remained valiant and strong.

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Portrait of the 1940 JACL chairmen                                             “Primary Source - En-Denshopd-I248-00002-1.” Portrait of 1940 JACL Convention Chairmen. The 6t... (En-Denshopd-I248-00002-1) | Primary Sources | Densho Encyclopedia, encyclopedia.densho.org/sources/en-denshopd-i248-00002-1/. Accessed 12 Aug. 2024.

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The Japanese American Citizens League focused on maintaining trust in the Nisei during the war. During World War II Nisei, second-generation Japanese Americans, were extremely hated because Americans thought them to be spies for Japan. In the article Japanese Americans Citizens League the author says, “Both before and after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, the JACL collaborated with the U.S. government, FBI,  and the Office of Naval Intelligence in an attempt to promote Nisei as loyal, patriotic citizens while at the same time helping to identify potentially disloyal Issei ” This helped Nisei tremendously, people could see Nisei as loyal and patriotic (Lyon). This newfound trust in Nisei helped them gain their rightful citizenship. This technique also identified Issei, Immigrants from Japan to America, who secretly spied on America for Japan. Japanese Americans were now allowed in the United States military, society realized that Nisei were not spying for Japan, and were American citizens much like themselves. The JACL often partnered with the U.S. government to promote trustworthy Nisei. The JACL thought that the best way to advocate that Nisei were patriotic was to let them sign up for the U.S. military. In the book Farewell To Manzanar, Jeanne Wakatsuki says “Two weeks before the December Riot, JACL leaders met in Salt Lake City and passed a resolution pledging Nisei to volunteer out of the camps for military service.”  This tactic allowed Nisei to fill out a form asking if they were willing to serve in the U.S. military. If they answered yes they would be in the draft and could serve.  This strategy succeeded, Americans no longer saw Nisei as threats and instead saw them as patriotic and loyal citizens. This provided visible proof that 110,000 Japanese Americans could be trusted.  During World War II second-generation Japanese Americans were not trusted or seen as loyal to the Americans. The Nisei were patriotic and could be trusted, most of them were on America’s side of the war. The JACL used several tactics and strategies to prove the Nisei’s loyalty, they enlisted Nisei in the military and sided with the government, FBI, and the Office of Naval Intelligence. The Japanese American Citizens League’s main goal during the war was to prove Nisei’s loyalty to America and keep Nisei safe.

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After the war, JACL began fighting for equal rights for Japanese Americans and other minorities in America. They started joining similar organizations to demand equal rights for other minorities in America. JACL started combating alien land laws to help immigrants be able to own land. They were able to get the attention of the federal government to redress the crimes of wartime that happened within the Japanese American internment camps. Once they got the government involved, the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 was passed; an apology to Japanese Americans. This included a formal apology and financial repercussions. In an article called The Japanese American Citizens League, the author says, “Lobbied to end alien land laws…Immigration and Nationality Act…ending the ban on immigration from Japan…in support of ending segregation in school…ending restrictions against interracial marriage” (Lyon). Within the quote are some of the major accomplishments that have been completed by JACL. Post wartime, it was apparent that some changes needed to be made for the Japanese American community. The sheer abundance of changes made and laws passed goes to show how many issues needed to be addressed. Today, JACL has shifted their goal to protect the rights of all Americans however they still have a heavy focus on the Japanese American community. Some people are still affected by the accusations of disloyalty towards them during the war, in the same article it is stated that, “JACL leadership have taken steps to repair the divisions created during the war years over issues of who could or who could not be considered a ‘loyal’ American” (Lyon). JACL focuses on still helping heal the damage inflicted upon the Japanese Americans during WWII. There is still “division” that was created during the war that has carried over onto younger generations today. One of JACL’s main focuses is to help mend these divisions and bring different American communities to one.

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JACL has done so much for the Japanese American community by being the voice for so many people who faced unequal rights and unfair laws. By providing help and support after the internment camps all the way to removing alien land laws, JACL has opened new doors and provided new opportunities to not only Japanese Americans but other communities in the United States as well.