Identity
Conversation with Co-worker:
Ryan: yo
me: sup
Ryan: are you the JACL civil rights caucus chair for the Pacific Southwest District?
me: yep, what's up?
Ryan: what...how did you pull that one off?
me: rose through the ranks? betrayed my own people i guess. shoulda done oca. hahah. why? you need something from the JA's?
Ryan: haha, nah. i'm archiving the media hits and saw your name on that hate crimes article
me: hahaha, everyone thinks i'm half japanese
Ryan: i don't see it, poser
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Sometimes I wonder why I've been involved in the Japanese American Citizens League for so long. I joined this org over the one I "should have joined" (Org of Chinese Americans) because I believed that JACL has more cred at doing civil rights work; it doesn't matter to me what ethnic group the org was for...civil rights is civil rights.
2 years in, and I've been on the district board, and I still chair the civil rights caucus. While I see the JACL staff working hard on civil rights education, I am continually frustrated with how civil rights does not emanate from every part of this organization (board and chapter leaders, and membership). For an organization that is built of civil rights, you would think local chapters would have a stronger focus in that area. No, most are just around for the social and the cultural aspects. (How else can you maintain membership right?)
I'm questioning what to do when the one thing I'm there for, isn't the priority of the entire organization. I've tried many different approaches, but have met with little success. I brought my issues before the board this past weekend, and basically said that if there isn't some kind of change, or at least promise for change, I will leave the organization.
It was tough to bring up, but I've held it in for a while. As much as I know I'll be labeled a quitter, I just don't see what else I can possibly do. I've tried my best to enact change, but it takes much more than just hand full of people.
February 2nd, 2010 - 09:30
sigh. isn’t that the reason why most young progressives eventually leave the JACL? i used to think that it was my responsibility to reach out to young people and invite them to join JACL, invite more young progressives into the organization to actually make some progress/movement. but the truth is – we’re stuck. unless there’s movement from the ground up, its not going to go anywhere… depressing isn’t it
February 2nd, 2010 - 10:23
sooo depresssinnggggg
-S