Lillian Nakano

from East Wind Magazine (1982)

Subheadings were added to the original publication to make this more readable on the web.

My husband and I joined the Little Tokyo People's Rights Organization (LTPRO) quite by chance. Our son came home from college one summer and got us involved in the redevelopment/housing struggle in Little Tokyo. Though we were openly supportive, it took some urging on his part to pry us from our apathy and cynicism. The transition from practically a lifetime of non-involvement, non-confrontational lifestyle, coupled with a deep sense of inadequacy and apathy developed over the years since the camps, was highly disconcerting to me. I felt some ambivalence in the initial phase of my involvement. There I was, an average, quiet 49-year-old Sansei woman, never before involved in any community work, much less from a political perspective, amidst all the young activists in the community. This struck me as being so incongruous.

Through my involvement, I came to know "J-Town" beyond its glitter of touristy shops and restaurants. As I walked by the old shops and hotels where our Issei had lived and toiled decades ago, I felt proud to be part of this community. It seemed right to join LTPRO, an organization which was fighting so hard to preserve that heritage.

Nakano 2 (Effects of the Past)