Edison Uno facts for kids
Edison Tomimaro Uno (1929–1976) was a Japanese American who worked hard for civil rights. He is best known for speaking out against the laws that led to the mass detention of Japanese Americans during World War II. He also played a big part in starting the movement to get justice and apologies after the war. Many Japanese American activists saw Uno as the main person behind this movement.
Uno was born in 1929 in Los Angeles, California. His parents were George and Riki Uno. In 1942, when he was 13, Uno and his family were sent to the Granada War Relocation Center in Colorado. Soon after, he was moved to the Crystal City Internment Camp in Texas. He stayed there for the rest of World War II.
After the war, Uno graduated from Los Angeles State College. He earned a degree in political science. Later, he married Rosalind Kido. Her father, Saburo Kido, was a leader of the JACL during the war. Edison Uno later taught at San Francisco State University (SFSU). He also worked on many civil rights issues. Uno helped change grand jury rules. He also supported causes like the Wendy Yoshimura Defense Fund and getting rid of unfair laws. He worked with the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). He even helped with the Farewell to Manzanar TV show.
Edison Uno died from a heart attack in 1976.
SFSU, where Uno helped start one of the first Ethnic Studies programs, created an award in his name. It's called the Edison T. Uno Public Service Award. This award honors his important work at the school and in the community.
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Early Life and Internment
Edison Uno was born in Los Angeles in 1929. He grew up in a large family with 11 members. When he was a young man, his family was forced to leave their home during World War II. This happened after Executive Order 9066 was signed. Uno was first held at the Granada War Relocation Center in Colorado. Then, he was moved to the Crystal City internment camp.
He stayed at the internment camp even after the war ended. He was told he was the last American citizen to be released. He had been held for 1,647 days. After Edison returned to Los Angeles, he became the youngest chapter president of the JACL in 1950.
Edison Uno's father, George Kumemaro, was an immigrant from Japan. He came to America at age 19. Like many others, he sought new freedoms and chances. Kumemaro worked many different jobs to support his family. He worked at a nursery and on railroad construction in Nevada, California, and Utah.
Life During Wartime Detention
In 1942, Edison Uno's family faced more hardship. His father, George Kumemaro, was arrested by the FBI. He was then held in detention centers in North Dakota, New Mexico, and Texas.
At age 13, Edison Uno was also arrested. He was taken to the Santa Anita Assembly Center in the spring of 1942. He was later moved to the Granada Relocation Center. Then he went to the Crystal City Internment Camp. He reunited with his father there in the fall of 1942. Four of Edison's brothers joined the military. All of them returned safely from the war.
Edison's father was one of the last people to leave the Crystal City Internment Camp. Edison Uno himself was one of the last Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) to be released. He had been held in internment camps for four and a half years. His family lost almost everything they owned during the war. They had to start their lives over in 1945–1946.
Even though he returned to Los Angeles, this time in prison deeply affected his life. He never forgot it. He later wrote that "Time has healed some of the old wounds, but the scars are not visible, they are there in the deep recesses of that psychological corner of our minds."
Working for Justice (1960s-1970s)
After returning to Los Angeles, Edison Uno joined the JACL in 1948. In 1950, he became the youngest chapter president in the group's history. He had to leave law school because of poor health. At age 28, he had a stroke. Doctors told him he might not live to be 40. But his health problems did not stop him. Edison decided to spend his life fighting for "social justice."
He worked to make things fair for everyone. Edison Uno held workshops with the ACLU. He also gave speeches to various groups.
Edison Uno served on San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto's Crime Commission. He also worked on the city's Grand Jury. There, he was chairman of the reform committee.
Uno also taught ethnic studies at San Francisco State University in the 1960s.
Japanese American Redress Movement
Edison Uno worked hard for "redress." This means getting justice and apologies for past wrongs. His campaign for redress became very popular in 1988. This was twelve years after he passed away. The goal was to teach the public about what happened to Japanese Americans. It also aimed to get money back for their unfair imprisonment.
Awards and Recognition
In 1972, Uno received awards from the American Civil Liberties Union and the American Bar Association. These awards recognized his work as a national co-chairman. He led the effort to repeal Title 2 of the 1952 Internal Securities Act. This act allowed for retention camps.
Personal Life
Uno was married to Rosalind Uno. They had two daughters. He passed away on December 24, 1976. He died after a stroke at the University of California Hospital.
See also
