Day 1. Yuri Kochiyama A Life of Justice and Solidarity.
We begin this month of celebration and reflection by honoring Yuri Kochiyama (1921–2014), a fearless Japanese American activist whose life and work continue to inspire movements for racial justice, solidarity, and liberation.
Born Mary Yuriko Nakahara, Yuri’s activism was forged in the fires of personal and collective trauma. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, she and her family were forcibly incarcerated in U.S. internment camps — a devastating experience that would shape her lifelong fight against racism and oppression.
Yuri’s journey brought her to Harlem, where she developed deep relationships with Black activists and joined the Black liberation movement. Perhaps one of the most enduring images of Yuri’s life is the moment she cradled Malcolm X’s head after he was shot at the Audubon Ballroom in 1965 — not just a poignant image of grief, but a powerful symbol of cross-racial solidarity.
“Our ultimate objective in learning about anything is to try to create and develop a more just society.” — Yuri Kochiyama
📖 Stories of Courage and Connection
Yuri didn’t just show up for one cause — she believed in the interconnectedness of all struggles for justice. Over her lifetime, she worked for:
- Reparations for Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II (which led to the Civil Liberties Act of 1988)
- Freedom for political prisoners like Mumia Abu-Jamal and Assata Shakur
- Support for Puerto Rican independence
- Solidarity with Muslim and Arab Americans after 9/11
- Asian American empowerment through grassroots organizing and cultural activism
Yuri famously said:
“Remember that consciousness is power. Consciousness is education and knowledge. Consciousness is becoming aware. It is the perfect vehicle for change.”
📚 Resources to Learn More
Want to dive deeper into Yuri’s story and legacy? Start here:
📖 Passing It On: A Memoir, by Yuri Kochiyama — her powerful autobiography
🎥 Mountains That Take Wing: Angela Davis & Yuri Kochiyama (documentary)
🎙️ Not Just a Black Thing: An Asian American’s Bond with Malcolm X — Code Switch podcast episode
📝 Why Yuri’s Story Matters Today
Yuri’s fierce advocacy and unwavering solidarity across communities remind us that none of our struggles are isolated. In a time when anti-Asian violence, anti-Black racism, Indigenous rights struggles, and immigrant justice movements continue, her life calls us to:
- Build bridges, not walls
- Learn each other’s histories
- Center those most impacted
- Stay rooted in collective liberation
Reflection
Honor Yuri’s legacy by amplifying stories of Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders in your own communities. Share your reflections or learnings as you consider these questions.
💬 In what ways can we build bridges between communities and cultures?
💬 How can aligning our efforts toward liberation for all support justice and understanding?
Join us tomorrow as we explore the impact of Asian Americans in space.
Asian and Pacific Islander heritage is not monolithic. It stretches across dozens of nations, languages, histories, and spiritual traditions. In honoring these figures, we also honor the beautiful plurality of cultures, family traditions, and lived experiences that make up API communities in America.
For more information and access to other events, sign our Guestbook!
Learn More: 📜 Densho Digital Archive is an extensive resource on Japanese American history, including Yuri’s oral histories.
Discover more from SepulvedaUU
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.