Posts Tagged Yuri Kochiyama

“Tomorrow’s world is yours to build.”

Japanese-American activist Yuri Kochiyama died yesterday at age 93.

Kochiyama’s long life of intersectional social justice activism began when her family was interned during World War II. After the war, she and husband became involved in the civil rights movement while living among Black and Puerto Rican neighbors in New York City. She befriended Malcolm X and was famously by his side when he was killed. FBI files described Kochiyama as a “ring leader” of Black nationalists and a “Red Chinese agent,” so she was clearly doing something right. In the ’80s, she helped win reparations and an official apology for Japanese-American internees. 

Japanese-American activist Yuri Kochiyama died yesterday at age 93.

Kochiyama’s long life of intersectional social justice activism began when her family was interned during World War II. After the war, she and husband became involved ...