Yuji Ishioka
#asianpacificamericanheritagemonthProfiles
Yuji Ichioka (1936-2002) was a Japanese American historian and activist deeply committed to social justice and the struggle for civil rights. He was a leading figure in the development of Asian American studies, co-founding the Asian American Political Alliance (AAPA) at UC Berkeley, one of the first student organizations to advocate for Asian American rights and political representation. He was also a leader in the movement to secure redress and reparations for Japanese Americans who were interned during World War II, and he worked to promote unity and solidarity among Asian Americans and other people of color.
Ichioka was a prolific writer and researcher, publishing numerous articles and essays on topics related to Asian American history, culture, and politics. He co-edited the groundbreaking anthology, “Aiiieeeee! An Anthology of Asian-American Writers,” which helped to popularize Asian American literature and to bring attention to the experiences of Asian Americans in the United States.