User:Lyssarella/ Frank Ogawa

Frank Ogawa was a notable figure in Japanese-American history. A survivor of the abominable World War II Japanese American internment, he persevered and became not only a respected City Council member in the city of Oakland, but a true hero for all people rising up against racism and discrimination. Following the release of, Frank and his wife Grace were forced to hurriedly sell or abandon all their belongings and relocate. The Japanese Americans were placed temporarily in horse stalls at local race tracks where they lived for six months before being transported by cargo train to spend 3 1/2 years in confinement at an internment camp in Utah.

The following is an excerpt from an address before the U.S. House of Representatives that the Hon. Anna G. Eshoo delivered on July 21, 1994:

"Ogawa returned to Oakland and succeeded in breaking a series of social and racial barriers. When local residents objected to him moving into an exclusive neighborhood, he responded by becoming an integral part of their community and joining a host of previously all-white organizations like the Rotary Club. Having served 5 years on the Oakland Parks Commission, Frank Ogawa was elected to the City Council in 1966, making him the first Japanese-American to hold a council seat in a major city in the continental United States. He held that position for 28 years until his passing -- the longest tenure in Oakland's history.

From his council seat, he earned a reputation as an even-handed leader who worked diligently to improve cultural awareness, enhance Oakland's economy, expand its port facilities, and establish relations between Oakland and other countries, especially Japan. In fact, Frank Ogawa was largely responsible for establishing a sister city relationship between Oakland and Fukuoka, Japan."