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As discussions intensify regarding American citizenship as a birthright, I am reminded never to take U.S. citizenship for granted – particularly as an American of Japanese descent. For a very long time, individuals of Asian descent faced almost insurmountable barriers to becoming American citizens – either through naturalization or birth.
The Naturalization Act of 1790 afforded U.S. citizenship only to immigrants who were “free white persons.” In 1870, naturalization laws were changed to include persons of African nativity and descent. However, individuals from Asia were not allowed to become naturalized American citizens until the 1943 passage of the Magnuson Act.
And while the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution passed in 1868 ostensibly conferred citizenship to all individuals born in the United States, for Asian residents, this birthright to citizenship had to be determined by the Supreme Court.
In 1894, Wong Kim Ark, an individual born in the United States of non-citizen Chinese parents, was denied re-entry into this country after a trip to China. He was detained at the Port of San Francisco on the basis that he was not a bona fide American citizen. He successfully sued for re-entry at the federal district court level; however, the United States government took the case to the Supreme Court, which eventually determined that Mr. Ark was a citizen by virtue of his birth in the United States – even though his parents were not and could not become citizens (due to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882).
Sadly, the specter of birthright citizenship restrictions has recently reappeared. This is a shame. For all the pain and suffering brought about by racist immigration policy to those of us with Asian roots, it appears that our Hispanic brothers and sisters are now being similarly targeted. Has history taught us nothing? Are we doomed to repeat our failings? This country was founded on the principle that we are all equal under the law. We still struggle to get this right at times, but we’ve made significant strides in civil rights over time. A return to restricted birthright citizenship will set us back, all of us — Hispanics, Asians, all of us with immigrant roots — more than 100 years.
Many, many people – including myself – owe Wong Kim Ark a debt of gratitude for his efforts over a century ago to fight for his American citizenship. Let’s hope his efforts were not in vain.
- Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director
In response to a request from the White House AAPI Initiative, APCA has offered some suggestions to the US Department of Health and Human Services for improved health outcomes among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. These suggestions relate to creating a better system of care for individuals chronically infected with hepatitis B (similar to the current Ryan White CARE Act for individuals infected with HIV), developing a national initiative for AAPI health promotion work, ensuring translation of federal health information into Asian languages, and supporting more research into culturally proficient health interventions among AAPIs. The document is available on the “Publications” page of our website. -Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director
February 7th was the 11th anniversary of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. HIV/AIDS has had a disproportionate impact on the Black community in this country.
Here’s quote from the CDC website:
“By race/ethnicity, African Americans face the most severe burden of HIV in the United States. At the end of 2007, blacks accounted for almost half (46%) of people living with a diagnosis of HIV infection in the 37 states and 5 US-dependent areas with long-term, confidential, name-based HIV reporting.”
State, local and national organizations have created and implemented activities focused on motivating African Americans to get tested and learn their HIV status, as well as educating communities about the importance of prevention. No doubt these efforts have saved lives.
It would seem high time that the Asian American communities across the nation organize a similar day related to hepatitis B. Asian Americans constitute more than 50% of all individuals chronically infected with hepatitis B, yet there is little national attention to this problem. I have contacted a colleague of mine with the CDC Viral Hepatitis Division about the possibility of replicating a national HBV recognition day in the Asian American community. I will keep you posted as to his response. However, it should be said that regardless of the CDC interest in this initiative, Asian American communities throughout the country should organize and act.
- Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director
For those of us who have been advocating for the health and well being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, there’s an interesting opportunity to guide the federal government’s efforts in this arena. The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is coordinating an effort to provide comment on government plans to enhance services for AAPIs.
Each major government department has or is developing a plan to improve services to AAPIs. These draft plans are available on-line. The public has 30 days to provide comment once the initial draft plan is completed. Our area of interest is the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes key agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Office of Minority Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the National Institutes of Health. With concerted and strategic effort, these agencies can have a sizable impact on the health and well being of populations such as AAPIs suffering from health disparities such as hepatitis B, tuberculosis, tobacco use and diabetes. Communities have an obligation to participate, however. This is an important opportunity.
Here’s a link to the plan.
The deadline for comment is February 17th. I’ll provide a draft of our suggested comments in an upcoming blog entry.
- Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director
A couple of weeks ago, APCA was asked by the American Jewish Committee to sign on to an eloquent “statement of civility.” We were happy to do so. The tragic assassination attempt and related deaths in our own backyard left many of us feeling helpless and hopeless. If anything good can come of this, it will be because we continue to look for the good in all people, and we maintain our faith in the strength of our institutions, including the democratic process. Here is a link to the civility statement.
-Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director
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