Frank Seishi Chuman was a Japanese American author, civil rights activist, and community leader. He was born on March 18, 1921, in Los Angeles, California, and died on July 31, 2017.
Chuman grew up in a Japanese American community in Los Angeles, and attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he received a degree in political science. After the outbreak of World War II, Chuman and his family were among the approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to internment camps. Chuman was sent to the Heart Mountain camp in Wyoming, where he became involved in the camp's educational and cultural programs. He also helped to organize a branch of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) at the camp, and served as its president.
After the war, Chuman returned to Los Angeles and became involved in civil rights activism. He joined the JACL and worked to promote the organization's mission of advocating for the rights of Japanese Americans. He also became involved in the movement for racial justice more broadly, participating in protests and demonstrations against discrimination and segregation.
Chuman was a prolific writer, and authored several books on Japanese American history and civil rights. His first book, "The Bamboo People: The Law and Japanese Americans," was published in 1976 and focused on the legal struggles of Japanese Americans during and after World War II. He also wrote "The Silent Enemy: Japanese American Domestic Workers in World War II America" and "The Making of a 'Nisei': An Autobiography."
In addition to his activism and writing, Chuman was also a leader in the Japanese American community in Los Angeles. He was a member of the board of directors of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, and served as president of the Los Angeles chapter of the JACL.
Chuman's contributions to civil rights and the Japanese American community were recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 1998, he was awarded the UCLA Medal, the university's highest honor, in recognition of his achievements and contributions to society. In 2010, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, by the Japanese government in recognition of his efforts to promote mutual understanding and cultural exchange between Japan and the United States.
Chuman's life and work serve as an inspiration to future generations, and his commitment to promoting justice and equality continues to have a lasting impact on the Japanese American community and beyond.