Henry Hajimu Fujii was a prominent civil rights leader and community activist in Seattle's Japanese American community during the mid-20th century. Born on May 1, 1909, in Seattle, Washington, Fujii was the son of Japanese immigrants. He grew up in a community that was experiencing significant discrimination and anti-Japanese sentiment, particularly in the wake of the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941.
In the 1930s and 1940s, Fujii became increasingly involved in community organizing and activism. He worked with the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) to push for equal rights and protection for Japanese Americans in the face of increasing hostility from the US government. When the Japanese American internment camps were established during World War II, Fujii was among the many Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to live in the camps. He was sent to the Minidoka War Relocation Center in Idaho, where he lived with his wife and two children.
Despite the difficulties of life in the internment camp, Fujii remained active in community organizing and civil rights work. He served on the camp's administrative council and helped to establish a self-governing system for the Japanese American internees. He also worked to improve living conditions in the camp and to provide educational and cultural opportunities for the internees.
After the war, Fujii returned to Seattle and resumed his work as a community activist. He continued to be involved with the JACL and other organizations that were working to promote civil rights and social justice for Japanese Americans. In the 1950s and 1960s, he played a key role in the effort to gain redress for Japanese Americans who had been interned during World War II.
Fujii was also an active member of the Japanese American community in Seattle. He helped to establish the Japanese Language School, which provided language and cultural education to Japanese American children. He also worked to preserve the history and heritage of the Japanese American community, serving as a founding member of the Seattle Chapter of the Japanese American National Museum.
Fujii's work as a civil rights leader and community activist earned him many honors and awards. He was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Japan's highest honor for non-Japanese citizens, in recognition of his contributions to Japanese American society. He was also awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award and the University of Washington's Distinguished Community Service Award.
Henry Hajimu Fujii passed away on January 15, 1988, at the age of 78. His legacy as a champion of civil rights and social justice continues to inspire activists and community leaders today.