Marii Hasegawa was a Japanese American activist, writer, and journalist who dedicated her life to advocating for civil rights and social justice. She was born on January 15, 1917, in Los Angeles, California, to immigrant parents from Japan. She passed away on December 5, 1989, in Los Angeles.
Hasegawa's parents ran a grocery store in Los Angeles, and she grew up working in the store. She attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where she earned a degree in history. During her time at UCLA, Hasegawa became involved in various social justice movements, including the Japanese American Citizens League and the National Lawyers Guild. She also wrote for the student newspaper and other publications.
After college, Hasegawa worked as a journalist and writer, focusing on civil rights issues and the experiences of Japanese Americans. She worked for several publications, including the Los Angeles Examiner, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the New York Times. Hasegawa's writing was known for its depth and its ability to capture the experiences of marginalized communities.
During World War II, Hasegawa was one of the many Japanese Americans who were forcibly relocated to internment camps. She was sent to the Heart Mountain camp in Wyoming, where she continued to work as a journalist and advocate for civil rights. Hasegawa documented the conditions in the camp and the experiences of those who were imprisoned there. She also wrote about the larger social and political issues that led to the internment of Japanese Americans.
After the war, Hasegawa continued to be an active voice for civil rights and social justice. She worked for the National Japanese American Citizens League and other organizations, advocating for the rights of Japanese Americans and other marginalized groups. Hasegawa also continued to write and speak about the experiences of Japanese Americans and the need for greater understanding and acceptance of diverse communities.
Hasegawa's work had a significant impact on the civil rights movement and on the representation of Japanese Americans in American society. She was an important voice for social justice and an advocate for the rights of all people. Today, she is remembered as a trailblazer and an inspiration to those who continue to fight for civil rights and social justice.