Honoring Oakland’s Fred Korematsu: Iconic Symbol of Resilience and Bravery

I still remember, 40 years ago, when I was shackled and put in prison...
Being an American citizen didn't mean a thing.

Today on January 30, we pay tribute to Oakland native, Castlemont High School graduate, and iconic symbol of resilience and integrity, Fred Korematsu. Perhaps now more than ever his brave stance against injustice, his conviction to do what is right no matter the consequence and his commitment to using his voice to help others can serve as powerful reminders to us all. We too can take a stand, we too can use our voices.

I invite you to join us on Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution in paying homage to Korematsu and learning more about his legacy.

Fred Korematsu was born in Oakland on January 30, 1919. His parents ran a floral nursery business, and his upbringing in Oakland shaped his worldview. His belief in the importance of standing up for your rights and the rights of others, regardless of race or background, was the foundation for his activism against racial prejudice and for the rights of Japanese Americans during World War II. 

At the start of the war, Korematsu was turned away from enlisting in the National Guard and the Coast Guard because of his race. He trained as a welder, working at the docks in Oakland, but was fired after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Fear and prejudice led to the federal Executive Order 9066, which forced more than 120,000 Japanese Americans out of their homes and neighborhoods and into remote relocation centers, or internment camps. They all lost their freedom and personal liberties, and most also lost their homes and their property. 

The then 23-year-old Korematsu resisted the order. He had plastic surgery on his eyes to alter his appearance, and assumed a false identity, choosing freedom over unjust imprisonment. 

In May, 1942, the FBI arrested Korematsu for failure to report to a relocation center. While waiting in jail, he had the American Civil Liberties Union represent him and challenge the constitutionality of the government’s order. Korematsu was tried in federal court and convicted of violating military orders issued under Executive Order 9066. He appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals, which upheld the lower court’s ruling. Korematsu then asked the Supreme Court to hear his case. In 1944, Korematsu's fight culminated in a divided Supreme Court ruling against him.

He spent years in a Utah internment camp with his family, followed by time living in Salt Lake City where he was dogged by racism. In 1976, President Gerald Ford overturned Executive Order 9066. Seven years later, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco vacated Korematsu's conviction. Korematsu was vindicated. He said in court, "I would like to see the government admit that they were wrong and do something about it so this will never happen again to any American citizen of any race, creed, or color."

More than four decades after Korematsu’s arrest, President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, apologizing for the internment of Japanese Americans and calling it a mistake based on racial prejudice. The Act gave reparations to survivors.

Fred Korematsu's dedication and determination established him as a national icon of civil rights and social justice. He advocated for justice with Rosa Parks. In 1998, President Bill Clinton gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom saying, “In the long history of our country's constant search for justice, some names of ordinary citizens stand for millions of souls… To that distinguished list, today we add the name of Fred Korematsu.”

After September 11, 2001, Korematsu spoke out against hatred and discrimination, saying what happened to Japanese Americans should not happen to people of Middle Eastern descent.

Here in OUSD, one of our elementary schools is named in his honor, Fred T. Korematsu Discovery Academy (KDA) in East Oakland. In 2022, KDA commissioned an artist to create a beautiful new mural of Korematsu and you can learn about the creation of this tribute to him in this video from KDOL TV.

Fred Korematsu's roots in Oakland and his education in OUSD are a source of great pride for the city. His story is a reminder that every individual, regardless of background, deserves to feel valued and empowered, and can make a profound difference in the lives of others. His most famous quote, which is on the KDA mural, is as relevant now as ever, “If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don't be afraid to speak up.”

I wish you a peaceful Fred Korematsu Day.

In community,

Dr. Denise Saddler
Superintendent