Aioki Film Response

In relation to decolonization and self-determination, Aioki signified the importance of mass action to fight for decolonization and self-determination. Like Gandhi, Aioki believed that decolonization starts from within the individual. A person of color must recognize that racism continues to exist in subtle forms and that it becomes internalized. Then, through this perspective, Aioki used mass action to fight for self-determination. Self-determination allows an individual to gain dignity, equality, and first class citizenship despite the continuous oppression from the political climate. The process to gain self-determination could be seen in Aioki’s experience as a child living in the US Japanese internment camps. He called himself as a “political prisoner” as people in the camps were known to be content and quiet with their situation. But the reality was that when Aioki relocated to Oakland, he found that Asians were struggling and there was a lack of support for them. This prompted him to begin the Asian American Political Alliance in 1963 at Cal to bridge Asian together and essentially gain their self-determination. He emphasized anti-imperialism and anti-racism. Then by using this grassroots tactic, he organized people to fight for a better education, ethnic studies, and bridge the Asian-American community with Cal’s initiatives.