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Texas' "Jap" Roads May Become a Relic of the PastRep. Martha Wong introduces House Bill 1536 that would prohibit use of derogatory names or designations for public property
March 18, 2005 - A longstanding injustice is about to be corrected in the state of Texas — that’s if Rep. Martha Wong, R-District 134, has anything to say about it. Wong has introduced House Bill 1536, legislation that would help eliminate all “Jap” roads in the state of Texas and would prohibit the use of all derogatory names and designations on public property. “I think that when [these ‘Jap’ roads] were named, people didn’t think it was derogatory. But times have changed,” said Wong. “I thought that this bill would be a good way to end this business.” Wong recently attended several meetings in Orange County, one of three Texas Counties that has had to deal with the issue of renaming roads that contain the derogatory word “Jap.” Neighboring Jefferson County and Fort Bend County recently renamed their “Jap” roads and Orange County is currently in the process of selecting a new name. People need to realize that “the word [‘Jap’] does hurt people,” said Wong, whose district is in Houston, Texas. “It’s typical of Asian Americans to grin and bear it, but we need to let people know. I think getting the counties to change [the roads] is good.” HR 1536 prohibits the use of derogatory names or designations for public property, including buildings, streets, and parks. In addition to the word “Jap,” the bill prohibits derogatory words for all racial or ethnic groups. The bill states in part: “In naming or giving a designation to public property, a governmental entity may not use a name or designation that is derogatory to a racial or ethnic group.” The bill requires a two-thirds majority vote to take effect immediately. If the votes in favor are less than two-thirds, but still passes, the bill would take effect Sept. 1 Sandra Tanamachi has spent over a decade battling for change in the Texas Counties where “Jap” roads exist. Although there has been a lot of hardship and disappointment over the years, she is elated with Rep. Wong’s bill and is hopeful that change will come to the state of Texas. “I feel this bill is important so that all ethnic groups living in our great state of Texas will never have to experience the humiliation and degradation that ‘Jap’ Road caused so many Americans of Japanese ancestry,” said Tanamachi, a third grade school teacher in Texas. Tanamachi plans to attend an upcoming House Committee on Government Reform hearing on HB 1536 and has been asked by Rep. Wong to speak in support of the bill. “I plan to share my experiences living in Jefferson County when the road existed,” she said. “I also plan to tell our Texas legislators about my three Texan uncles who were part of the 442nd RCT, and how my uncle, Saburo Tanamachi, was killed while helping with the rescue of the Lost Battalion.” Wong has high hopes for the bill and has already received the support of both Democrats and Republicans and in addition to the AA community, Blacks, Hispanics, and Whites have indicated their support of HR 1536. “I think we have representation from across the state, from liberals and conservatives,” she said. Once the bill gains approval in the House, Wong plans to take the bill to the Texas State Senate. “ … the passage of HB 1536 will show the rest of our country that Texans honor and respect people of all ethnic backgrounds,” said Tanamachi.
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