Man From The ‘Greatest Generation’ Rejects Racism

In all of his colorful 101 years, not much scared Bob Fletcher from doing what he felt was right. He also didn’t mind hard work or little sleep. He refused to be shamed for having friendships with Japanese-Americans in the ‘40s. That was especially gutsy since after Pearl Harbor racism towards Asians was no joke – upwards of 120,000 Japanese were behind barbed wire in internment camps on the West Coast, by order of the president. Farmer Al Tsukamoto was one of many Japanese-American farmers who had Fletcher on their side. Just before he was imprisoned in a camp, Al asked Bob to look after his grape farm in exchange for keeping the profits. Fletcher agreed, quit his job, and spent the next 3 years working from dawn-to-dusk.  

  He didn’t complain or regret anything. He didn’t really do it for the money either. When Al was freed, Fletcher handed back half the profits and the keys to the farm that had been lovingly been looked after. He kept helping the families too, like buying parts for them at a hardware store when he knew anyone Japanese would be denied service. Just before his death, he humbly replied to praise by saying, “I don’t know about courage … [But] it took a devil of a lot of work.” Fletcher’s story gives us the much-needed pep in our step as we reflect on the past and search for positivity in the coming new year. His respect for the dignity and livelihood of his friends (and his defiance of the haters) is a flavor of American courage and inclusion that we won’t soon forget. You down with history? Joan Mulholland is another badass human who did a lot for civil rights in the 1960s.