POSTCARDS FROM MALCOLM X

An introduction to should-be-better-known Japanese American Yuri Kochiyama (1921-2014) and her lifelong activism.

Before Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941, “racism had never been a part of [Kochiyama’s] all-American life.” The U.S. government’s repressive actions against Americans of Japanese descent during World War II, however, precipitated her father’s death at 56 and led to her family’s imprisonment—experiences that awakened her activism. She married U.S. Army veteran Bill Kochiyama, and the couple moved to New York City, settling in Harlem in 1960. Yuri “noticed injustice all around her” and welcomed all into their home, “from neighbors to notables.” One of those guests was Malcolm X, whom Kochiyama met, admired, and immediately challenged, sparking a mostly epistolary relationship—until Malcolm was shot 21 times at an event Yuri attended; he died with his head in her lap. Inspired by her friend and mentor, Kochiyama’s tireless activism would continue for almost 50 more years. Focusing so much of Kochiyama’s biography through her relationship with Malcolm ultimately reads like a misstep. While pivotal, that emphasis seemingly shrinks the nonagenarian’s achievements to a 16-month relationship. More impressive are Brown’s inviting spreads, which feature exceptionally detailed scenes of people caught in motion—a Harlem sidewalk scene showcasing young children with attitude is particularly memorable.

A striking biography of a remarkable activist that could have been improved by placing her fully in the narrative spotlight.