Dedication of the Yuri Kochiyama Lounge
South Quad, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor


On February 3rd, 1997 The University of Michigan officially dedicated the first site, of any type, in honor of an Asian American. Choosing a name was a difficult task, but after consultation with various students, the final decision was to name the lounge after Yuri Kochiyama. Despite the large numbers of individuals and organizations yet to be recognized(including Grace Lee Boggs of Detroit), we felt that Yuri's life epitomized many of the themes that we hoped to promote.

While she is most famous for working with Malcolm X in the '60s(she even appears on the cover of Life magazine holding his head in her lap after he was critically wounded in the Audobon Ballroom in Harlem), she has been involved with several other movements. She has worked cross culturally with African-American, Latino, Native, and Caucasian organizations to effect social change. In addition to working with these groups she has not forsaken her Japanese American heritage and continues to be active in raising awareness for Asian American issues. Additionally, she was one of the thousands of Japanese Americans placed in internment camps during World War II. Her account of this event has been printed in various publications and anthologies.
Michigan Daily Article
Detroit Free Press Article
Biogrophy Listing in Detroit Free Press



Some of the lucky folks who got to meet Yuri on the day before the actual dedication. A similar picture appeared in The Detroit Free Press. Note the plaque in the background.


The crowd during the dedication ceremony


Wilfred Little, brother of the late Malcolm X

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