20 Yuri Kochiyama Quotes about Resilience

By Norbert Juma

Master quote curator and editor on a mission to inspire

Published August 5, 2023

Yuri Kochiyama’s quotes tend to be inspiring and motivational.

This is the reason behind the popularity of such quotes.

People love to share Yuri Kochiyama quotes with their friends and family.

If you are looking for these quotes, simply browse through our quotes.

In addition to our quotes section, we have also talked about Yuri Kochiyama and various aspects associated with her life.

So, without any further ado, let’s dive in!

Who was Yuri Kochiyama?

Yuri Kochiyama was a renowned woman who is known for her exemplified resilience, dedication, and commitment to social justice.

She was born in 1921 in California.

Her life was full of struggles, as she faced numerous challenges being Japanese-American.

She faced unmatched hardships during World War II.

These bitter experiences turned her into a passionate advocate for civil rights.

The Early Years and Internment

Yuri Kochiyama spent her early life in a Japanese-American community.

Since her childhood, she faced prejudice and discrimination.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1942, the U.S. government forced thousands of Japanese-Americans into internment camps.

Yuri’s family was also among the other Japanese families who faced hardships during this period.

This served as a driving force for shaping Yuri into a civil rights activist.

A Life of Advocacy

Yuri’s activism started in the 1960s.

It was the time when she participated in the Civil Rights Movement.

She fought for the rights of African-Americans.

Yuri was a strong proponent of the black liberation vision of Malcolm X.

Asian-American Activism

Being a prominent figure, Yuri also emerged as an Asian-American activist.

She played a critical role in creating awareness about the issues faced by Asian communities living in the U.S.

She protested against the war launched in the Vietnam War and pleaded for the rights of war prisoners who were Asian-American.

Yuri also fought against the imprisonment of political activists.

Her activism wasn’t limited to such an extent, as she also fought for the issues of immigrants, including:

Education
Community empowerment
Immigration

Legacy and Impact

Yuri Kochiyama left an indelible impact on American society.

Her determination allowed subsequent activists to raise their voices for civil rights.

Even after her death in 2014, she is still remembered for her dedication to equality, justice, and empowerment.

Her legacy serves as an inspiration for the prevailing groups of human rights activists.

The Yuri Kochiyama Cultural Center was established to honor her legacy and promote social equality.

Top 4 Yuri Kochiyama Quotes

Here are the top Yuri Kochiyama quotes that you would love to read and share.

1. “We are all part of one another.” — Yuri Kochiyama

2. “The most important thing today is to stop US wars.” — Yuri Kochiyama

3. “Remember that consciousness is power. Tomorrow’s world is yours to build.” — Yuri Kochiyama

4. “The movement is contagious, and the people in it are the ones who pass on the spirit.” — Yuri Kochiyama

Yuri Kochiyama Quotes About Discrimination

Check out the compilation of inspirational quotes shedding light on the pervasive issue of discrimination.”

5. “When you’re in a black group, you have to keep in mind you’re not black. You just have to be sensitive.” — Yuri Kochiyama

6. “Projects meant living with blacks and Puerto Ricans, but that’s what we wanted. Living in the projects, we’ve met so many wonderful, wonderful people.” — Yuri Kochiyama

7. “My priority would be to fight against polarization. Because this whole society is so polarized. I think there are so many issues that all people of color should come together on, and there are forces in this country who want this polarization to take place.” — Yuri Kochiyama

8. “Remembering what happened, not to my happened to my father, but to Japanese as a whole, I see similar things that happened to other ethnicities. Years later, I would see that this kind of thing happened to others all along, all the time, especially to blacks.” — Yuri Kochiyama

She has deep observation as she met a lot of people in her life. She summed up her opinions in the following quotes related to people.

9. “Don’t become too narrow. Live fully. Meet all kinds of people. You’ll learn something from everyone. Follow what you feel in your heart.” — Yuri Kochiyama

10. “The United States of America is a nation where people are not united because of those three glaring frailties: racism, injustices, and inequities.” — Yuri Kochiyama

11. “People have a right to violence, to rebel, to fight back. And given what the United States Government and Western powers have done to the third world, I feel that these countries should fight back.” — Yuri Kochiyama

12. “Political philosophy is not just something you obtain; it’s something you develop through your lifetime. And of course, as different events happen to you and different people you meet and writings that you read, your philosophy is going to change.” — Yuri Kochiyama

Yuri Kochiyama Quotes for Bringing Out a Change

Sense the power of activism and transformation with Yuri Kochiyama’s inspiring quotes, empowering change and unleashing the spirit of progress.

13. “Our ultimate objective in learning about anything is to try to create and develop a more just society.” — Yuri Kochiyama

14. “I didn’t wake up and decide to become an activist. But you couldn’t help but notice the inequities, the injustices. It was all around you.” — Yuri Kochiyama

15. “Unless we know ourselves and our history, and other people and their history, there is really no way that we can really have positive kind of interaction where there is real understanding.” — Yuri Kochiyama

16. “So, transform yourself first… Because you are young and have dreams and want to do something meaningful, that in itself makes you our future and our hope. Keep expanding your horizon, decolonize your mind, and cross borders.” — Yuri Kochiyama

Yuri Kochiyama Quotes About Her Life And Country

Let’s check out the captivating quotes that reflect her life and love for her country.

17. “I lived in San Pedro, California, which is, you know, on the west side of California, and it’s where many, many Japanese lived.” — Yuri Kochiyama

18. “I tell you, in this country, you don’t get much of an education. Throughout high school, through junior college, which is all I went, I didn’t know anything about the annihilation of all the Indian nations that were here.” — Yuri Kochiyama

19. “I thought maybe this was the way we could show love for our country, and we should not make too much fuss or noise; we should abide by what they asked of us. I’m a totally different person now than I was back then. I was naive about so many things.” — Yuri Kochiyama

20. “First and foremost, you do not have to live up to or emulate the lives of any of your predecessors, but at the very least, you should know about them. You will have your own life, interests, and ideas of what you want or do not want in life.” — Yuri Kochiyama