Contact us 1.800.698.2536
Search by Speaker Name or Topic

Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR

Japanese American lawyer and a former officer in the United States Marine Corps Reserves

Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR
Travels From Travels From:
Please Contact
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
Live Event: $5,000 - $10,000
Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000
More Fee Info
Categories Categories:
Categories Categories:
Asian & Pacific Heritage, Civil Rights, Diversity & Inclusion, Inspirational, Military, Social Activism
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR Biography

When Bruce Yamashita arrived at Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, one of the first things he heard was a staff sergeant yelling, "You speak English? We don't want your kind around here. Go back to your own country." Another sergeant ridiculed him, saying, "We have no tea and sushi here, Yamashita." Another spoke to him only in broken Japanese.

The racial and ethnic harassment continued for all nine weeks of the program until, two days before graduation, Yamashita, along with three other minority candidates, were kicked out of Officer Candidate School.

Yamashita spoke up and fought to right the wrongs he had suffered to make sure others like him wouldn't suffer in the future. His story is brought to life in the critically acclaimed documentary, A Most Unlikely Hero.

It took years, but Yamashita finally uncovered the secret that brought him justice, a secret that proved he wasn't alone. A secret the Marine Corps didn't even realize it was keeping. He uncovered data that proved a pervasive, consistent pattern of discrimination against minorities at Officer Candidate School for years and years. It was evidence so persuasive that Congress and the White House couldn't ignore it.

And when his findings became key to a 60 Minutes investigation, the Commandant of the Marine Corps fueled the fire with his comments that, "minorities don't shoot as well as non-minorities...they don't swim as well, and when you give them a compass and send them on a land navigation exercise, they don't do as well at that sort of thing either.”

Weeks later, Yamashita became Captain Yamashita, and his case became the catalyst for statutory and procedural reform to prohibit racial and ethnic discrimination in the Marine Corps and in all the branches of the military service.

It was, as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy observed, "a vindication not only of Capt. Yamashita, but a vindication of the process of a democracy." And it was, as Sen. Daniel Akaka noted, "a victory for civil rights in this nation."

Topics

A Most Unlikely Hero

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR and other top speakers and celebrities.

BOOK Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/10/2024.

Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR Speaking Topics

  • Fighting Tradition: A Marine's Journey to Justice

    An inspirational David versus Goliath story. It reminds all of us that one person, with the support of a community, can overcome insurmountable odds and make a positive difference. It is often said that Asian Americans have benefited from the civil rights battles and victories by African Americans and Latino Americans. It is significant that this civil rights struggle was started, fought and won by the Asian American community, resulting in revisions to Marine Corps policy that will benefit all marines.

    It is hoped that the lessons learned and sacrifices made will not be forgotten, and will inspire the next generation to continue the hard work to create a more perfect union.

Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR Videos

  • PBS Hawaii Documentary A Most Unlikely Hero
    PBS Hawaii Documentary "A Most Unlikely Hero"
  • 2014 NAPABA Trailblazer Award
    2014 NAPABA Trailblazer Award
See All Videos »

Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR Books

  • Fighting Tradition: A Marine's Journey to Justice (Intersections Asian and Pacific American Transcultural Studies)
    Fighting Tradition: A Marine's Journey to Justice (Intersections Asian and Pacific American Transcultural Studies)

FAQs on booking Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR

  • How do I book Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR

    Speaking fees for Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR speak about?

    Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Asian & Pacific Heritage, Civil Rights, Diversity & Inclusion, Inspirational, Military, Social Activism.

  • Where does Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR travel from?

    Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Fighting Tradition: A Marine's Journey to Justice. The estimated speaking fee range to book Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR for your event is $5,000 - $10,000. Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Tiffany Yu, Lydia X. Z. Brown, Jonny Kim, Chella Man and Dr. Connie Mariano. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR for an upcoming live or virtual event.

BOOK Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

Need Quick Answers?

We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.

Sarah Miller
phone   1.800.698.2536
Our celebrity booking agents can:

  • Gauge interest and check availability for speaking engagements, appearances or corporate events

  • Provide you with the speaking fee to book Captain Bruce I. Yamashita, USMCR or other celebrity appearance fees

  • Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities

  • Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP