ASAM paper

Xinyu Shang

ASAM 100AA

Week 4 Reading Journal

The Chinese foreigners were from poor families like the case of Helen Hong

Wong and Gong Yuen Tim. There no many opportunities for most Chinese immigrants in

the U.S. In narration it was observed that the Chinese were discriminated like the law that

prevented Chinese from bringing their wives and laundrymen to pay a license fee and a

security bond. However, the situation for women in the U.S was better than in China. The

court system helped Chinese immigrants to get their rights.As it still referred to today

American is totally a land of opportunity as the immigrant were able to improve their

lives from poor to average people. The Chinese-Americans born in the U.S had a good

experience and got the opportunity to get formal education but most of the Chinese-

Americans did not believe in formal education for girls. Chinese-American is not able to

integrate into the American community and get good jobs like Parde Lowe and Anna

May Wong.

By 1920 children born in the U.S accounted for 10% of the Chinese-American

community. Those children were significant in the socialization of Chinese due to their

ability to socialize like learning the English language. The children believed that they are

and should be treated like Americans for them been an American is having particular

rights like owning property and voting. However the children were discriminated at

young age and made to feel that they were not part of the community. They were forced

to attend segregated schools and not sit in certain areas in the theatre. As a result those

children had identity confusion. On the hand the Chinese culture seems to be harsh on the

children especially girls like been forbidden to were slippers and attend school. As a

result the children are seen to have a preference for their American identity because it

allows them to express themselves freely.

The chapter gives an overview of the struggle of Chinese-Americans. Most of the

Native Americans did not like the presence of Chinese in their community. There is a

network of smugger who helped the Chinese to move into America undetected. Those

organizations were transnational and helped to link political allies, families, and people

from the same location. Those organizations were used by Chinesepoliticians who

wanted support. It was observed that were strong transnational organizations that united

Chinese people who were living abroad. That organization was instrumental in making

changes in the political environment of China. Most of them had emerged in China as the

Chinese National League and later established affiliates in the world. The narration

reviewed how the people wanted to go to America risking their lives to be carried by

unsafe vessels.

The passing of the Chinese exclusion law was the most discriminative system that

was put on the Chinese-American people. It has made Chinese turn to the court for justice

particular in North California that has the highest population of the Chinese-Americans.

About 85% 90% of petitions were made in favor of the Chinese population. The most

remarkable challenges on the Chinese exclusion act include the admission of Lay Yuen

as a citizen in 1904, Jew Guan Yin in 1892 who was allowed entry in 1892 and Jew Yee

Lin was declared a citizen in 1904. For a majority of administrative officials that court

has made it impossible to effectively enforce the exclusion law. The court has helped to

remove some discriminative immigration laws that were passed.