The history of Chinese immigrants in America reveals a tapestry woven with various ethnic groups. As detailed in Michael Luo’s “Thans of the Land: Exclusion, Attribution, and the Grand Tales of American Chinese,” understanding the violence faced by those who remained is crucial for comprehending the U.S. government’s actions to exclude Chinese workers. The American immigration system today reflects this complex background.
China’s immigration limitations marked the first significant alteration of federal border control in the U.S. Chinese workers were the initial group to be banned from entering the country solely based on their nationality, and the legal battles surrounding their exclusion often represented profound tests of constitutional birthright citizenship.
This treatment of minority groups challenges America’s commitment to the ideal of equality. Massachusetts Senator George Frisbee Hall highlighted this contradiction in the 1880s when he opposed exclusionary laws, stating, “We boast of democracy and our superiority, and we take pride in our strength. The flag represents 100,000 Chinese inhabitants in California, and everything changes.”
Luo’s work documents a hundred years of history from the 1840s to 1965. Initially, immigrants from China were mostly free, and their labor was vital for building the Transcontinental Railway System. The narrative features remarkable tales, including one of a man perched in a basket hanging from a 2,000-foot dig, igniting rumors of catastrophic explosions. A witness famously noted: “When the debris ceased falling, the echoes reached across the distant hills.”
However, the unemployment crisis of the 1870s made Chinese laborers scapegoats for white workers’ grievances. Chinese individuals experienced relentless animosity and violence, ranging from cruel taunting by children to brutal assaults by mobs. Subsequent chapters in Luo’s book provide a careful account of the harrowing 19th-century violence and racial riots targeting Chinese communities in cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, and Seattle.
Amidst the rampant violence, Luo also documents the noble actions of individuals opposing the mob mentality. Notably, Charles Andrew Huntington, a 73-year-old pastor in Eureka, California, attempted to halt the massacre of Chinese residents in 1885 by addressing the furious crowd. Despite his efforts, the extremists succeeded in driving all the Chinese inhabitants out of town. Among those impacted was Charlie Weiram, a Chinese Christian who sought solace at Huntington’s home to pray before fleeing. Another minister, C.E. Rich, also interceded, while some fled to safety in San Francisco via boat.
Anti-Chinese sentiment became deeply rooted in political discourse, significantly influencing national politics as it was deemed crucial for securing votes on the West Coast. Beginning with the Page Act of 1875, Congress enacted increasingly stringent Chinese exclusion laws annually, with the Page Act targeting Chinese women ahead of men.
The apogee of anti-Chinese fervor occurred with the passage of the 1892 Geary Act. Immigration limitations only began to ease when China emerged as an ally during World War II, illustrating how international dynamics can impact domestic communities.
One critique of the book is Luo’s extensive focus on the atrocities committed against Chinese immigrants, which may leave less room to explore individual resilience and achievements. However, several compelling figures emerge, such as Yung Wing, a passionate soccer player and Yale alumnus dedicated to securing Western education for Chinese boys. Joseph Tape fought for his daughter’s right to attend public school in San Francisco, while Louise Leon became the first Asian American reporter for a major newspaper in Los Angeles.
Despite widespread prejudice and formidable federal immigration restrictions aimed at their exclusion, Chinese Americans exemplify remarkable resilience. One poignant story reflects this indomitable spirit: Laosun, a Chinese coal miner, survived the 1885 attack in Rock Springs, Wyoming, enduring for decades with a bullet still lodged in his back.
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Luo has served as a national journalist for the Associated Press since 2001-03 but has not encountered any reviewers for his work in 2022.
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AP Book Review: https://apnews.com/hub/book-reviews
Source: apnews.com