Chinese Coolies, Anti-Imperialism, the Chinese Exclusion Act, which passed in 1882, and Gold Mountain themes are so closely interrelated that they can be seen as one thread in the plight of Asian Americans. Chinese Coolies embody the torture and racial arrogance which immigrants experienced at the start while the whole society knew about different layers of injustices. Anti-imperialism is an expression of defiance against the marginalization of social groups and oppression of the people in the center of imperialist systems, which nurtures unity. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was a formalized policy to keep Chinese immigrants out of American society. Gold Mountain stands for economic ambition and effort surpassing difficult circumstances, which signifies the never-ending drive for dignity and success for Asian Americans. The sufferings of the early Asian immigrants in the US had a significant influence on the current Asian Americans as their representation is centered on the struggle for recognition, justice, and equality at a time when they suffer systemic racism and discrimination.
Understanding early Asian immigrant communities and the establishment of Asian American studies reveals the deep-seated prejudices and discriminatory practices faced by Chinese Coolie. According to Lee (2015), some American government officials and citizens saw the Chinese migration as a threat because it resulted in “unfair economic competition.” The Chinese immigrants were depicted as “morally corrupt,” and such sentiments perpetuated racist stereotypes.” The Chinese Coolies, were victims of racial cruelty. They faced riots and massacres, including the slaughter of miners at Rock Springs, Colorado. The Chinse Coolies suffered discrimination laws of the United States, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which deprived them of the fundamental rights and opportunities of immigration. Such history highlights the origins of systemic inequalities and stereotypes that continue to influence the representation of Asian American communities today. By recognizing the legacy of discrimination and marginalization faced by early Asian immigrants, contemporary representations of Asian Americans can be contextualized within a broader narrative of the struggle for recognition, justice, and equality. Such understanding prompts critical examination of current stereotypes and biases, fostering empathy and advocacy for the diverse experiences within the Asian American community.
The study of early Asian immigrant communities and the introduction of Asian American Studies courses are invaluable in gaining an explication of the current representation of the Asian American community. Xenophobia and the illustration of systemic discrimination, represented by a Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 only in the cartoons and historical documents, reveal that Chinese immigrants were not generally welcomed in the United States. According to Dick (2007), “The Chinese must go!” epitomizes the racially motivated sentiments behind exclusionary laws. From the example, Dick (2007) examines the phrase, “He who is going to hire a Chinaman is an unworthy American citizen,” everyone can see a clear demonstration of the open anti-Chinese attitude during that time. Such heavily biased immigration laws, apart from the widespread restrictions, supported stereotypes and racism, contributed to bias towards the Chinese community and a series of stigmas against Asian Americans today. Understanding this history is essential information for current challenges to representation and for getting equity and inclusion.
The widely known history of generations of Asian American communities’ lives, which started with the hardships and dreams that were meant by this pursuit, should be considered a critical element of understanding the present-day struggle for representation in mass media. The story of Chinese immigrant Moy Dong Kee illustrates searching for economic prosperity despite the discrimination and social exclusion directed at them through transnationalism. With Asian American studies as the backdrop, these stories portray the history of the tenaciousness and the worthiness of giving up a lot to create a new identity out of a foreign land. The storyline depicts the odyssey toward Gold Mountain, which is interpreted as the eternal pursuit of wealth and dignity against the weightiness of history for Asian Americans. Lee (2015) narrates how “Chinaman to come… Money is in great plenty,” captures the appearance and struggles between immigrants and their pursuit of economic prosperity. While highly prominent and unequal treatment of females is reflected through the omission of daughters from immigration records, it is one of the many examples of women’s endurance, fortitude, inner strength, and willpower to provide for their families. In turn, it reflects the complexities of one’s familial decisions as well as those made in pursuit of better opportunities.
The knowledge of the difficulties that Asian immigrant families had to go through and the development of the study of Asian American history is fundamental to understanding how the present portrayal of Asian Americans came to exist. In the words of Vijay Prashad, the Asian American movement was a movement against the invisibility and marginalization of their histories; it was also a movement against the stereotyping and insularity of their community but rather for inclusion and plurality. As a result, alongside organizations like the Black Panther Party and the American Indian Movement, which made this relationship between fights for liberation and imperialism consciously clear, the movement put forward common grievances. Prashad (2003) notes how Mr. Bobby Seale asserted strongly that “Asian people play a significant part in solving problems in coalition with Black people,” symbolizing the significance of solidarity in challenging the everyday systemic injustices together. Also, the development of self-reliant organizations within the Asian American community, like the Young Lords and the Chinese Communist Party, is a reflection of the need for these efforts as well as the use of cross-racial coalitions to fight against imperialism and class inequalities. Using sophisticated awareness of history, the complexities of representations of Asians People reflect the current challenges that Asian Americans face.
Community representation, with long-standing struggles of early Asian immigrants in the US, has been etched in the bone with the lasting consequences that Asian American communities must overcome today. This heritage manifested itself through the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and its perpetuation in the form of stereotypes seen today, which define the narratives revolving around justice, recognition, and equality. They include the anti-immigrant prejudice and anti-Chinese sentiment illustrated in early documents that show the formal discrimination the immigrants experienced during that time. Yet, the efforts of the Asian American studies and society awareness programs are the ones driving these facts to be known and the diversity to be considered. Connecting communities like the pan-Asian ones and unions similar to the Black Panther Party underlines the role of community involvement in tackling systemic oppression.
References
Dick, M. (2007). Sneaky, Sinister, and Scapegoated: Chinese Immigration and Exclusion as Represented in The Wasp, 1877–1889. 9(1), 353–377.
Lee, E. (2015). The making of Asian America: A history. Simon and Schuster.
Prashad, V. (2003). Bruce Lee and the anti-imperialism of Kung Fu: A polycultural adventure. positions: east asia cultures critique, 11(1), 51-90.
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