all i knew about chinese american history is what my mother told me

All I Knew About All I Knew About Chinese Chinese

American American History Is What History Is What My Mother Told My Mother Told

MeMeJohn John JungJung

What School History BooksWhat School History BooksTaught About Chinese in AmericaTaught About Chinese in America

Mother Taught Me AboutMother Taught Me About

Chinese were poor, had to leave to support familiesChinese were poor, had to leave to support families British forced opium on Chinese and weakened ChinaBritish forced opium on Chinese and weakened China You will not be respected if your homeland is weak You will not be respected if your homeland is weak Caucasians had anti-Chinese racist attitudes and Caucasians had anti-Chinese racist attitudes and

violence violence Chinese exclusion lawsChinese exclusion laws Use of ‘paper sons’ entryUse of ‘paper sons’ entry Angel Island Detention/InterrogationsAngel Island Detention/Interrogations

Avoiding racial confrontationsAvoiding racial confrontations

Having pride in China’s cultural historyHaving pride in China’s cultural history

Growing Up, I Didn’t Believe All Mom Told Growing Up, I Didn’t Believe All Mom Told Me…Me…

She had her misconceptions…such as: movie imagesShe had her misconceptions…such as: movie images

She felt whites were generally untrustworthy and She felt whites were generally untrustworthy and prejudicedprejudiced

Her Chinese hot-cold views of health/illness seemed Her Chinese hot-cold views of health/illness seemed simplisticsimplistic

I thought she was often misinformed or exaggeratingI thought she was often misinformed or exaggerating

Nothing she told me about Chinese was in schoolbooksNothing she told me about Chinese was in schoolbooks

I was “American,” Mom was I was “American,” Mom was “Chinese”“Chinese”

……Besides, I Was “Smarter” Than Besides, I Was “Smarter” Than MomMom

Later, I found mom was right Later, I found mom was right after all…after all…

To survive, most Chinese men had only To survive, most Chinese men had only “domestic” work.“domestic” work.

Washing and ironing Chinese Laundries, 2007

Grocery merchants Chopsticks in the Land of Cotton, 2008

Cooking Sweet and Sour, 2010

A “Chinaman’s Chance” was not a good one

Early Chinese All Came From…Early Chinese All Came From…

Why Chinese Left Why Chinese Left GuangdongGuangdong

Chinese Exclusion Act, 1882-Chinese Exclusion Act, 1882-19431943

The immigration process The immigration process was was as bad as as bad as Mom told Mom told

me… me…

“Paper Sons” and Immigration Tests

Mother’s 1928 transcript confirms what she Mother’s 1928 transcript confirms what she often told me: often told me:

“Questions, they just ask stupid questions” “Questions, they just ask stupid questions”

Questioning Mother’s “Moral Character”

She did She did notnot exaggerate about exaggerate about mistreatment of Chinese…mistreatment of Chinese…

Chinese Everywhere Suffered Chinese Everywhere Suffered Assaults, Robberies, VandalismAssaults, Robberies, Vandalism

How Did Chinese End Up “Down How Did Chinese End Up “Down South”?South”?

Few Chinese in South, 1920 -Few Chinese in South, 1920 -19301930

GeorgiaMississippi

Why Did Most Chinese Open Why Did Most Chinese Open Laundries?Laundries?

Chinese Laundries of My Kin Chinese Laundries of My Kin in the Deep South, 1920-1960sin the Deep South, 1920-1960s

Contesting LaundriesContesting Laundries

RidiculeRidicule

How Chinese endured and How Chinese endured and survivedsurvived

Mutual Aid rotating credit (wui)Mutual Aid rotating credit (wui)

SacrificeSacrifice

FrugalityFrugality

Family tiesFamily ties

EducationEducation

At Age 6, I Was At A Key Moment of Chinese American History

History “Happened” History “Happened” Right Under My Nose in 1943Right Under My Nose in 1943

1943 Repeal of 1882Chinese Exclusion Law

MMadame Chiang Kai-Shek’s adame Chiang Kai-Shek’s 1943 “Return” To Macon …where1943 “Return” To Macon …where

… in 1910 she was denied attendance at a white school!

One One otherother lesson from lesson from mommom

Prejudice did not stop her fearless Prejudice did not stop her fearless investing!investing!

Mom Inspired Me to Write Our Mom Inspired Me to Write Our Family Story…Family Story…

What Mom What Mom Would Think Would Think

About Today’s About Today’s Improved Status Improved Status

of Chinese in of Chinese in America America Our hard earned success is amazing

We are viewed as a model minority

Yet, We are Forever Foreign? We will suffer blame for CHINA’S faults We can not be “complacent” with gains