To sum it all up, the 3 Chinese Exclusion Acts of 1882,1892, and 1902 were unfair legislation passed by congress because more and more Chinese were pouring into the United States. The three Chinese Exclusion acts changed the America because of the negative outlook towards Chinese immigrants. The Chinese Exclusion acts changed the way the Bay Area in a positive way. The Bay Area is full of diversity especially Oakland, Hayward, San Leandro, and San Francisco. The world has seen how Angel Island processed immigrants. Immigrants were treated like dirt. They were poorly fed, treated, and many were crammed into small rooms. The living conditions were really bad for Chinese immigrants. Reactions to the Chinese Exclusion Acts after 1882 were harsh. People were mistreating immigrants everywhere. Immigration restrictions became torture for the Chinese immigrants in the Bay Area. The mistreatment of the Chinese spread like a wild fire through out the country. People were portraying the Chinese immigrants in a negative way. The media played a big part in enhancing the stereotypes of Chinese immigrants through newspaper articles and images. Many images depicting the Chinese were presented all over the United States.
My final opinion of the 3 Chinese Exclusion Acts is that they were unfair and created a lot of stereotypes for the Chinese. There were to many restrictions and Americans began to follow into the stereotypes and judgments of the Asian people. The Chinese people were hardworking and took any job that presented itself. Americans on the other hand were picky. As a result Chinese immigrants were working more but getting paid less because of the Americans were to indecisive about the type of work they wanted to do. If it Angel Island was not a processing camp for immigrants the diversity in the bay area would not be so rich. The story of the Chinese immigrants and there struggles will be highly recognized as the years fly by. History is being uncovered everyday and the Chinese immigrants have played a major part into that role. Today Angel Island is a part of U.S history and has been closed down after the fire that destroyed the administration building in August, 1940. The government decided to abandon the immigration station. At Angel Island, the objective was to exclude new arrivals, the memories of many returning visitors are now bittersweet. A museum has been established in the old barracks building. It includes a re-creation of one of the dormitories, and highlights some of the poems that were carved into the station's walls. It's a reminder of what the Chinese did to get to this country and shows how strong they are.
Ernie,
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed reading your blog. It was very informative and at the same time one laments all the struggles that the Chinese had to go through. It must have been very difficult to be stuck for days on a ship only to arrive on Angel Island and be detained and further scrutinize. Did you go to the Angel Island Museum? I’ve heard that it is really good. That is one thing I have on my San Francisco “To Do” list. The posters you posted on your blog are an important insight into the minds of many Americans at that time. Reading your blog about the history of mistreat of the Chinese put into perspective the articles “Sing Sheng” by Brooks and “Unskilled Chinaman” by Tsu that we read in class. If Americans saw images of the Chinese portrayed as unskilled and low lives it is no surprise they were treated badly like the articles indicate. It is sad that this country has a long legacy of this type of ethnic racism. But it is important to understand these histories and to discuss them in order for us to avoid them.
Good Job.
Mary Ann
Hi Mary Ann, Yes I have been to the museum along time ago. It's really fascinating how much history that place holds. It wasn't until I started researching Angel Island when I began to really think about all the struggles the Chinese have gone through. Racism has been a struggle through out U.S history and it wasn't until the Chinese Exclusion Acts that people began to create so many stereotypes of the Chinese.
ReplyDeleteHi Ernie! Your blog is finally another blog that is similar to mine. I have looked at other people’s blogs and there are so many links and just a bunch of other cool stuff. Then I read your introduction and another thing we have in common, we don’t really use or like computers too much. It’s great that it helps us find information quicker than going to the library (which is what I use to do before computers and the internet were really available) What caught my attention of your blog was actually your very hurtful pictures! For someone to really take the time to draw those pictures of the racism towards Chinese must have been a really mean person! It’s amazing to me how people here in America can feel this way when everyone migrated here. But I think with every culture, there is some sort of racism story. I think at one point with every single race, there is a story of discrimination. Overall, I really enjoyed reading your blog. I learned so much more about the Chinese exclusion act and Good luck on your final!
ReplyDeleteErnie, you did a good job on your blog man. I aint trying to kiss your butt, but it was tight how you did all that on the Chinese, including the pictures you got on here. But In my opinion, the Chinese exclusion act is very parallel to what happens anytime the white man feels threatened by another race taking their job. It happened with the Chinese, italians, irish, and today with the mexicans. its sad, that instead of bonding together during harsh, economic times, we have to attack each other and find a scapegoat. America must realize that there is no one to blame for recessions, except themselves. if you think not enough is been done, go out and vote, you have to excersise your right. If you cant afford something, dont use credit. its very simple. We put ourselves in these ridiculous situations and make a group of people suffer.
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