Category: Discussion Board 2

The excerpt from Lee’s reading and the film has refreshed my previous knowledge about the histories of Asian migration to the Americas and awestruck me with the unknown facts. The Europeans were fascinated with Asia and considered Asia as it’s polar opposite. For centuries, the difference laid between the West and the East. The Western’s had the masculine power whereas Asia was considered to be weak, femininine which needed to be conquered by the Europeans. The Crusaders played an important role to let Europeans know about the vastness and richness of Asia. They rediscovered Asia when they set off for the Middle East in 1095. Also, the Europeans’ voyage to Asia confirmed that it is ‘the other world’ in opposition to Europe. 

The stories from the past about immigration and migration have not changed much till today. In this  modern times, it has taken a new form. For example, people still from the East migrate to Western countries or developed countries compared to their own native land in the hope of better opportunities and lifestyle. Though they are not openly selled or labeled as slaves, indented or sex workers in this modern era, they are treated the same as before. They are looked down on in the society and their stories are less expressed. I think the reasons for migration have changed. Before, people were forced to migrate due to the oppressive nature of high- class individuals. But today most of the people willingly leave their country for better days. 

After reading Lee’s “The making of Asian America” and watching the film I learned that Europeans thought of Asia as a “polor opposite” to what they had. The Europeans were interested in Asia’s culture and land and were determined to find Asia. They mostly interested in Asia’s goods like the exotic fruits, spices, herbs, etc. These are things the Europeans didn’t have and what they wanted. What surprised from this reading was that the first immigrants were the Los Chinos and that they were Filipino, this was something I never would’ve thought of. You learn something new everyday. This reading highlighted their journey to America. The immigration process from back is noticeably different from how it is today. In my opinion I feel it was easier for illegal immigration to happen back then, today it is much harder.

From the Lee reading, I learned many Western countries think about the Asian population as various ways. What surprised me was that not only the first Asian to immigrate to the United States was Filipino but also the Filipinos were called Indians. Many Asians thought American life looked much better than most Asian countries, and they sought American life to escape their reality.

1. That the European view Asia likes a place that is truly the polar opposite from the west. Their impression of Asian was to describe bizarre creatures, alien plants, and strange customs of the east. And define Asia as the other world. The story of Marco polo where it talks about the Mongolian leader having unique customs, mountain streams of the diamond, and so many golds and silver that you could believe existed. The thing that motivated the Spanish were the quote “god, gold, and glory”. Also, the growth of taste demands more imports such as silk, sugar, and other spices. That the Philippines was the seat of the Spain pacific empire because the Spanish found the island and conquest in 1565. The first migrant from Asia to America was Filipino. That the Filipino arrived because they are crewmembers and also was involved in the Manila galleon trade; they arrived on ships that were on a voyage. The Los chinos were of the Asian descent who was married to the locals. That they settle on the pacific coast and cities of Acapulco. The biggest reason they wanted to move to the Americas was that they thought that there was hope and hope for a better existence, which is an irony that Europeans feel the same way about Asia’s society as well. Unfortunately, instead of negotiating with them, they wanted to try to invade Asia because Europe found them different than others.
2. These immigrant reports back then vary significantly from what we learn of immigrants now, because back then people may come and live without any complications, but now, as soon as the government and ICE find out about any undocumented migrants or citizens who have overstayed, they put them in cages and isolate them from those who love them without fair court trials. The reasons I believe that these things have shifted are because of egoism, that the United States should not “rob its work” towards other nations.

1. To start off, One thing I would say I learned from the Lee reading and the film was that Europe was actually very interested to find out more information about Asia, since they had heard about the resources they had & their culture, to the point where Europe even considered them as the “Polar Opposite.” What ended up surprising me however was the fact that instead of working together since Europe was so interested in Asia’s culture, they decided to take advantage of the fact that asians wanted to migrate over as well which lead to europeans mistreating asians who worked for them in ships which unfortunately these Asian sailors suffered  unfair wages, working conditions, and died off in the freezing weather. On top of that, europeans decided to colonize Asia in a sense to try and conquer them. What does not surprise me at all is how asians were mistreated same way the Spanish workers were as well, due to the racism going around. It just shows how europeans basically wanted to control everyone who was not European. I realize till this exact day the united states is still interested when it comes to Asia’s culture, riches etc, which Is why they are our #1 contributor when it comes to business. Literally almost everything you own, or see being sold food etc, are usually exported from Asia. According to Lee’s Reading, it is believed that the first asians to come to the americas were called “Filipinos” & the main reason they decided to migrate to the americas was because they believed that is where fortune was & the opportunity for a new life was, which is a coincidence since in a way europeans felt the same way about Asia’s culture as well. Sadly instead of working together with them they decided to try & conquer Asia since Europe considered them as “Feminine”.
2. In Many ways I would say these stories compare very similar & at the same time extremely different than the narratives we hear today in the new world. For example, The big difference would be the fact that at this point, the United States is not interested in basically ruling other people just because you are not the same ethnicity as them. However it is the exact opposite, now instead of wanting people to come over here from other countries & help out, they want to get rid of every single person who arrives here without the proper documentation, just because they might be a possible threat (WHICH IS RIDICULOUS). One thing I could say is similar is the fact that asians were coming to the americas for the hope of a new life, or “fortune from the new world” As stated from Lee’s chapter. The main thing I would say we can get out of this chapter & video is that History always ends up repeating itself, one way or another.

I learned that the first Asians to come to America were Filipino, which I found surprising. I was also surprised by the Mexican saint Mirrha-Catarina de San Juan who has Asian origins, and that the first recorded Asian mayor in the Americas, Juan de Paez, was a Japanese man in Zapopan, Mexico during the 1630s. Another thing I learned from the video was that it was Hou Kwa who gave a half a million silver Mexican pesos to Forbes and advised him to invest in the railroad. I already knew that the Chinese had their own exploration period during the Ming dynasty, but they did not settle colonies because the emperor decided to close off the country to the world. This in part motivated expeditions to China. A structural reason for Asians to go to the Americas was that Spanish ships relied on Filipino sailors’ expertise. They were praised as masters of the sea, but individually they were treated horribly, so they deserted the ships, staying in New Spain hoping to find a better life in Acapulco and other cities along the Pacific coast of Mexico. The Portuguese brought slaves from India and Malaysia because of stereotypes that they would sell for high prices as concubines, cooks, seamstresses, and servants. The structural reason for this treatment was because of Portugal’s early influence and colonies in India. As slaves they were not given the opportunity to have an individual reason to be in the Americas. The model minority stereotype of Asian Americans being hard working, obedient and “industrious” is uncomfortably similar to the Portuguese slaver’s description. In some ways the reasons for migration have stayed the same, Western imperialism and economic interests create conditions that have motivated Asians to immigrate to the Americas seeking a better life. Back then they were freezing to death on the decks of European ships, today they’re slaving away in sweatshops dreaming of escaping their harsh conditions, perhaps looking for that “American dream.”

What I learned was that most migrants migrate because they want(ed) to contribute and make the U.S wealthy (according to the video) and that’s something that people tend to overlook that, and what still surprises me is the Boston Tea Party and how millions of pounds of tea in the Boston harbor to protest British control, and instead of paying Europeans wanted to exchange goods with with china. Also the British was so desperate to they started trading opium with China. But didn’t China already have problems with drugs before? why smuggle opium?. Also, trading, settling, and because of wealthier countries conquering Asia motivated some Asians to leave, people from China, Japan, the Philippines ,etc. and settled in places like Mexico, Cuba, and Peru. What I also noticed is that Afong Moy was being treated like she was some type of object for entertainment, they alienated her for her bound feet and I say “alienate” because the chapter says that “European travelers describe the bizarre creatures, alien plants and strange customs of the “East”… “other world”” so China and Chinese were exotic and different.

These stories about immigration back then differs drastically than what we hear about today’s immigration because back then people could come and settle without any problem, but now once the Government and ICE finds out about any undocumented people or people who overstayed, they throw them in caged and separate them from love ones without proper court hearings. The reasons I think that these conditions changed is because of selfishness and the U.S don’t want to deal with other people “steal their jobs”.

In Lee’s story, I learned about how the transpacific journey came to fruition as a result of Europes fascination and basically obsession with The East in comparison to them. I was already aware that many Asians migrated from the East in search of a better life but I was not made aware of the extent of their perilous journey. What I was not aware of was the awful conditions they were subjected to. This surprised me more than anything because of how  the European imagination of Asia was so fantasized. You would think they would treat the inhabitants of that land well (wishful thinking I suppose). I already knew of some of the Asians that were brought back as slaves but was not made aware that this journey seemed to parallel similar missions to west Africa, current day Mexico and the rest of Latin America post 1492. Lee mentions how Crusaders “rediscovered” Asia in 1095 on a mission. This obsession with converting all of the world to Christianity was also an ongoing thing during their 200 year long crusade journey’s. Reasons for some Asians (specifically those who were to make the roundtrip journey to the New World and back to the Philippines) motivated them to travel to the Americas as they were convinced fortune laid in the New World. Similar to the readings before on the Indian migration from Calcutta to British Guiana, conditions on the ship were so horrendous. Many were also not paid their full wages until they made it back on the return journey. Information I was utterly shocked at. It is believed actually that one of the first wave of Asian settlers were Filipinos who arrived in Alto California around  1769. In addition, Filipinos and Chinese were among the first crew to arrive in larger masses.

Most narratives we hear today have similar themes with different intentions. America continues to be seen as a land of opportunity for many coming here to immigrate. These might range from attending a university here to receive a better quality of education, a job opportunity, wanting to raise a family in a more stable political climate, or seeking the land of freedom and opportunity narrative. I wish I didn’t have to say this but reading this made me see some overlap between immigration conditions (and migration) today and immigration during the transpacific voyages. For example, we have better standards of hygiene aboard ships and an advance in technology for various modes of transportation. Although these conditions have greatly approved and the international condemning of human trafficking, we still see a large portion of migrants seeking refuge here in the Americas (and other places if they make it) the journey is still very much dangerous/perilous. And often times their means of migration seeking refuge is also illegal. Human trafficking is also still in existence with many women and children being taken from their native land as laborers and sex slaves (yes this still exist and if anyone is interested there is a great documentary of it on youtube about the Vietnamese mail order brides to foreign men).  I think one of the reasons these changes in migration have changed a bit is because of globalization. With so many different countries participating in efforts at changing the standard for immigration and migration, many \companies. especially those in aiding with migration have vert strict rules now. I also believe this is especially true for women. Lee mentions the first Chinese woman was thought to have arrived in a new York City Harbor around November 1834. Thinking back how women most likely prior to this would have NEVER thought to immigrate/migrate to unknown land is still pretty prevalent today with migration as well. Many women immigrate from Asia to seek better opportunities, while also many migrate to escape abuse, persecution, seek asylum, to escape political calamity etc. I found this entire reading very shocking but also simultaneously not surprising considering prior conquest at the hands of the Portuguese and Spanish.

1. From reading Lee “The making of Asian American” and the film, I learn that Europeans thought of Asian as Polar Opposite to their own as they heard of Asian riches of goods, land and culture which the Europeans do not have. Many set out to search for Asian. What surprised me was how Asian get half the pay compared to Spanish even if Asian are more skilled and also Filipino were known as “Indians” back in the day. What I already know is how Asian left their country to settle elsewhere for different reasons. What motivated Asian come to America is because of Dominion, the control of other countries whose conquer Asian has made their Asian to flee to American to escape from it. Group of people are from China, Philippines, and others. They land in Mexico, Peru.
2. The stories today about immigration are not the same as before as today they have given freedom and they do not stand out as much. I believe their reason to migrate is the same and also different. People migrate because they want to have a better life, education and freedom.

While watching the video it occurred to me just how much we depended on Asia for the livelihood we have today. It depended heavily on the trade system between the continents. Through the video I was able to learn that many Asians came to different parts through the trade system. I didn’t know why I never connected the dots before, I thought it was out of free will or job related but never realized just how much of that was actually real. What I also found amazing is how they used the Spanish Galleons blueprints, their knowledge of the sea and the native woods such as the Philippine tea wood and lanang. This shows just how knowledgeable they were in their expertise, the sea that it even survived multiple cannonball shots. Yet with every accomplishment someone or a group has there will be people who feel envied by them. In this case what surprised me was that the Spaniards felt threatened by the Chinese and put them in quarters with cannonballs facing them. They did this because they felt outnumbered and threatened. Yet the Chinese also had jobs such as carpenters, merchants, etc which acted as the backbone to the Spanish economy but also blamed for economical hard times. As for the article I found the most interesting how Europeans thought they were “Masculine and conquering” while Asia was “feminized and ripe for conquest”. With each continent having different customs but the way it was described in the article made it seem as if they were alienated. Though the one thing that stood out to me the most was the treatment of Asian and how their treatment is something not many people talk about. I was surprised just how many hardships they had to go through and how many people thought of them as just another place to conquer, though they had amazing accomplishments. It really opened my eyes to how much can be hidden about the treatment of groups unless you decide to do the research yourself. They were mainly just seen as people who were to be conquered and used for trading and a way to get rich within the economy.

These stories have a common theme of hardships when dealing with other countries after migrating. I think many people who came here in the past traveled because they were part of trade system. However, I also think that people could be looking for more work opportunities with better pay since it could be overcrowded in their country. Either way it could be one of two options which is their choice or by force(however I truly hope the second one is the very little minority).