Category: Module 6

A.) Chinese prostitution attracted particular public attention which later on became a leading argument against asian immigration within the United States. During the late 1870’s depression an increase of anti Chinese sentiments prevailed due to the lack of job opportunities. The media ultimately blamed the Chinese for taking jobs and undercutting the white man’s ability to earn. They also spread misinformation about Asian sex workers which later becomes the basis for implementing laws that banned the immigration of many Asian women. According to Dr. Charles C.O’Donnell, A renowned doctor, “There are cases of syphilis among the whites that originated from these Chinese prostitutes that are incurable”. The majority reached a strong consensus Asian prostitutes represented a prevalent threat to the lives of the everyday white family. Aside from being blamed for  the spread of sicknesses, Chinese women were also blamed for encouraging immorality among white young boys and men. Which translates to a negative drift between families and their religious faith. At this time, the AMA or American Medical Association forwarded studies about Chinese prostitutes and whether they are poisoning the nation. As stated in the excerpt of Luibheid, “The germ theory of disease provided an explanation of the manner in which an obviously inferior group might best a superior one, contrary to the natural law of social Darwinists”. The page law mandated the exclusion of Asian women coming to the United States to work as prostitutes believed to be a serious threat to white values, lives and futures.

B.) Carved in Silence showcased the trials Asian immigrants faced when they arrived in Angel Island. After faced with the Exclusion law, many men and women found different ways to be part of the exception. Some even purchased fake papers despite the expense and the risk of being caught. Angel Island was far from heavenly for these unsuspecting migrants. When settled, they were stripped away from their families and their partners for days, experienced poor living conditions and forced to cooperate with aggressive interviews and intrusive medical checkups. This would go on for weeks and even months before they can legally leave the island. To express and relieve suffering and frustrations, they turned to the written language. Immigrants within the heavily guarded compounds of Angel Island would carve countless poems without names. Later, when these poor conditions continued within the facilities, detainees founded the Angel Island Liberty Association in protest against the horrible treatment and the awful living arrangements that they faced everyday.

C.) The treatment Asian Americans face today due to COVID-19 and the insensitivity of Pres. Donald Trump is very similar to what Chinese sex workers faced during the 1870’s. The spread of misinformation and ignorance is far more contagious and unfortunate. It creates fear within people which potentially transforms into hate and mistreatment towards different persons on the basis of their race and phenotype. The treatment of immigrants in Angel Island is very similar to hoe ICE treats their detainees at the border. The only difference might be that ICE is far more vicious and merciless. It’s heartbreaking to see people being mistreated and separated from their families. Mothers and Fathers stripped from their children, women being unknowingly castrated against their will, countless cases of sexual assault and the many missing children that are unaccounted for within their facilities. It is a tragedy that these activities are facilitated by our very own government.

 

Based on the readings and film, Chinese immigrants were excluded and banned from basic rights such as working, letting their children attend school, and even migrating to the United States. For example, in the excerpt of Luibheid, “Entry denied: Controlling Sexuality at the Border”, it states, “Immigrants designated as undesirable were those who could be classified as convicts, contract laborers, and Asian women coming to work in prostitution.” The text further goes on to say Chinese people, especially women, were dehumanized to the point where Chinese women were seen as prostitutes in the eyes of the law, the children were not allowed schools at all unlike Black and Native Americans who were in segregated schools, and Chinese men were thought to steal jobs. In the article, “The first Mexican border was actually a wall to keep out Chinese people”, it says, “Editorial cartoons in newspapers of the time depicted the Chinese as shifty villains. New York Tribune editor Horace Greeley summed up the climate of the era: “The Chinese are uncivilized, unclean, and filthy beyond all conception without any of the higher domestic or social relations; lustful and sensual in their dispositions; every female is a prostitute of the basest order.” This was followed by the Exclusion Act which was a law that gave permission for the government to discriminate against any race who was not white to prevent them from immigrating to the U.S. According to the text, “How early SF kept Chinese children out of the schoolhouse”, it quotes, “They were denied even separate schools like those accorded to blacks and Indians, who were granted that right in 1874. The Chinese community argued that it was grossly unfair that they had to pay taxes and yet were denied the right to send their children to public schools. In 1878, 1,300 people of Chinese descent petitioned the Legislature, arguing that the 3,000 Chinese children in the state had the right to a public education.” They were supported by some clergymen, but as a result anti-Chinese mobs killed anyone who opposed them such as the Rev. William Gibson and the state took no action. These events show how history repeats itself when people do not learn from them like how Trump and his administration made it more difficult for immigrants to seek a better life in the United States and focused on targeting mostly Mexicans. One thing that stuck out to me from the readings was that Mexico was once allowed to cross the border freely in order to work in the United States without any hostile reactions like today. As mentioned before, history tends to repeat itself when the same mistakes are made and when the wrong individuals are put in charge, it can be a disastrous result for the people.