Module 2

Contents

Learning Goals

Welcome to Week 2 of Asian American History 114!

This week, our goal is to discuss methods of historical research such as oral history and archives so that you can begin to work on your own research and writing project. We will also start to learn about the history of Asian migration to the Americas.

Class Notes 
  • You can access the slides from our class session here
Read 

Read: Excerpt of Lee, The Making of Asian America    As you read Lee’s chapter, use these questions as a guide:

  • Lee says that Europeans had “long been fascinated with Asia.” How did Europeans view Asia? What were their impressions of Asia and Asians? Given specific examples from the text.
  • What motivated Spain’s exploration and conquest of the Pacific? What site became the “seat” of Spain’s Pacific empire?
  • Who were the first migrants from Asia to the Americas? Why and how did they arrive?
  • Who were los chinos? Where and how did they settle?
  • What motivated the new United States to trade with China? How did this relationship affect migration from Asia to the U.S.?
  • Who was Afong Moy? What does her story show us about how Asians were viewed in the U.S.?
Watch

Watch: Excerpt of Coolies, Settlers, Sailors: Voyage to the New World (on Kanopy*). The film is about one hour long but you are only expected to watch the first 30 minutes. 

As you watch, consider these questions:

  • What are the histories that are represented in this film? What are the motivations for migration– individual reasons, structural reasons? Where do the various migrants land and why?
  • Always track– what are you learning? What is surprising to you? What did you already know about these histories and how does this documentary add to your knowledge?

*Kanopy is a video database available to you through the BMCC Library. You will need to login to the BMCC Library to be able to access the database off-campus. You will also need to create a login for Kanopy the first time you use the database.  (If it’s glitchy for you on Chrome, try a different browser.)

Post and Comment on Discussion Board #2 
    • THIS POST IS DUE  BY 11:59pm on Friday 9/11;
    • Comment due by 11:59 on Monday 9/14.
    • *Use the title format “[FirstName] [LastName] DB 2” 
  • For this first Discussion Board post, please reflect on the following questions.
    • What did you learn from the Lee reading and the film about the histories of Asian migration to the Americas– what is surprising to you and what did you already know? What are the individual and structural reasons that motivated different Asian groups to come to the Americas– and be specific, which Asian groups and where did they land?
    • How do these stories compare to the narratives we hear today about immigration? How do you think that the reasons or the conditions for migration have changed or stayed the same? Be specific in your discussion. You can draw from personal experience but be sure to make connections back to the reading/film.
  • COMMENT ON TWO POSTS. You can comment on the post of a classmate by selecting the title of the post > scroll down to where you leave a reply > type the comment > post comment.
Research/Writing Project
  • The instructions for your interview assignment are here. Your interview transcript is due on 9/22. I suggest you conduct your interview within this week so that you have ample time to transcribe the conversation.