Chinese Immigrants of the Past and Present

Chinese immigrants to the United States of America have experienced both setbacks and triumphs in the quest to seek a better life from themselves and their families. First arriving in America in the mid-1800s to seek jobs and escape poor conditions in their home country, the Chinese found work as labors and settled in areas known as Chinatowns (Takaki 181-183). In the early years, these immigrants experienced vast legal racism and sexism as women were forbidden to enter the country and the Chinese Exclusion Act prevented laborers from entering the country for years (Takaki 184-192). Today, the modern Chinese-American experience has changed from the experience of early Chinese immigrants. Many immigrants enter the country seeking better education as well employment (Yung, Chang, and Lai 244). Immigrant women have made great strides in achieving equality to men. Despite advancements, many immigrants still experience discrimination on some level. One example of a modern Chinese immigrant is “Ruby”, a college student who, with her parents, immigrated from Hong Kong to a suburb of Providence, Rhode Island, 7 years ago. Ruby’s story shares insight on the modern Chinese-American experience and the struggles this group still faces. Chinese immigrants have long maintained a presence in the United States, and despite many struggles, have eventually began to reap the benefits of this great nation.

While modern Chinese immigrants come to the United States seeking jobs as did their predecessors, new motivations have drawn families to the country. In the mid-1800s large numbers of Chinese people began to arrive in America. These immigrants were driven from their homeland by the opium wars, British colonization, peasant rebellion, floods, and ...

... middle of paper ...

... arriving they often settle among other Chinese Americans in Chinatowns where they feel connected to their culture. The strides that Chinese women are making also signifies their progress. Overall, modern Chinese immigrants have achieved the American Dream which their predecessors were prevented from attaining

Works Cited

Chan, Sucheng. Chinese American Transnationalism : The Flow of People, Resources, and Ideas Between China and America During the Exclusion Era. Philadelphia, PA, USA: Temple University Press, 2005. Web.

Takaki, Ronald T. A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America. New York: Back Bay /Little, Brown, 2008. Print.

Wong, Hoi Yee. Personal Interview. March 20, 2014.

Yung, Judy; Chang, Gordon H.; Lai, H. Mark. Chinese American Voices: From the Gold Rush to the Present. Berkeley, CA, USA: University of California Press, 2006. Web.