Chinese Americans: The History and Culture of a People

This in-depth historical analysis highlights the enormous contributions of Chinese Americans to the professions, politics, and popular culture of America, from the 19th century through the present day. While the number of Chinese Americans has grown very rapidly in the last decade, this group has long thrived in the United States in spite of racism, discrimination, and segregation. This comprehensive volume takes a global view of the Chinese experience in the Americas. While the focus is on Chinese Americans in the United States, author Jonathan H. X. Lee also explores the experiences of Chinese immigrants in Canada, Mexico, and South America. He considers why the Chinese chose to leave their home country, where they settled, and how the distinctive Chinese American identity was formed. This volume is organized into four sections: historical overview; political and economic life; cultural and religious life; and literature, the arts, and popular culture. Detailed essays capture the essence of everyday life for this immigrant group as they assimilated, established communities, and interacted with other ethnic groups. Alphabetically arranged entries describe the political, social, and religious institutions begun by Chinese Americans and explores their roles as business owners, activists, and philanthropic benefactors for their communities.

Table of Contents:
Preface Chronology of Chinese American History Part I Context of Chinese American Emigration: Coming to America Historical Overview Alien Land Law (1913) American Federation of Labor Angel Island Immigration Station Angell Treaty (Chinese Exclusion Treaty) (1880) Anti-Chinese Violence Anti-Miscegenation Laws Bachelor Society Bemis, Polly (1853–1933) Bing Kung Tong Bowl of Rice Movement Boxer Indemnity Fellowship (Boxer Rebellion) (1900) Burlingame Treaty (1868) Cantonese Chee Kung Tong Chin, Vincent Jen (1955–1982) China War Relief Association Chinese American Birth Rates Chinese American Population Trends Chinese and Cuba's Ten Years' War (1868–1878) Chinese Cambodians Chinese Canadian History Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) Chinese Immigration During the Gold Rush Chinese Immigration to Canada Chinese Immigration to Mexico Chinese Immigration to South America Chinese in Cuba Chinese in Hawai'i Chinese in Peru Chinese in the Mississippi Delta Chinese in the U.S. Civil War Chinese Vietnamese Chinese Women and the Chinese Exclusion Act Cuba Commission Report, The Dollar Diplomacy in China Hip Sing Tong (Xiesheng Tang) Hong Kong Hongmen Hop Sing Tong (Hesheng Tang) Huiguan (The Chinese Six Companies) International Context of Chinese Immigration to America, to 1870 Locke, California Opium Wars (1840 and 1856) Page Law (1875) Paper Sons and Daughters Queue Ordinance (1876) Rape of Nanjing Refugee-Escapee Act (1957) Refugee Relief Act (1953) Samyap and Szeyap San Francisco Earthquake (1906) Scott Act (1888) Sino-Japanese War (1894) Sino-U.S. Relations Taiping Rebellion Taiwan Taiwanese Immigration History War Brides Act (1946) World War I World War II World War II in the Pacific Yung Wing (1828–1912) Part II Political Activity and Economic Life: Business Endeavors and Involvement in American Politics Historical Overview Boggs, Grace Lee (1915–2015) Chennault, Anna (1925–) Chiang Kai-shek, Madame (Soong Meiling) (1898–2003) Chinatown Gangs in the United States Chinese American Activism Chinese American Citizens Alliance Chinese Americans and Civil Rights Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association Chinese Family Associations Chinese Fisheries in California Chinese Grocery Stores Chinese Hand Laundry Alliance Chinese Hospital, San Francisco Chinese-Language Newspapers in America Chinese Laundries Chinese Restaurants in the United States Chu, Judy (1953–) Contract Laborers (Credit-Ticket Laborers) Coolie Trade Eu, March Fong (1922–) Flying Tigers Fong, Hiram Leong (1906–2004) Gold Rush Gong Lum v. Rice (1927) International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union Lee, Wen-Ho (1939–) Locke, Gary Faye (1950–) Low, Evan (1983–) McCarthyism People v. Hall (1854) Secret Societies Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925) Taiwanese Americans Transcontinental Railroad Wu Tingfang (1842–1922) Part III Cultural and Religious Life: People, Institutions, and Organizations Historical Overview Bok Kai and Bok Kai Temple Chinatown Ghost Stories Chinese Christians in America Chinese Foods Chinese Genealogy Chinese Immigrant Cemeteries Chinese-Language Schools Chinese Medicine Chinese Operas Chinese Temples in America Ching Chung Taoist Association of America Confucianism Daoism Dying and Death Rituals Falun Dafa/Falun Gong Fengshui/Geomancy First Chinese Baptist Church, San Francisco Guanyin Hong Fook Tong Lunar New Year Narcissus Festival and Queen Pageant (Honolulu) Religions Taiwanese American Heritage Week Taiwanese American Religions Taiwanese Food in America Watchman Nee (1903–1972) and Witness Lee (1905–1997) Yee, James J. (ca. 1968–) Part IV Literature, the Arts, Popular Culture, and Sports: People, Movements, and Expressions of Identity Historical Overview Adrian, Nathan Ghar Jun (1988–) Chang, Apana (1871–1933) Chang, Michael Te-Pei (1972–) Chin, Frank Jianxiu (1940–) Chinese American Baseball Chinese American Hip-Hop Chinese American Jazz Chinese American Literature Chinese Americans and LGBTQQI Chinese Americans in Motion Pictures Chinese Americans in Sports Chinese Martial Arts Chinese Nightclubs (1920s–1940s) Chow, Norm Yew Heen (1946–) Dong, Arthur (1953–) Fa Mu Lan Folklore in Children's Literature Fu Manchu and Charlie Chan Huang, Eddie (1982–) Hwang, David Henry (1957–) Kwan, Michelle Wing Shan (1980–) Lam, Wifredo (1902–1982) Lee, Ang (1954–) Lee, Bruce (1940–1973) Lee, C. Y. (1917–), and Flower Drum Song Lin, Jeremy (1988–) Liu, Lucy (1968–) Ma, Yo-Yo (1955–) Miss Chinatown USA Pageant Model Minority Ng Poon Chew (1867–1931) Ngor, Haing S. (1940–1996) Pei, I. M. (Ieoh Ming) (1917–) Tam, Vivienne (1957–) Wang, Vera (1949–) Wang, Wayne (1949–) Wong Chin Foo (1847–1898) Wong, Jade Snow (1922–2006) Wong, Shawn (1949–) Wu, Daniel (1974–) Yep, Laurence Michael (1948–) Yew, Chay (1965–) Primary Documents Bibliography List of Contributors About the Editor Index

About the Author :
Jonathan H. X. Lee is associate professor of Asian American studies at San Francisco State University.

Review :
[T]he work will be valued for its specific focus on Chinese Americans as opposed to Asian Americans in general. . . . Summing Up: Recommended. Beginning students, general readers.