ANTH 23 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Geary Act, White Supremacy, Wen Ho Lee
26th Jan Friday
ANTH 23
Asian American Immigration !
Chinese immigration:
•Out of fear these people will not assimilate, they bring crime and disease etc was the fear
that drove the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 which banned Asian laborers from immigration. !
•Potential immigrants were detained in Angel Island in San Francisco Bay until they could
prove they were related to someone in the US or established merchants.!
•Why were Asians historically excluded from immigration and being considered “real
Americans?” !
- A. Race!
- B. Conflicting values!
- C. They were/are perceived as an economic threat!
- D. They were perceived as agents of a potentially hostile foreign power!
•A “pole tax” was one of many racist local ordinances in the Bay Area. If you were merchant
who carried things on a pole you would be subjected to a tax, another was that if you were
arrested for a crime your cue (hairstyle for Chinese) could be cut off. !
•Many Asian immigrants started coming to LA, San Diego area and started living near brothels
and saloons as they were not accepted in wealthy areas but these crowded areas offered
cheaper housing.!
Ah Quin:
• Was a devout Christian, Quin studied English in an American missionary school in
Guangzhou and was invited to work in San Diego as a labor broker for the railroad; he cut off
his cue when working as a cook in Alaska, a sign that he would not return to China, a
conscious effort of assimilation… The cue was a sign of Chinese heritage. He even named
his children after American presidents. !
•Many Chinese fishermen lived in waterfront shacks, until the Geary Act brought an end to the
Chinese fishing industry which was becoming very successful. !
•Many small corner laundries opened as Chinese immigrants preferred having their laundries
done for them so a niche opened up. The first generation is usually not opposed to any work
and so many restaurants, markets and laundries opened up.!
Filipino War:
•The press were very critical of the American war against the not as well equipped Filipinos.
But Americans glorified it, this had some degree of white supremacy. The then president
McKinley said there was nothing to do but to educate the Filipinos and uplift and Christianize
them. There was always a degree of supremacy. Many Filipinos could become nationals by
joining the army. They were not given work as high ranking sailors but rather to work in the
kitchens, etc.!
•Filipino sailors were likely the first Asians to arrive in San Diego. Filipino students enrolled in
San Diego High School in 1903. The Navy did not open all occupational ratings to Filipino
sailors until 1970.!
Japanese:
•Early 20th century, there was a downturn in the economy which lead to people moving here,
some of whom had money to invest in crops and so were doing quite well and so were
pushed out by others, the mayor of San Fran, claimed the “Japanese were dangerous than
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Document Summary
C. they were/are perceived as an economic threat. D. they were perceived as agents of a potentially hostile foreign power: a pole tax was one of many racist local ordinances in the bay area. Ah quin: was a devout christian, quin studied english in an american missionary school in. He even named his children after american presidents: many chinese shermen lived in waterfront shacks, until the geary act brought an end to the. Chinese shing industry which was becoming very successful: many small corner laundries opened as chinese immigrants preferred having their laundries done for them so a niche opened up. The rst generation is usually not opposed to any work and so many restaurants, markets and laundries opened up. Filipino war: the press were very critical of the american war against the not as well equipped filipinos. But americans glori ed it, this had some degree of white supremacy.
