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Each thumbnail is clickable for a large view. These images
from BECOMING AMERICAN: The Chinese Experience are to be used
solely for the promotion of the PBS series. The specified
credit (highlighted below in bold) must appear when published.
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SHAWN WONG
Second generation Chinese American Shawn Wong. "My mother would
wear Chinese dresses, cheong sams," says Wong in the documentary.
"My mother and father would speak Chinese to each other at home,
and, and here I am, this little boy. I wanted to be, you know,
Willie Mays. I wanted to be Roy Rogers."
Courtesy of Shawn Wong. |
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WORKERS ON THE TRANSCONTINENTAL
RAILROAD
The building of the transcontinental railroad was perhaps the
greatest engineering feat of the 19th century. Initially hired
for manual labor only, Chinese workers proved able at skilled
work - serving as masons, tracklayers and foremen.
Credit:
Denver Public Library, Western History Collection (Neg. #x-21513) |
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PIONEER WOMAN POLLY BEMIS
Sold into slavery in China, Lalu Nathoy was brought to Idaho
and put to work as a 'sing-song girl,' a bar hostess in one
of the makeshift mining towns. By the end of her life she was
Mrs. Polly Bemis, a pioneer woman.
Credit: Idaho
Historical Society |
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YALE'S FIRST CHINESE GRADUATE
Yung Wing and two others traveled from Macao to Connecticut
to be trained as missionaries. Yung Wing became the first Chinese
man to graduate from Yale University as part of the Class of
1854.
Credit: Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford,
CT |
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BARNUM'S CHINESE FAMILY, PWAN
YEE KOO AND HER ENTOURAGE
A scene familiar to mid-19th Century America was the P.T. Barnum
show rolling into town. People could step into the side-show
tents and see the two-foot tall 'man in miniature,' the tattooed
man, and a living Chinese family. Who they really were, no one
knows. But Barnum displayed them as aristocrats, and draped
them in splendid silks.
Credit: Museum of the City
of New York |
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THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT HANDBILL
The Chinese Exclusion Act passed in 1882 marks the first time
that the United States banned any group of people based on race
or nationality. This handbill for a public rally celebrates
with the words "Hip! Hoorah! The White Man Is On Top!"
Credit: British Columbia Archives (Neg. # PDP 03732) |
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1ST LT. FRED GONG (CENTER), LEAD
BOMBADIER ON B-17 FLYING FORTRESS DURING WWII
While Pearl Harbor cast suspicion on Japanese Americans, it
resulted in a more positive attitude about Chinese Americans.
Suddenly, China was America's ally and Chinese Americans became
the "good Asians." As patriotic fever swept through the country,
thousands of Chinese American men enlisted.
Credit:
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California |
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SHIPYARD WORKER LONNIE YOUNG DURING
WWII
The demands of wartime production enabled Chinese Americans
to move into the American workforce in large numbers. For the
first time Chinese American women took on jobs as welders, riveters,
burners and flangers.
Courtesy of Connie Young
Yu |
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WORKER WITH SIGN
In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, U.S. Federal Agents began
rounding up and questioning all of the Japanese. Howard Yip
went to work daily with this sign displayed on his back, a notice
to fellow workers that he is Chinese.
Credit: University
of Southern California, on behalf of the USC specialized libraries
and archival collections |
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ANGEL ISLAND MEDICAL INSPECTIONS
Chinese immigrants arrived at Angel Island Immigration Station
in San Francisco hoping to enter the United States, but had
to go through a gauntlet of processing. The first step was a
medical exam.
Credit: California State Department
of Parks and Recreations |
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ANGEL ISLAND INTERROGATION
Trying to determine if an immigrant is really entitled to entry,
Public Health Service and Immigration Service officers on Angel
Island interrogate an arrival from China.
Credit:
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, College Park,
MD |
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WOMEN AND CHILDREN ON ANGEL ISLAND
Chinese women and children wait at the Angel Island Immigration
Station.
Credit: California Historical Society (Neg.
# FN-18240) |
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MOVIE STAR ANNA MAY WONG
In 1932, Anna May Wong was the leading Chinese American actress
in Hollywood. However, when a white leading man was cast in
the movie based on Pearl Buck's runaway bestseller, The Good
Earth, Wong knew she would be passed over for a white actress
because Hollywood followed a strict code prohibiting kissing
between people of different races.
Courtesy of Graham
Hodges |
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ANNA MAY WONG ARRIVING AT PREMIERE
Although actress Anna May Wong, born and raised in the United
States, was considered the preeminent Chinese American actress
of her generation she was usually relegated to stereotypical
roles.
©Bettmann/CORBIS |
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JERRY YANG
Jerry Yang, a founder of Yahoo!, recalls how, after he arrived
in America as a child, his mother required him to memorize English
words from the dictionary every day - and she would quiz him.
Credit: AP/Wide World Photos |
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JEAN TANG
Jean Tang (L), seen here at her college graduation, and currently
a student at Stanford Medical School, remembers her mother breaking
into tears when she received a B in school. As a child she constantly
absorbed the message that she was personally responsible for
ensuring that her family's circumstances improved.
Courtesy
of Jean Tang |
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VINCENT CHIN'S MOTHER
Vincent Chin's mother sits holding a photo of her son. Out celebrating
his imminent marriage at a bachelor party in Detroit, he was
mistaken for Japanese by two white Americans who followed him
out of the party and beat him to death.
Courtesy
of Helen Zia |
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VINCENT CHIN PROTEST
The murder of Vincent Chin and the subsequent sentence of his
attackers (probation and a fine) brought Asian Americans together
in protest and supported the growing realization that they could
be a more effective political force if they worked together.
Courtesy of Helen Zia |
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PRESIDENT JOHNSON SIGNS BILL
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Immigration
Reform Act into law, opening the doors to Asians and other non-Europeans
to come to America in record numbers.
Credit: LBJ
Library and Museum |
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PRESIDENT JOHNSON AT STATUE
OF LIBERTY (L to R) Ladybird Johnson, President
Lyndon B. Johnson and Press Secretary Bill Moyers at the Statue
of Liberty. The President was there to sign the 1965 Immigration
Reform Act into law. The law opened the doors to Asians and
other non-Europeans to come to America in record numbers.
Credit: LBJ Library and Museum
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HELEN ZIA AND BILL MOYERS Author
Helen Zia with Bill Moyers. Helen Zia graduated in Princeton's
first class of women and is a prominent journalist and Chinese
American activist.
Photo Credit: Jenny Doll
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