Postponed- Striking Rich in the Land of Exclusion: Chinese American Experience, 1830-1900
Description
Presented by Anneliese Meck
January 30, 2024 at 7-8pm EST
During the mid-19th century, dreams of gold and miles of tracks brought thousands of Chinese immigrants to the United States – the land of opportunity, discrimination, and exclusion. As Chinese communities bloomed in the bustling cities along the Eastern and Western coasts, and across the rural and rugged frontier, so did the strength of anti-Chinese sentiment, which culminated in the landmark Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This presentation explores the largely untold history of America’s Chinese, giving voice to their collective struggles, perseverance, and community resilience through exploitation, legalized discrimination, vigilante violence, and efforts to expel the Chinese from the country they called home.
In part a personal research journey, as the speaker connects with her own Chinese American heritage, the goal is to reclaim the Chinese American story, and how it is represented (or not) in living history. Participants will be encouraged to draw from both individual experience and unique perspectives when forming civilian impressions, and empowered to confront the more painful parts of American history.