Chinese Immigrants… Chinese Immigrants… Coming to AmericaComing to America

Who lived onWho lived on

San Francisco’s San Francisco’s

Angel Island ?Angel Island ?

Chinese immigration to Chinese immigration to CaliforniaCalifornia

The early days in San The early days in San Francisco’s Francisco’s chinatown--where chinatown--where the past meets the the past meets the present.present.

Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of “The Chinese in “The Chinese in America”America”

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882…The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882…

For the first time in American history, ethnicity was For the first time in American history, ethnicity was used to refuse entry of immigrants to our country used to refuse entry of immigrants to our country

as naturalized citizens. By this act, racism rears its as naturalized citizens. By this act, racism rears its ugly head and points directly at Chinese ugly head and points directly at Chinese

immigrants.immigrants.

1910: 1910: Immigration station on Angel Island Immigration station on Angel Island opens to receive Asian immigrants.opens to receive Asian immigrants.

Why was it called “Angel Island”?Why was it called “Angel Island”?

No one knows….some of the children on the island complained that it should have been called White Devil Island!

Because they were Chinese immigrants, they were confined on the island before they could enter the “Golden Mountain”-- which is what they called California.

Finding their dream in ‘Gold Finding their dream in ‘Gold Mountain’ …Mountain’ …

This Chinese bride, in This Chinese bride, in traditional traditional costume, entered costume, entered Angel Island when Angel Island when she immigrated to she immigrated to the US, and the US, and married in 1927.married in 1927.

What were the children’s What were the children’s ages on Angel Island?ages on Angel Island?• Some were Some were

newborn infants newborn infants when they arrivedwhen they arrived

• Some were Some were elementary or elementary or middle school age middle school age when they arrivedwhen they arrived

• Some were in high Some were in high school when they school when they arrivedarrived

We’re all children of immigrants…We’re all children of immigrants…

““I sailed far away on a I sailed far away on a giant fish to the land of giant fish to the land of Golden Mountain,Golden Mountain,

My mother and I came My mother and I came with only dreams to with only dreams to the island in the mist….the island in the mist….

……is it a crime to be is it a crime to be Chinese? No! I shall be Chinese? No! I shall be strong like my strong like my ancestors.”ancestors.”

From From Angel Island Prisoner Angel Island Prisoner 19221922 by Helen Chetin by Helen Chetin

Mr. Ng was 15 when he arrived in Mr. Ng was 15 when he arrived in 1931:1931:

““We stayed in the dormitory most of the time. There We stayed in the dormitory most of the time. There wasn’t much recreation. At most, there were one or wasn’t much recreation. At most, there were one or two ping pong tables….there were over 100 people two ping pong tables….there were over 100 people living there, all young and wanted to play, so I never living there, all young and wanted to play, so I never did get a chance to playdid get a chance to play.” .”

from the bookfrom the book IslandIsland by Him Mark Lai, by Him Mark Lai, Genny Lim, and Judy Yung Genny Lim, and Judy Yung

What was the food like on Angel Island?What was the food like on Angel Island?

““There were two meals a day. It was ordinary food, with fish There were two meals a day. It was ordinary food, with fish and meat. The cooking skills were too inferior and the food and meat. The cooking skills were too inferior and the food was difficult to swallow. . .many new Chinese arrivals was difficult to swallow. . .many new Chinese arrivals chose to remain half-hungry.”chose to remain half-hungry.”

---Mr. Ma, age 17 in 1922---Mr. Ma, age 17 in 1922

You can visit Angel Island…You can visit Angel Island…

It’s in San Francisco It’s in San Francisco Bay and you can Bay and you can visit with your visit with your class!class!

In order to find out more about what life was like on Angel Island, you can visit In order to find out more about what life was like on Angel Island, you can visit these web links:these web links:www.askasia.orgwww.askasia.org

www.memory.loc.govwww.memory.loc.govwww.pbs.orgwww.pbs.org

www.socialstudies.comwww.socialstudies.comwww.lydialum999.comwww.lydialum999.com

Let’s Let’s give CREDIT where credit is duegive CREDIT where credit is due for this for this

slide show!slide show!

For further information about the For further information about the photos used in this photos used in this presentation, please visit presentation, please visit these websites:these websites:

www.angel-island.comwww.angel-island.com

www.ditto.comwww.ditto.comwww.sunsite.berkeley.edu/calheritage. comwww.sunsite.berkeley.edu/calheritage. com

www.sfgate.comwww.sfgate.com