Strangers in the Land
Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America
By: Michael Luo
From New Yorker editor and writer Michael Luo, an urgent, deeply felt history of the Chinese in America and their more than century-long struggle to belong. In 1889, while upholding the latest in a series of exclusionary laws targeting Chinese immigrants, the Supreme Court Justice Stephen Johnson Field characterized the Chinese as "impossible to assimilate with our people" and "strangers in the land." Today, there are twenty-four million people of Asian descent in the United States, and yet, as Luo observes in his riveting, sorrowful narrative, the question of belonging still trails them. Strangers in the Land tells the story of a people who, beginning in the middle of the nineteenth century, migrated by the tens of thousands to a distant land they called Gum Shan--Gold Mountain. Americans initially welcomed the Chinese arrivals, but as their numbers grew on the Pacific coast, sentiment shifted and horrific episodes of racial violence erupted. A prolonged economic downturn that commenced in the mid-eighteen-seventies and idled legions of white working men helped create the conditions for what came next: federal legislation aimed at excluding Chinese laborers from the country. It marked the first time the United States barred a people from immigrating based on their race. Violence soon crested. Luo documents the driving out of Chinese residents from towns across the American West, a shameful and little-known chapter of American history. Luo follows the Chinese in America as they persisted amidst suspicion and as a native-born population took shape. Finally, in 1965, America's gates swung open to people like his parents, immigrants from Taiwan. Strangers in the Land is an epic history of exclusion, belonging, and the complications of America's multiracial democracy.
AI Overview
Title: "Strangers in the Land" by Michael Luo
Plot Summary: "Strangers in the Land" tells the epic story of Chinese immigrants in the United States, beginning in the mid-19th century. The book chronicles their journey, marked by significant challenges and hardships, including anti-Asian violence, exclusion laws, and the struggle for belonging in a new homeland. Key events and figures include:
- Anti-Asian Violence: The book details the brutal treatment of Chinese immigrants, such as the lynching of Gene Tong, a Los Angeles herbalist, and the rise of demagogues like Denis Kearney, who led the anti-Chinese movement in the late 1870s.
- Exclusion Laws: The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 is a central theme, highlighting how Chinese immigrants were deemed "undocumented" and subjected to surveillance and exclusion.
- Activism and Leadership: The pioneering activist Wong Chin Foo and other leaders of the Chinese community are featured, who fought for their rights and pressed the U.S. to live up to its ideals.
- Education and Success: The book also explores how Chinese students, despite facing significant barriers, succeeded in gaining education at elite institutions like Harvard and Princeton.
Key Themes:
- Exclusion and Belonging: The book delves into the historical exclusion of Chinese immigrants and how this label of "stranger" has persisted despite significant demographic changes in the U.S..
- Violence and Resistance: It examines the violent treatment of Chinese immigrants and their resistance to such injustices.
- Community Resilience: The narrative highlights the resilience and community building of Chinese immigrants in the face of adversity.
- Gender and Stereotypes: The book touches on the issue of Chinese women being brought to the U.S. for sex work, which created harmful stereotypes and contributed to broader Sinophobia.
Critical Reception:
- Revelatory and Unforgettable: Critics describe the book as "revelatory and unforgettable," an essential American story that draws on extensive archival research and is written with a New Yorker writer's style and sweep.
- Historical Depth: The book is praised for its detailed historical account, providing a comprehensive understanding of the experiences of Chinese immigrants in the U.S..
- Emotional Impact: Some reviewers note that the book contains horrifying descriptions of violence, which may be difficult for some readers to handle.
Overall, "Strangers in the Land" is a powerful and deeply researched historical narrative that sheds light on a shameful chapter of American history while offering hope through stories of resilience and community.