I'm giving a talk on Monday for GSWS_You're welcome to stop by during your lunch hour

The Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies announces their monthly fall brown-bag luncheon series. The first lunch will be on September 10th at 12:00 p. m. in Crenshaw House. Cristina Stanciu, Assistant Professor in the Department of English, will give a talk entitled “An Indian Woman of Many Hats: Laura Cornelius Kellogg’s Embattled Search for an Indigenous Voice.”

Poems

There were a few things that I noticed about the angel island poems:
- they make references to time and nature
-they grow increasingly more angry/ threatening (which is to be expected)
The last poem in particular was very threatening, calling the Americans barbarians and making promises to end them. It bothers me that when we go by the textbook of our history, we don't understand the threats. The fact that America has done so much to inspire such hatred (primarily due to cultural our own ignorance), is disappointing. I think that we should be honest with ourselves so that these things don't perpetuate.

More Like The American Nightmare, Huh?

Man, and I thought Tuesday's readings were the most depressing thing I'd read.

Seriously, I can't believe how these Chinese immigrants got treated. Like, this is almost too extreme to believe actually happened. People getting locked up on an island for months on end just because of where they were from? I mean, literally being imprisoned after making an intense boat ride, being stopped short of the life they're trying to lead by some guys who say "I'm sorry, we don't want your kind here"? That sounds like some kind of bad story.

What strikes me as really odd about all this, however, is that none of this is taught in school here. Or at least, not where I'm from, which is right here in Virginia. We get told that the US passed an anti-Chinese immigration act, but we aren't taught any of these poems, or really, any of the horrible stuff that happened to Chinese would-be immigrants. I'd never even heard of Angel Island prior to this class. Why do you think that is? Why is it that people are so determined to hide the past?

Angel Island Poems

The Angel Island poems were a similar outlook on the so-called "land of opportunity"known as America. People from all over tried to make a better life for themselves and their families but on their journey to happiness, they suffered lonliness, discomfort, & grief. We often see this in African and Native American writing and I thought it was refreshing to get a different point of view from another race even though their all quite similar.

The Angel Island Poems

Reading the poems of the Chinese immigrants detained at Angel Island, the writers’ grief is easily shown through most of the poems.  The sorrowful regret they feel is quite introspective as multiple poets ask themselves questions such as “how was I to know I would be imprisoned.”  Another writes “I bow my head in reflection, but there is nothing I can do.”  On the other hand, other poems in the document show that sadness being completely eclipsed by an angry emotion.  “The dragon out of water is humiliated by ants; … An advantageous position for revenge will surely come one day.”  “I will certainly behead the barbarians and spare not a single blade of grass.”  These particular poems are fueled by the rage felt by the Chinese detainees.  

One of the nine poems, however, doesn’t quite fit into either an enraged or depressed tone.  The poem by Xu from Xiangshan expresses several emotions.  His poem is not one of the first, as he has written his own thoughts to his peers writing.  “What can one sad person say to another?  … Why should one complain if he is detained and imprisoned here?”  It seems to be a statement on the hopelessness of their situation.  But then there’s the last line: “From ancient times, heroes often were the first ones to face adversity.”  Every which way I look at that line it just rings of hope - which is an interesting contrast to his previous lines.   This contrast is probably what makes this particular poem more striking to me than the others.  Despite that it doesn’t convey as much emotion – misery or frustration – as the others.

My questions are:  How would you describe the tone that Xu’s poem has?  And also – did you find another poem stood out to you more so than the rest as I did, why or why not?

The Devil's in the Details of Angel Island Poetry

While I have never been the best at analyzing poetry, it doesn't take a genius to see the overarching theme emerging from the lines written over a century ago on Angel Island. The poems express a deep sense of helplessness and frustration- anger really, if we're being honest. And it is entirely justified.

Peter Kvidera explains in his essay that the poetry is at the intersection of the literary and legal space by bringing the reader into the reality of the consequences of the racist Exclusion Act. They reflect the fact that proud and honest men are treated as prisoners, and the law was to blame for the mistreatment. Some poems refer to this law obliquely, while others pinpoint exactly where the issue lies. I feel both approaches work well in demonstrating the devastating effects this had on the morale of Chinese immigrants.

 I find myself drawn to the piece that begins "America has power, but not justice". I think that pretty much sums up the  late 19th and early 20th century. What's more, I honestly believe it still rings true. Regardless, I find that these poems are a delicate and beautiful response to a harsh and ugly unjust system of laws.

Question: There were hundreds of these poems on the walls of Angel Island, with some being responses to others. Of the poems presented here, which one would you choose to respond to? Would you respond with hope, encouragement, or commiseration?

The poems of Angel Island represent the frustration and disappointment of Chinese immigrants coming into California, stemming from racial bigotry in America. While this is not a unique case in the United States (as there has always been many different kinds of immigrants), these poems were very successful in painting a realistic picture of what it must have been like on the island. I loved the traditional Chinese style of writing. It was straight forward and honest while also portraying the deep emotions and frustrations that the immigrants were feeling. I could easily imagine their living quarters, their anger and their sadness. In the first poem from the readings one author describes the contradiction between the tall buildings and the uncomfortable dwellings they were forced to stay in. There was a line that really spoke to me and it that reads, "America has power, but not justice. In prison, we were victimized as if we were guilty. Given no opportunity to explain, it was really brutal. I bow my head in reflection but there is nothing I can do." When a country is so powerful, it should not be allowed to abuse that power. This country was based on the idea that it was a haven for lost peoples; a place where anyone could enter and be able to start a life away from either tyranny or religious persecution or poverty. And yet every few decades or so there is yet another group that is persecuted and looked down on in some way.

It's heartbreaking knowing that they came with such high expectations and hope, and were treated with such disrespect and disregard. It makes me think:

Has America's racial bigotry ended, or is it still alive today? And if so, what group/groups do you see struggling today with this contradiction?

A response to Angel Island

The poems I read that were selected to represent the struggles of Chinese immigrants were immensely moving. The writer is crying out against the injustice of the American government and hypocrisy of the system.  I love the lines "Even while they are tyrannical, they still claim to be humanitarian." This line struck a chord with me as it shows how those who commit acts of evil still enjoy maintaining the appearance of good. All of us as humans are guilty of this to an extent. I recognize in myself often times a refusal to own up to wrong things I have done, wrong ways I treat or even think about others. I enjoy thinking about myself as a good person when in reality I know I am not.

This poem also made me think about the helplessness of the Chinese people and immigrants in general. It displayed the trust that these immigrants placed in the American government and then reality of how the government treated these people who were so thrilled to join this country. I think it also demonstrates the humanity of all people and is warning not idealize any body of people. While America did and still does hold many opportunities in terms of education and success, this does not mean it is free from selfish individuals who will hurt anyone in order to get what they want. In fact, it is full of these individuals.

Question: What are your thoughts in response to the ones I have shared? Do you agree? Did the poem evoke any other thoughts for you similar or in opposition to mine?

Angel Island poems

The differences in the reactions of the immigrants on Angel Island is interesting. On the one hand there are a few poems where the immigrants that wrote them seem completely defeated. One of the poems ends by the immigrant writing "I bow my head in reflection but there is/ nothing I can do." On the other hand the other poems show the detainees hoping to seek revenge when they are released. These reactions are interesting because Angel Island had varying effects on the immigrants. Some of the immigrants were completely demoralized by their mistreatment on Angel Island. While some of the other immigrants showed great passion and motivation to succeed after their mistreatment.

How do you believe that you would react in the same situation?

Empowered In Captivity

The most prevalant emotion in these poems written by Chinese immigrants is the frustration with the unexpected disappointment upon their arrival in the United States. One of the poets states that they were not only put in them in captivity, but acted tyrannically and inhumane. This poet seems to be more outraged with the treatment given to the Chinese, while Xu seems to be more remorseful while at the same time attempting to grasp some optimism. He poses the question, "Why should one complain if he is detained and imprisoned here? From ancient times, heroes often were the first ones to face adversity". Although Xu shares a more optimistic outlook on the situation at hand, there is an interesting similarity between the two poets in that they both express a feeling that those captured possess the ability to be heroes or supreme. This is interesting to me because I would not expect that being held captive and treated inhumanely would create a sense of empowerment. It seems that perhaps they are grasping hard at their deserved freedom by acknowledging what they are capable of since their freedom has (hopefully temporarily) been taken away.

What do you think brought on this feeling of empowerment (or rather foreseen empowerment) between the two poets?

Do you think that this is a typical emotional reaction when one loses their freedom?

Poems from Angels

These poems made me really upset that the people who came here hoping for new beginnings actually had to go through so much pain. After reading them I wanted to help them to be able to get into America any way I can. It is amazing how much emotion can come through something so short. These poems convey sadness in a couple of lines but you know how frustrated they were and how angry they were through them. They were amazing to say the least and made me really think about how gypped they were when they thought they were coming to this amazing new country of "freedom" and they got basically spat on.

How do you think you would feel if you were promised to go somewhere that you think could solve everything but in the end made your life even worse?
Another thing that I thought was interesting but kind of off subject was why haven't I really heard that much about Angel Island? I feel like from elementary school I heard of Ellis Island and the struggles going through there but I don't think my teachers went into as much detail with Angel Island as they did for Ellis (if they even talked about it at all). Have you all had the same experience?

One of your classmates wrote an article in the RTD__Congrats to Julie Dinisio

You can read the article here:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/lifestyles/flair/2012/sep/01/tdmet01-faith-amp-values-find-yourself-by-helping--ar-2169712/

Angel Island Poetry

What really struck me about the Angel Island poems was the anger the poets expressed. I guess that I expected them to be laments for their lost countries or loved ones, but the poets engage with the unjust laws that discriminated against them. "America has power, but not justice" one poet writes. The government uses that power to subjugate rather than welcome. Another remarks, "As long as I am imprisoned, how can I dare to strive for supremacy?/ An advantageous position for revenge will surely come one day." The use of the word "supremacy" is interesting here, given the policies of white supremacy of the time. This unknown poet valued himself while the government, unfortunately, did not. These poets are plotting revenge against the racist government that imprisoned them unjustifiably. Who could blame them? I found this anger empowering, in a way, because victims of oppression should fight their oppressors to the best of their abilities, even if it is only through writing.

Do you think that the anger expressed is more powerful than the woe or the other way around? Why?

Angel Island

I think going through the website about the history of Angel Island and seeing the pictures of that time made feel like I was there.  The pictures and the history really put me in that time and they made me understand how scared one may be to be there, and to arrive to a whole different country that you are not familiar with.  A place where you have to sort of let go of your culture and your believes and melt into this new world that was telling you to melt or else you wouldn't be an American.  This whole thing scared me a little because I don't know who I would be if I just left my culture behind when I moved here.  I think it's very necessary for people to keep their culture and just be who they are, no matter if they move to another country or speak another language.  

The poems I read were also very shockingly sad and depressing because they make the reader be in that situation and picture the barracks where the Chinese men were.  I really like the line, "Instead of remaining a citizen of China, I / willingly became an ox."  I like how he compares himself as an ox which makes the reader sympathize with the prisoner and realize how horrible this experience is. It makes me think that he could have been a free man had he not come to America, but at the same time, they wanted to come here to earn a living, yet their lives were pretty much taken and imprisoned their hopes. 

Would you ever give up everything you had in America to move to another country thinking there was a better chance for you there, but isn't necessarily a fact that you'd be successful?

Why do you think America is so afraid of other races taking over the United States?

Lae Choo

In the opening paragraphs of Sui Sin Far's work, the writer purposefully excludes names but solely explains the characters as "The Little One" (545) and "his mother" (545).  In fact, Far characterizes the two as almost one being: one a part of the other.  However, Lae Choo, "accustomed to obedience she yielded the boy" (546) to her husband and ultimately the customs agents.  While the struggles of immigrants and racism appear through out the work, I was more struck by Lae Choo and her representation of a Chinese woman.  Hom Hing desired that his son be born in China and off went Lae Choo to comply.  Lae Choo spent about two years in a different country from her husband to alone birth their child then ultimately tend to her husband's dying parents.  Once those duties expired, she once again had to return to her husband.  Even before the Little One is taken, Lae Choo jumps through the hoops set up for her.  Once customs takes the Little One, both Lae Choo and Hom Hing must jump through the hoops of the government.  Hence, the Chinese immigrants are almost degraded to the level of their own women.  Lae Choo's life was obedience and caring for those in need of her services.  When her son is lost to her, Lae Choo similarly loses herself; she deteriorates to "listless, wan, and hollow-eyed" (549).  Hom Hing and Lae Choo must rely on the unsentimental lawyer; they themselves are unable to free their son.  Ultimately, they are unable to free themselves when the now Kim bade his mother "Go'way, go'way!" (551).  Ultimately, they are powerless.  Ultimately, Lae Choo was always powerless.  What does Lae Choo's demeanor and actions expose about Chinese women (immigrant or not)? 

In the land of the free

After reading this story I have felt sadness and melancholy as the young mother – Lae Choo after “loosing” her son. Besides that Sui Sin Far depicted the sufferings of Chinese immigrants and the story “In the Land of the Free” was an eminent example to demonstrate the dark side of misery and sufferings. Also the story cruelly depicted how Lae Choo suffered when Little One was held by the U.S. government, and when Little One did not recognize her at last part of the story.

Lae Choo was supposed to reunite with her husband and her happiness and hopes were switched into sadness and tears because they didn’t have appropriate documents to prove the identity of their son. She sacrificed everything for the child: she suffered all the pain and melancholy, and gave her belonged jewelries to the lawyer. It was real altruistic maternal love of Lae Choo!

I think it was not difficult to imagine how desperate a woman felt when she was forced to leave her biological children, and how despair she was when her child did not recognize her and mumble, - “Go ‘way, go ‘way!”

On another hand, the story also displayed how corruptive the officials were. For example, the young lawyer took all the jewelries from desperate mother.

Do you think, are there any the same immigration issues existing now?   

Poems from Angel Island

I love these poems. The first poem really conveys the frustration this immigrant feels about his/her situation and how they were being treated. Around this time, immigrants were invited to come to America, but there were so many exclusion laws for specific groups. Immigrants from Europe didn't suffer as much nor were the turned away as much as the Chinese. This person traveled days to a country they believed would welcome them. America was promoted as a country where everyone could live in and pursue the American Dream. Even today, America is promoted as a country where you can pursue the American Dream and you have freedom to come here and do what ever you want lawfully, but they make it really hard for immigrants to live here and they are still racists against certain groups. Mostly Latinos/Hispanics.

Do you guys believe that the America should make it easier for people to become citizens?

 

Land of the Free: Paved with Fool's Gold?

               

 This tale written by Sui Sin Far is extremely heart wrenching, but not unheard of to people who are exposed to the tribulations of immigration. Many people who come over to the States have the impression that the roads here are paved with “gold” and are ignorant towards the hardships that may follow when actually reach this country. There is an insistence on a better life and many immigrants will do whatever is necessary to get to what they think will be an improvement, which unfortunately may come with several sacrifices.  I could not fathom as to why the men at the customs would not allow Hom Hing and Lae Choo to bring their child with them. I thought it to be a bit inhumane to tear apart a family the way that the men at the U.S.C did. Apart from the men at the customs, the lawyer who was to help bring the child back to his parents was more concerned about compensation for his services than he was for the well-being of the child. Also, words probably could not describe how difficult it can be for a mother to give away her child. I almost expected a “not without my child” attitude from Lae Choo but because her culture at the time places woman in a subservient position, she was forced to listen to her husband.

My question is would you allow one of your children to get taken away, if I meant possibly providing you and them with a better life?

Wonderful Resource for Those Who'd Like to Know More about Immigration Restriction

http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/exclusion.html/

And you can read from The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) here: http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/archives/seven/chinxact.htm

Land of the Free

I have to agree with some people who posted before me, in saying that I don't think this story really represented racism but more of a story sharing the difficulties immigrants face. The officers in the beginning didn't want to take the child from their parents, he even stated he hated that part of the job. I think if anything is to blame its American immigration laws. I also don't really think the lawyer was being racist either. Money runs our country and our lives unfortunately, and as heartless as it may have sounded for him to take their personal priceless possessions he did it as a business transaction. As I was reading the story I was thinking the lawyer wasn't going to deliver and was just going to rip the parents off but he did in fact keep his side of the deal.

Obviously America's history with immigrants has changed a lot over the decades. And now instead of inviting people in we are putting up a wall to keep them out. Do you think that immigration laws are fair, in that we have them set up for positive reasons to keep our countries resources fairly shared. Or that the laws are not fair, and that as America-a free country, we should be more lenient with the laws of immigration?

Land of the Free

After reading the story, as well other classmates' blog entries, I'm not so sure I agree that this is necessarily a racist story. I would agree, that as a country, we tend to think of racism as an act toward African Americans and don't really associate other oppressed or previously oppressed minority groups since slavery has always been such a shame for America. However, thinking back to a story I read in a previous english class, "The Woman Warrior," a story about the struggle of a Chinese-American girl trying to find where she belongs, relates a lot to this short. So rather than it being a racist piece, I would have to say that to me it seemed to represent more of the hardships they had to endure (that's pretty obvious). The officials were merely just doing their job. And although the lawyer seemed to want to take as much money from them as he could, don't most do that regardless of race? I would have to say so.

I used to live in Ecuador as a girl, and my parents had to show proper documentation for me, so it just seems as though it's common sense.

So what does anyone else think? Do you guys think the officials and lawyer were way off base? Do you think they were trying to take advantage of them due to their race?

In the Land of the Free

This story is a really good symbol for how people can lose their identity when they come to America. The child, the "Little One," had been renamed Kim by the missionary school. Besides the fact that this sounds like a pretty stereotypical Asian name, they didn't even both to find out his real name. He lost that part of his identity to the school. He arrived back to his mother in "blue cotton overalls" and "white soled shoes." And he did not want to go back to her; after just ten months, the child had become very much American and he did not know his mother, a native of China.

"In the Land of the Free" also portrays American greed. The lawyer was willing to help Lae Choo and Hom Hing but for a price. He hesitated but took the couple's jewels to pay for his trip to Washington. By giving up these things - including a bracelet that had been a wedding present - the desperate parents lost some of their identity, as well.

I think the story ends so abruptly to get the reader thinking about the merit of coming to America in the first place (in addition to the somewhat ironic title of story). If this is so, do you think the author makes a good point? Or is it a fair trade off, to come to America but lose some cultural identity?

In the Land of the Free

I found Sui Sin Far’s piece to be very interesting.  Not only was her story heart-wrenching and eye opening, but her biography was as well.  The obstacles that immigrants had to overcome in this country are astounding, and to do so with such success is truly amazing.  The success that she and her siblings achieved, despite having to leave school at such a young age is amazing, especially for that time period.  They overcame prejudice and difficult economic conditions to achieve not financial success, but success in their chosen fields.  

One aspect that stood out to me particularly is the fact that she had to leave school to help support her family at a very young age.  Although she writes about the difficulties that Chinese-American immigrants faced, this is not unlike my own grandfather’s story.  When he was around the same age, he too, had to quit school to help his father support their family and was never able to finish his education.  Although the obstacles that she faced were no doubt very different and unique, as demonstrated with this story, there are also similarities.  Despite the fact that she was a different race, lived in a different part of the country, a different gender, and lived during a different time period, there was still this common thread between her story and the story of so many people across this nation.  

I know this is an odd aspect to focus on with this story, but I found it quite interesting and thought provoking.  This is not in any way to diminish the difficulties that she faced, but rather to show the similarities among all people trying to care for their families.  

Land of the Free?

After reading In the Land of the Free and the other posts, I was reminded of my U.S. History class last semester.  I really appreciated this class because my teacher took the time out to sort of right some of the wrong information that we did learn in grade school.  It reminded me most of the phenomena after the civil war where the south wrote information in textbooks that wasn't true, and basically glorified themselves.  This story is also extremely sad because I think it brings to light a lot of information that is often neglected.  When I think of racism I almost always jump to people being racist against black people or Jews because of specific events in history that were so important in school.  For World War II, I used to only really think about the Jews and forget about the various concentration camp-like facilities that we had in America because we were afraid of Japanese-Americans.

On one hand, there are guidelines to get into this country and the officers in the story were doing their job.  But it is so extremely cruel to take a child away from their parents at such a crucial age.  I can't even imagine how the mother, and other mothers, must have felt in situations like this.  Having a Dad that works in the government, I think it's easy for people outside of the government to judge how things work in this country, but I don't think it's an excuse to cover up situations like this in our history.

How about you guys?  Would you rather grow up in school hearing sugar-coated versions of our history and then find out the real truth later, or be taught everything truthfully from a young age?

p.s.
I found this video that goes along with the poems for later this week as well.  It focuses on Angel Island .

In the Land of the Free

I have to agree with Jessica in saying this is one of the saddest stories I’ve ever read. I felt like crying (and maybe did a little bit…) through almost the whole thing. However, this story also made me wonder if this kind of thing was still happening today. My first thought was certainly not, we are enlightened now and in America that kind of thing doesn’t happen to people anymore. Then I thought better of it and did a Google search. Here is what I came up with:

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/08/25/what-happens-to-us-born-kids-deported-undocumented-immigrants/

You should read it, but here are the basics: A Guatemalan woman, here illegally, was taken from her legal husband and children and deported a year and a half ago. The same thing happened in a Palestinian family in New York 2010. The mother, here illegally, was deported after more than 20 years of being in the US (if I read it right) with her legal husband and children. According to the article, “Nearly 45,000 such parents were removed in the first six months of this year, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).” And it gets worse: “At least 5,100 U.S. citizen children in 22 states live in foster care (…) an unknown number of those children are being put up for adoption against the wishes of their parents, who, once deported, are often helpless to fight when a U.S. judge decides that their children are better off here.”

Uhm. What?

So, I guess my question is two-fold. First, I would like to know if other people knew about this, or if I’m the only one stuck in the dark ages?  Second, ideas on how to fix this? These people are here illegally, but surely there should be some provision for illegal mothers of legal children – and at the very least something against these children being put up for adoption.

Oh, p.s.:

Just for kicks I did a search for “citizen children deported immigrants” on the regular Fox News website. Nothing even close to this issue came up. I did this search on the Fox News Latino website, and of course this article, and others like it, were at the very top of the list. Unless, as I said before, I’m just stuck in the dark ages and everybody else knew this was happening, it looks like the fairytale stories Jessica mentions in her post might not just be for the kids.