New York University Chinese Experience in the US Discussion

Answer discussion questions about the film clips from Becoming American: The Chinese Experience (in the week 10 module). Provide your initial answers to the questions by 11:59 pm on Friday, April 8. Then, make sure you reply to at least two of your classmates by the close of the discussion forum by 11:59 pm on Sunday, April 10. As a discussion group, your goal is to answer all of the questions together! Participation in the discussion is worth up to 25 points.

Answer any two out of the first four questions:

1. What were the major factors that caused men to leave their villages in China and come to California and other parts of the United States? What connections did they maintain with their home villages and families after arriving in the U.S.?
2. What jobs did Chinese immigrants do in the U.S.? Why did they do these jobs?
3. What reception did Chinese immigrants receive from whites when they first arrived in San Francisco? How and why did white attitudes change?
4. How did the work experiences of Chinese immigrants compare to those of the native-born whites, European immigrants, free blacks, and slaves in the 1800s? What were some key similarities and differences?

Also answer question 5:

5. What surprised you about the film? Is the history depicted in the film still relevant in 2022?