Anti-Asian Laws
Asian Americans in the 20th
Century
Pamela Oliver
Sociology 220
Hawaii, part 1
• A kingdom of Polynesian people, recognized as
a nation by the US. (Polynesian descendants
about 20% today)
• 1830s-1900 Anglo-American planters take over
much of the land, import many Asian workers;
population becomes predominantly Asian.
Chinese, Japanese, Pilipino: whites a minority.
• Ethnic, linguistic differences. “Pidgen” spoken.
Class conflict predominates.
• 1906 California passes law segregating Asians
from whites in schools. Modeled on “Jim Crow”
laws.
• 1913 California law denies right to own land to
"persons ineligible for citizenship." (Aimed at
Japanese farmers)
• 1920, 1923 amendments also prevent leasing or
farming others' land. many forced into cities.
Some hold land in children's names.
• 1924 absolute prohibition of immigration of
"persons ineligible for citizenship."
Hawaii, part 2
• Anglo-Americans overthrow the Kingdom of
Hawaii (Queen Lydia Liliuokalani) in 1893 with
US naval support, establish a “republic” in
1894; viewed as illegal at the time (thenpresident Cleveland denounced it).
• In 1898, US annexes.
1
Hawaii Part 3
• Statehood 1959 to resolve legal status
• Hawaiian independence movement still
active; significant legal claims on public
land
• Racial climate: Asian majority, native
Hawaiians; whites (Haoles) a minority.
Pidgen.
• Hawaii to mainland migration
Pilipino Migration & Exclusion
• 400 years of Spanish colonialism: Filipinos a blend of
European and Asian, racially & culturally
• After 1898, Philippines a US possession
• Much migration to Hawaii, some migration to
mainland. Smaller numbers than Chinese or Japanese.
• On mainland, often lived and intermarried with
Mexicans.
• 1934 Philippine “independence” curtails Philippine
immigration
Spanish-American War 1898
• Puerto Rico, Philippines, Guam, Wake, become
US possessions.
• Independence wars raging against Spain become
wars against US, take time to subdue, especially
in Philippines
• Guam, Wake, Samoa – still US possessions
whose “Pacific Islander” residents are US
citizens. Small numbers, insignificant in most
statistics, but present on mainland.
Asian Americans in Early 20th Century
• 1920s, 1930s: Japanese American generation,
speak English, identify as Americans, seek full
civil rights, prove loyalty to US.
• Many Asians, especially those from India &
Arabs (who are Caucasian) file lawsuits
claiming to be “white” so they can become
citizens
• Supreme Court rules in 1923 that “white” does
not mean “Caucasian” but “people from
Europe”
2
Integrationist & Separatist Forms
Assimilationist/
Integrationist
Accommodationist
Reformist
Fraternal, cultural,
mutual-benefit groups
& churches
Civil rights groups (e.g. Some community
JACL, LULAC)
development groups
Race-blind
conservatives
Radical/ Militant Some campus diversity
groups
Revolutionary
Separatist/
Nationalist
?
None for Asians
{Brown Berets,
American Indian
Movement}
Filipino independence
Internment of Japanese
• Idea originated in Hawaii, but never done there: not a
minority
• “Concentration camps”: similar beginnings (rounded
up, train rides to ??, popular hostility). Different
endings – not murder.
• Explicit white statements: reclaim Japanese land, “this
is for whites, not browns,” define as race war.
• Asked to sign loyalty oaths. Most sign, a few not.
(Sent to Japan after the war),
• A few volunteer for army, most not. Then reclassified
I-A. Draft resistance breaks out; some are imprisoned.
Say they would be willing to fight if they were treated
as citizens.
World War II
• 1940-1950. Japan bombs Pearl Harbor.
• Internment of Japanese on West Coast, 2/3
citizens.
• War effort distinguishes evil Japanese from
good Chinese.
After WWII: 1940s & 1950s
• Chinese & other Asians except Japanese finally
permitted to become naturalized citizens during
WWII. (Japanese so permitted after 1952.)
• Alien land laws ruled unconstitutional after war
• 1949 Chinese revolution makes Chinese bad,
communists
• JACL call for reparations begins (finally wins in
1990s)
3
Immigration Law
• Major change 1965
• Old law: national origins, immigration permits in
proportion of origins of US in 1820
• New law: favors highly educated + relatives of
current residents. Authors thought would
accomplish old purposes in less overtly racist
ways (First quota on Latin American
immigration)
• Initially a trickle, but by late 1970s, major Asian
immigration.
Myth of the Model Minority:
Males average personal income as a % of white males’
late 1980s
Mexican
Black
Pilipino
Chinese
Korean
Japanese
0
50
100
• Japanese largely US born & have higher education than
whites. Equal income implies discrimination against them.
National origins of Asians in the US, 1960 and 1990. Percentages of all Asians in the US w
origins are from each country.
National Origins of Asians
Ethnic Background
1960
1990 NOTES
Japanese
52
12
Largely US-born.
China ( PRC, Taiwan, 27
Hong Kong, other)
23
Were 2/3 US-born in 1960; now 2/3 immigrant.
Some very poor, illegal aliens. Some wealthy
professionals, business owners.
Philippines
20
19
"invisible minority" 3/4 immigrants, professional
and less skilled workers.
Korea
1
11
college-educated, bring capital, high rates of selfemployment
India + Pakistan,
Bangldesh
1
12
largely professionals
Vietnam
8
early were US employees in war, escaped as refuge
later refugees impoverished. now immigrants.
Laos (2/3 Laotian, 1/3
Hmong)
3
refugees, largely poor. now some immigrants
Cambodia
2
refugees.
Other
a mixture
Japanese
• Nearly all US born
• 3rd, 4th, even 5th generation
• From 52% of all Asian Americans in 1960
to 12% and falling in 1990
• High rates of urbanization, education
• Little tie to Japan, may identify as JapaneseAmericans or as Asian Americans
• Face racial discrimination
4
Pilipino (Filipino)
Chinese
• In 1960, 2/3 of Chinese were US born, by 1985 2/3
immigrant. Largest Asian group now (23%).
• Many US-born are 3rd, 4th, 5th generation – like Japanese
• Come from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China. Also Indonesia,
Malaysia, Singapore. Ethnic/political differences.
• Professionals quite well off; Monterrey Park CA is
wealthy Chinese-dominant city.
• Others are low-wage workers in China towns. trapped by
lack of English. Hard to learn when have to work long
hours to survive.
• Chinese gangs among youth facing language barrier with
few prospects.
Koreans
• Huge increase in recent migration. Large
concentrations in NY, LA.
• 70% have college degrees, often medical professionals.
Come as settlers, bring families. Bring $$. Some are
prosperous professionals.
• High rates of self-employment in US: $$ +
accent/language issues
• Filling urban retail niche being vacated by white Jews,
Italians, Greeks fleeing to the suburbs. greengrocers.
Family labor, hard work. "The first generation must be
sacrificed." Own lives bleak, educate the children.
Others are prosperous professionals.
• Pilipinos largely invisible. Racial diversity: “look”
Mexican or Chinese. Spanish influences. Few “ethnic
enclaves.”
• Second largest Asian group.
• Predominantly immigrants, disproportionately women
• Many health care professionals, educated in English.
Especially nurses. Many men have to downgrade
occupation in US. Many are well off.
• But Philippines a very poor country, many migrants
poor. Pilipino women are maids in much of the world
• Some obtained immigration rights by joining US
military
Pamela
PamelaE.
E.
Oliver:
Oliver:
Pick
Pickup
uphere
here
10/18/01
10/18/01
Korean, part 2
• Korean churches a major site of ethnic
community; significant fraction are Christian
• Many North Koreans migrate through South
Korea
• 1992 riot, Korean-black conflicts. Black girl shot
by Korean grocer, fine only. Arson of Korean
businesses, police did not defend.
5
South Asians (Indians, Pakistanis)
• Highest income ethnic subgroup. Many are
English-educated professionals with advanced
degrees, technical skills
• Also large numbers of cab drivers, motel owners.
• Religion: Hindus (caste divisions), Muslim, Sikh,
Christian
• Language: Many different. Upper classes educated
in English. Lower classes may not be English
proficient.
• Do not identify as “Asian” racially, many identify
as “white”
Southeast Asians
• Generally refugees
• Generally poorer than voluntary immigrants
• Immigrant generation generally much worse
off than Chinese, Japanese, Koreans,
Indians
• Post-traumatic stress syndrome &
depression common
• US-born children doing much better
Vietnamese
• Refugees. First wave evacuated 1975 when Communists
won Vietnam war. Educated US-collaborators, English
speakers.
• Boat people. 1980s. Most hope to return, reclaim
homeland.
• Youth often arrived unaccompanied, hard time surviving,
living in motels and hanging out in cafes. Many join gangs.
• Vietnamese businesses, often people who had businesses in
Vietnam and brought capital.
• Some are ethnic Chinese; may identify as Chinese or
Vietnamese
• 1990s voluntary immigrants, starting businesses
Laotians
•
•
•
•
•
70,000 ethnic Lao
10,000 Mien
60,000 Hmong
Conflicts among these groups in Laos, here.
Immigrants are refugees, generally illeducated, generally concerned about
Laotian politics, traumatic stress syndrome,
depression
6
Hmong
• Ethnic minority in Laos (most in China) -- separate
• worked for CIA in support of US war effort. Emergency
evacuation.
• Although initially scattered, congregated in California
central valley & in Minnesota & Wisconsin
• Hmong written language a recent development, many are
not literate in their own language. No urban skills
• Cultural clashes with the larger society, e.g. over marriage
of young teens, large families, medical & social customs
• Strong clan system is used in the US for collective
economic development.
• Younger Hmong are learning in school, strong Hmong
identity but conflicts with parents over culture
Cambodians
•
•
•
•
•
Escaped the Khmer Rouge.
100,000 from refugee camps.
post traumatic stress disorder.
some educated, many country folk.
escaping horrors. think of home.
Burma
Southeast Asia
Others (small in US but students
at UW)
7
Indonesia
• Dutch colony before independence.
• Predominantly Muslim; racially Malay or
Pacific Islander with mainland
Asian/Chinese admixture.
• Chinese minority is relatively wealthy, has
been subject to ethnic violence.
• Repressive government for a long time,
inequality.
Malaysia
• 2/3 Malay Muslims, 1/3 Chinese.
• Had ethnic violence in the past, has worked
to achieve ethnic peace p
• Part of the British community of nations, so
historically less tied to the US.
• More Malaysians coming to US to study in
recent years
Others
• Singapore, a very small former British
colony, predominantly Chinese, sees itself
as cosmopolitan.
Arab, Middle-Eastern, Muslim
Americans
8
Arabs
• Arabs speak Arabic (which has dialects)
• Arabs live in Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti,
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman,
Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia,
Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab
Emirates and Yemen. Some Arabs are
Israeli citizens. .
Non-Arab Middle East Peoples
• Iranians are Persian, speak Farsi, are mostly
Muslim
• Turkish are Muslim, but not Arabs
• Minority groups include Assyrians, Berbers,
Chaldeans and Kurds
• Chaldeans are Catholics from Iraq,
significant communities in US.
• Coptics are Egyptian Christians: speak
Arabic but see selves as culturally distinct
Arab Americans
• About 3 million Arab-Americans
• Seen as various “races” in US – some
white/European, some African, some south Asian.
• Most Arab-Americans are US born, ancestors
migrated before 1920, mostly Christians from
Lebanon and Syria
• More recent wave are Muslims
• The majority of Arab Americans are Catholic or
Orthodox Christian
Muslims
• About 12 percent of Muslims worldwide are
Arabs.
• There are more Muslims in Indonesia than in all
Arab countries combined.
• Large populations of Muslims live in India, Iran,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia,
other parts of East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
• Islam originated among Arabs, and the Quran was
originally written in Arabic, so Arabic influences
in Islam.
9
Muslim Americans
Middle East
• American Muslim Council reports
• 42% of all Muslims in US are AfricanAmericans
• 24% are of South Asian origin
• 12% are of Arab origin
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