1

Changing Fortunes and Changing Identity, 1941-1965

Sucheng Chan

Yen Le Espirity

Historical Documents

2

Changing Fortunes for Asians in the U.S.

Identify 2 significant developments that took place for Asians (other than Japanese Americans) in the U.S. from 1941-1965. Describe it and explain its significance.

Refer to Sucheng Chan and the historical documents.

Each group must come up with 2 specific historical developments and cannot repeat what another group has already said.

3

Immigration Policy Changes1943 Congress repeals the Chinese Exclusion Act, allows only 105 immigrants per year and naturalization1945 War Brides Act (amended 1947 to include Asians)

• 6,000 Chinese women enter sex ratio 1.3:1

1946 Luce-Cellar Bill allows 100 immigrants and grants naturalization rights to Asian Indians and Filipinos.1952 McCarran-Walter Act repeals the racial restriction of the 1790 Naturalization Law; grants Japanese the right to become naturalized citizens and allows 185 immigrants; allows spouses of U.S. citizens to enter U.S. as non-quota immigrants (J, K, F)1953 Refugee Act (1957, 1959) / 1962 presidential directive allow 23,000 Chinese refugees

4

Emergence of an Asian American Identity

What specific factors possibly hindered the development of an Asian American identity until the late 1960s?

5

Yen Le Espiritu on Pre-1960s Asian Communities

• Immigrant communities•Identifications based on village, district, language

• Historical enmities• Ethnic disidentification based on avoidance of ethnic

prejudice and discrimination• Cultural and language distinctions• Pan-Asian cooperation (1920 J-F strike) based on common

class status, not shared cultural or racial background

6

Yen Le Espiritu on Context of Emergent Panethnicity

• Social and political movements of 1960s (civil rights, Black Power, anti-colonial nationalist movements, criticism of racial inequality)

• Demographic changes and breakdown of economic and racial barriers

7

Post-War Population Shift for Asians in the U.S.

Chinese Japanese

1900 80,853 90% 24,05799%

1910 56,596 79% 67,65594%

1920 43,107 70% 81,38373%

1930 44,086 59% 70,47751%

1940 37,242 48% 47,30537%

1960 CA 1/3

Immigrant native-born population• Common language and culture• Decline of national rivalries and homeland ties• Common generational differences • More permeable enclaves; moving out to suburbs (criticism of racism)• Awareness of common problems as Asian minorities (employment discrimination)

• Asian ethnic students on college campuses Asian American identity