Personal Narrative: My Family's Story Of Immigration

Coming from a Mexican immigrant family I have learned to recognize since a very young age that because of the status that my parents are placed in they cannot pursue a better future like the one I want. I have been given the opportunity to challenge myself with obtaining a higher education than just high school itself. My parents have demonstrated to me through their hard work that I have to value this opportunity unless I want to end up with low paying job. My life long dedication comes from seeing my parents make sacrifices in order for my education to continue.

Welcome. A single word on the carpet by the door greets me whenever I come home. There had been times where that one word made my heart beat and cry with joy. But not now, for many things changed through the years. Now when I look at this carpet, I instead question back: ‘Do you really mean that?’

As a part of an immigrant family, there is no doubt that, as the oldest, I had to help my parents with English translation. Even though I have been in this role for years, it was not until recently that I realized the significance of my responsibilities.

As a result of the growing tensions, the state of California democrats sought to exclude the Chinese from immigrating (para 4). Most of their measures were unsuccessful, but the legislative attempts were a clear sign of the times, and an indication that even if they were “allowed” to come to America, the people would do whatever they could to make the experience unbearable. Eventually, in 1882, the

There were three lessons that my immigrant parents ingrained in their first-generation children: Work hard, never give up, and most importantly, give back. Among other life lessons they taught us, these three were the basis for everything. It would be the basis that would and will define me as a person.

It is not uncommon to hear one recount their latest family reunion or trip with their cousins, but being a first generation immigrant, I sacrificed the luxury of taking my relatives for granted for the security of building a life in America. My parents, my brother, and I are the only ones in my family who live in the United States, thus a trip to India to visit my extended family after 4 years was an exciting yet overwhelming experience. Throughout the trip, I felt like a stranger in the country where I was born as so many things were unfamiliar, but there were a few places that reminded me of my childhood.

As per the book, the Chinese started working on a low wages replacing the jobs for other population. As result Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, effectively barring Chinese immigration. This reduced the Chinese population. Document 17 -1 'Pun Chi Appeals to congress in Behalf of Chinese Immigrants In California' explains the poor condition

Chinese Americans were confined to segregated ghettos, called Chinatowns, in major cities and isolated regions in rural areas across the country. Chinese immigrants 1965-Present- Chinese Americans were liberated from a structure of racial oppression and now live like modern citizens not subject by laws banning them into the country.   Domestics- a hired household servant. Chinese supplied labor for America's growing industry- the Chinese provided a quarter of California's labor force which lead to Americas growth and

The significance of the 1965 Immigration Reform,also known as the Hart-Celler Act, was that it removed the previous quota system to create a new immigration policy to reunite families and allow skilled workers into the united states. It had a huge impact in the population growth of asian americans and many other races. The new immigration policy allowed immigrants to be permanent residents if you had a relative in the United States or if the immigrant had useful skills. Even though it removed the previous quotas they still had to place

The U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, also known as Hart-Cellar Act, represents the most significant period in the history of Asian Americans. Decades of continuous exclusion and racist immigration policies, came to an end with the adoption of the Act, which resulted in unprecedented flows of immigrants from Asia, Mexico, Latin America, and other countries immigrating to U.S. Most influential proved to be the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, which brought national and international attention to the pervasive problem of racism and economic inequality in American society, including discriminatory immigration laws. New arrivals, especially from Asia, have transformed the demographic and diversity characteristics of Asian American community, and American society in general. The immigration Act of 1965 was the most important immigration reform legislation for Asian Americans and other racial minorities because it finally challenged the American race relations and dramatically improved the lives of Asian Americans.

• A​t first Chinese immigrants were welcomed in California. But what caused the political climate to turn against the Chinese? A​mericans started to see the Chinese (along with other immigrants like the French, Mexican, Chilean, ect) as competition for discovering gold in the gold fields. Americans felt that since gold was found on American soil, whoever should find gold and have any access to it should be an American and not a foreigner. They felt that they would take whatever measure they had to to prevent any foreigners from finding any and striking it rich. They also claimed that since so many Asian immigrants were working as laborers but didn’t actually want to be American citizens, it was discouraging Americans from different states from coming to California in search of gold.

California During the late 1800’s to mid-1900’s was extremely unwelcoming to many of the immigrants including: Japanese, Chinese, Latinos and many other immigrant groups. Early Japanese immigration started around the 1880’s with the Chinese immigrants working in the railroad construction and as contract laborers in the fields. Throughout history many immigrants that migrated to the United States have been the feared by many native born citizens as being a threat to the American Culture and many available jobs. Even though the Japanese contributed greatly to California’s agricultural bloom and where a model to citizens, they were still treated as second citizens by the native citizens for this country and had been excluded from many opportunities being offered to United States citizens; the treatment was inhumane, working enslaved many hours and not being able to grow in business or increase the possibility of obtaining money Many Japanese had the intention of returning back to Japan before the Gentleman Agreement was signed in 1907. The agreement between the governments of Japan and the United States was that the U.S would lower their restrictions on Japanese staying in California and offer some protections granted to American citizens, while the Japanese agreed to limit the numbers of unskilled Japanese workers immigrating to the United States.

There are many interesting facts about the Chinese immigrants in California. Many immigrants arriving in the 19th century were mostly males. The population of Chinese Americans decreased after the Chinese Exclusion Act until 1920. Only the privileged merchant class was allowed to bring their families to the United States from China. More than 100,000 Chinese immigrants immigrated to California to find better jobs from 1849 to 1882. The Chinese were the first Asians to arrive in a large

The immigration of Asians to America was a big part of American History. This is especially true for the Chinese because they were one the first minorities to immigrate to the U.S. in mass. Asians are still the fastest growing minorities in the U.S. to date.

Each year in California, thousands of visitors are drawn here to enjoy stunning views, enjoy world class wines, see amazing architecture and join the economic opportunities. But nearly a century ago hundreds of young men from the Philippines known as the “Manongs,” “The Manongs immigrated during the 1920’s and 30s and were the first wave of Filipinos to come to the United States.” (LD) Before them, from 1850-1964, 300,000 Chinese emigrated from their villages in search of gold. Little did they know of the harsh realities waited for them or the bonds that would see them through. In the 1980 Census, the Chinese, Filipinos, and Japanese once represented, respectively, the three most populous Asian ethnic groups in the United States. This paper examines the immigration of the Chinese and Filipino immigrants to the U.S. This paper also follows the historical passage beginning with the Filipinos and then Chinese immigrants and illustrates uniqueness of each immigrant group.