The Story of Jia Sheng: Coming to America

Gene Luen Yang’s writing style in his graphic novel, American Born Chinese, demonstrate great technique of suspense and foreshadowing. Yang grew up with two parents who were an electrical engineer from Taiwan and a programmer who grew up in Hong Kong and Taiwan, both of whom emigrated to the United States. His experiences follow this book’s plot and his writing style follows exactly how he may have felt during that part of his life. His parents helped give him a strong work ethic and reinforced their Asian culture to make sure he was never ashamed of where he came from.

People always seem to be changing themselves because they want the approval of others and are worried what others think of them. They aren't happy about who they are, maybe its looks, or maybe its race that they are concerned about, either way people try to change who they are. In ABC, the author Yang reveals many common stereotypes about chinese people and the struggle they might have in fitting in. Chin-kee one of the main characters is very stereotypical and impacts Danny and Jin’s life greatly. Jin Wang the main character faces some problems fitting in because of his race and the stereotypes associated with it and changes himself in order to fit in.

The third section of the essay uses narration but also analysis, as Liu examines the effects of his assimilation. As Liu narrates his experiences in college, he analyzes their importance as related to his own acceptance into white American culture. Liu examines the cause and effect of his acts in college, like how he chose not to be pigeonholed by the race-specific clubs. He considers whether it was a good idea to distance himself from his Chinese culture in order to achieve success and respect in America. The third section deals with Liu’s college experience and how it played a part in his

Have you ever visited a place and just felt a connection Jing-Mei did when she visited China for the first time in remembrance of her mother. Jing-Mei’s story is told in Amy Tan’s book “The Joy Luck Club” in the section called “A Pair of Tickets.” Tan uses elements in the setting to develop the story of Jing-Mei, she uses the Locale and the Atmosphere to create emotional tension and resolution. The beginning of “A Pair of Tickets” is about Jing-Mei and her father traveling to China to meet her long-lost half sisters who her mother had to abandon because of the war that was going on in China.

In Eric Liu's Piece ,“A Chinaman’s Chance: Reflections on the American Dream”, Liu argues that the American Dream does still exist for minorities. He claims that the Dream is not about claiming prosperity, but about seizing opportunity. He develops this claim by first utilizing anecdotes to get an emotional appeal from the audience. Then using diction to establish a logical argument and enrich the piece. And finally, using rhetorical questions to make the audience think deeply about the argument. Liu’s purpose is to convince the audience that the American Dream exists for minorities today. He also establishes a formal yet critical tone by incorporating strategic word choice and diction. This work is significant because it reflects on the important

Many new arrivals still struggle to survive and often Chinese Americans still encounter suspicion and hostility. Chinese Americans have achieved great success and now, like so many others, they are stitching together a new American identity. As Michelle Ling, a young Chinese American, tells Bill Moyers in Program 3, “I get to compose my life one piece at a time, however I feel like it. Not to say that it’s not difficult and that there isn’t challenge all the time, but more than material wealth, you get to choose what you are, who you are.” (www.pbs.org)

Beginning in the late 19th century and continuing to the early 20th century, many Chinese families struggled to gain social, economic, and educational stature in both China and the United States. In the book, A Transnational History of a Chinese Family, by Haiming Liu, we learn about the Chang family rooted in Kaiping County, China, who unlike many typical Chinese families’ exemplified hard-work and strong cultural values allowing them to pursue an exceptional Chinese-American lifestyle. Even with immigration laws preventing Chinese laborers and citizens to enter unless maintaining merchant status, Yitang and Sam Chang managed to sponsor approximately 40 relatives to the states with their businesses in herbalist

The tale “American Born Chinese” by Gene Luch Wang depicts the story of three characters, Monkey, Jin, and Danny. They all have the problem of fitting into their new environments. Jin Wang has to deal with Asian stereotypes. Danny has to deal with embarrassment of his cousin. Lastly, Monkey has to deal with the fact that there is no position for him in the heavenly ranks. However, over time, these characters have to come together to fit in. Yet the question remains: what exactly about fitting in is the problem? Although Jin Wang takes the form of Danny to reject his Chinese roots, the embarrassment of Chin-Knee shows he cannot hide behind a false American identity, thereby delineating that race is the source of his problem.

Fae Myenne Ng is a contemporary Chinese-American author who is known for her first written novel, Bone. Her debut novel was published in 1993 and the story is told through the eyes of the main character, Leila Leong. Leila tells the story of her family’s history and the events that unfold following the suicide of her sister. As Leila’s story progresses, themes of identity and family life are revealed. Leila and her two sisters border the line between American and Chinese, two distinct cultures that belong to very different worlds. The sisters deal with the struggles of assimilation as they grow up in the seclusive community of Chinatown only to live in an American world. The family life of the Leong

Feng Ru was very interested in industrialization. In paragraph 4, the text states, “He understood that industrialization made the country great, and felt that industrialization could do the same for China.” Industrialization inspired Feng to start learning about aviation. Feng Ru also faced many obstacles and challenges. Feng had to translate all of the information on aviation into Chinese but Feng never complained. In paragraph seven, the text states, “Feng turned his attention to aviation, laboriously translating into Chinese everything he could find.” He also had to relocate and work in a very small workshop. Even though Feng had to relocate because of San Francisco's earthquake, and having to relocate again after setting his workshop ablaze, Feng Ru never gave up. He was so determined to become the first aviator in China. In paragraph six, the text states, “And Feng himself, who rarely finished work before 3 a.m.” In the end, Feng ended up being the first aviator in China. Feng Ru was a hero in his country and even though he died in his last flight, he impacted China in a positive

Tye Leung Schulze became the first Chinese American woman to vote when she bravely casted a ballot in San Francisco on May 19, 1912. Schulze was also the first Chinese woman hired to work at Angel Island. She is a designated Women's History Month Honoree by the National Women's History Project. She learned to speak English, studied Christianity, and helped rescue Chinese slaves by acting as an interpreter. Leung was the first Chinese American to pass the civil service examinations and she was hired to work as an assistant to the matron at the Angel Island Immigration Station. There she would work with Chinese immigrants who were detained for physical examinations and interrogation upon their arrival.

The life of women in 1930 was rough. At that time a lot was going on, the great depression and the entering of world war two were happening. The great depression affected all Chinese Americans and Americans shared the economic crash throughout this time period. The Chinese Americans faced additional trauma in China. Throughout the years Japan started to take over.

After a long, long, long flight, we finally landed at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), the world’s second busiest airport after United States’ Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. We flew at 8am from Dulles, Virginia and landed in Beijing at 9pm. Essentially, we “time travelled” and slowed the time from 14 hours down to only one hour. :) We still had a big day ahead of us.

Qin Xu was born in Huoqiu, China, in 1965, as the oldest of 5. Her living conditions as a child weren’t the best, but she aspired to be one of the academically best students she could. She attended two different universities, where she was challenged but learned from the experiences and matured from them. She

He researched satellite delivery methods alongside other Chinese scientists who had not been purged during the Cultural Revolution. He remembered what it was like for scientist’s pre-cultural revolution. Upon reflection, he realized that it was not the same. Maybe it would never be the same way again. Chi mostly spent his summers working for the government as he developed a strong passion for teaching and his students.