America has a long history of discrimination towards the Chinese. The men who came to America encountered many tribulations in their early immigration. This discrimination, and the personal ambition for an ample american experience is very present throughout the novel Homebase by Shawn Wong. The story follows the familial history of a Chinese American. It is displayed throughout the novel the Chinese Americans have a long history in America but find that they don't feel a belonging, specifically the protagonist of the story, Rainsford Chan. Starting in the mid 1800’s many Chinese men came to America in search of a better life (Alvarez). Due to the Gold Rush most of the new found populace were found in the West Coast, this was the center of
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He worked on the railroad, just like many of the other Chinese American men. (Wong 11). He was also a man who left his life in China behind to reinvent himself. Although, the work was hard and the weather was unstable (Wong 17). While enduring the seasons, it is shown through his letters he has a strong relationship with nature, “... you can feel the wind. You could see it in the trees and the natural color of Wisconsin...”. His love for the land was what kept him happy, until the death of his wife. Following her passing he lost his faith in the land (Wong …show more content…
“When someone called a Chinaman it didn't mean Chinese. It was a mutant name dragged up out of America’s need to name name’s. When the Chinese came here they were no longer just Chinese because they threatened the white labor force, a way of life,” this was meant to insult him for being someone who is a part of the Chinese culture (Wong 69). Once again he experienced bigotry after winning an award for water polo, “‘... Rainsford is a credit to the team, to his school, to his race...’” (Wong 79). Rainsford feels insulted, not because the award was offered to him but because he won because he did good for a Chinese boy. This experience leaves him feeling alone, like he doesn’t belong among his peers. While others feel he didn’t either. When Rainsford was asked where he was from many were surprised when his answer was not Hong Kong, this brings the reader back to the concept of the perpetual foreigner (Wong 64).
Throughout the novel Rainsford was born in America and therefore his native language is English, although he learns from his mother some Chinese (Wong 71). Due to his lack of Chinese culture Rainsford is not considered to be Chinese, “‘You do not speak Chinese?... You were born here?... You are not Chinese’” (Wong 10). During Rainsford life he it is common that the only way to be considered American is being someone no of color and having to let go of one's ethnic
He worked on the railroad, just like many of the other Chinese American men. (Wong 11). He was also a man who left his life in China behind to reinvent himself. Although, the work was hard and the weather was unstable (Wong 17). While enduring the seasons, it is shown through his letters he has a strong relationship with nature, “... you can feel the wind. You could see it in the trees and the natural color of Wisconsin...”. His love for the land was what kept him happy, until the death of his wife. Following her passing he lost his faith in the land (Wong …show more content…
“When someone called a Chinaman it didn't mean Chinese. It was a mutant name dragged up out of America’s need to name name’s. When the Chinese came here they were no longer just Chinese because they threatened the white labor force, a way of life,” this was meant to insult him for being someone who is a part of the Chinese culture (Wong 69). Once again he experienced bigotry after winning an award for water polo, “‘... Rainsford is a credit to the team, to his school, to his race...’” (Wong 79). Rainsford feels insulted, not because the award was offered to him but because he won because he did good for a Chinese boy. This experience leaves him feeling alone, like he doesn’t belong among his peers. While others feel he didn’t either. When Rainsford was asked where he was from many were surprised when his answer was not Hong Kong, this brings the reader back to the concept of the perpetual foreigner (Wong 64).
Throughout the novel Rainsford was born in America and therefore his native language is English, although he learns from his mother some Chinese (Wong 71). Due to his lack of Chinese culture Rainsford is not considered to be Chinese, “‘You do not speak Chinese?... You were born here?... You are not Chinese’” (Wong 10). During Rainsford life he it is common that the only way to be considered American is being someone no of color and having to let go of one's ethnic