Land of the Free for Who?
Under the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, Chinese laborers were prohibited the entrance in the United States until 1943. Those Chinese who violated the law by entering the U.S. were punished with either a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisonment for a term of not more than one year. Chinese people truly believed that the U.S. was a free land full of opportunities for everyone who decided to move in. They were looking for employment, a better place for their families, but especially they were looking for freedom; something that they did not had in their country of origin. The government made it clear to the Chinese that the "free land" was not so free at all and nonetheless full of opportunities for "outsiders." Chinese people definitely did not feel welcomed. …show more content…
in reality is not the "free land" or the "land of opportunities" like many people truly believe it is. The title is definitely ironic, but also sarcastic. She gives the example of these two parents who dream about living in the U.S. together with their son as a happy family, but cannot because their son is taken away. The officer says to the father, Hom Hing, who has been doing businesses in San Francisco for many years, "we cannot let him pass without orders from the government" (263). This shows that even though Hom Hing has been loyal to the U.S. he does not have the privileges that others do. For example, he can do businesses in the country, but cannot reside there with his
Under the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, Chinese laborers were prohibited the entrance in the United States until 1943. Those Chinese who violated the law by entering the U.S. were punished with either a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisonment for a term of not more than one year. Chinese people truly believed that the U.S. was a free land full of opportunities for everyone who decided to move in. They were looking for employment, a better place for their families, but especially they were looking for freedom; something that they did not had in their country of origin. The government made it clear to the Chinese that the "free land" was not so free at all and nonetheless full of opportunities for "outsiders." Chinese people definitely did not feel welcomed. …show more content…
in reality is not the "free land" or the "land of opportunities" like many people truly believe it is. The title is definitely ironic, but also sarcastic. She gives the example of these two parents who dream about living in the U.S. together with their son as a happy family, but cannot because their son is taken away. The officer says to the father, Hom Hing, who has been doing businesses in San Francisco for many years, "we cannot let him pass without orders from the government" (263). This shows that even though Hom Hing has been loyal to the U.S. he does not have the privileges that others do. For example, he can do businesses in the country, but cannot reside there with his