Becoming Chinese American - (Critical Perspectives on Asian Pacific Americans) by Him Mark Lai (Paperback)

About the Book

Collection of essays by Chinese-American scholar Him Mark Lai; published in association with the Chinese Historical Society of San Francisco.

Book Synopsis

Becoming Chinese American discusses the historical and cultural development of Chinese American life in the past century. Representing a singular breadth of knowledge about the Chinese American past, the volume begins with an historical overview of Chinese migration to the United States, followed by critical discussion of the development of key community institutions, Chinese-language schools, newspapers, and politics in early Chinese American life. Rather than emphasize experiences of discrimination, the collection focuses on Chinese American community formation that tested the racially-imposed boundaries on their new lives in the United States. Written by noted Chinese American scholar Him Mark Lai, the essays in this volume will be of interest to scholars of Asian and Asian American studies, as well as American history, ethnicity, and immigration.

Review Quotes

"Based on 35-years of meticulous research through Chinese language sources, archives, and oral histories, this definitive collection of essays by Him Mark Lai-the foremost authority on Chinese American history-is a must read for scholars and students interested in the Guangdong heritage, immigration patterns, community development, and cultural retention of Chinese Americans from the Gold Rush to present day." --Judy Yung, Professor of American Studies, University of California-Santa Cruz, and author of Unbound Feet: A Social History of Chinese Wome

"Meticulous research, careful interpretation, and unrivaled comprehension of the complexities of the Chinese American past: these are the features of Him Mark Lai's work. This essay collection well displays his singular intellectual contribution." --Gordon H. Chang, Professor in the Department of History, Stanford University

"Years of meticulous research and judicious selection of key issues are masterfully captured by Professor Lai in this definitive and indispensable history of Chinese life in America. Becoming Chinese American affirms his status as the 'Dean of Chinese American Studies.'" --Peter Kwong, City University of New York

"Here we have a lifetime of scholarship by the dean of Chinese American history. Him Mark Lai densely details how the Chinese settled America through their businesses, associations, and schools." --Ronald Takaki, Author, Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans

Based on 35-years of meticulous research through Chinese language sources, archives, and oral histories, this definitive collection of essays by Him Mark Lai-the foremost authority on Chinese American history-is a must read for scholars and students interested in the Guangdong heritage, immigration patterns, community development, and cultural retention of Chinese Americans from the Gold Rush to present day.

Here we have a lifetime of scholarship by the dean of Chinese American history. Him Mark Lai densely details how the Chinese settled America through their businesses, associations, and schools.

Meticulous research, careful interpretation, and unrivaled comprehension of the complexities of the Chinese American past: these are the features of Him Mark Lai's work. This essay collection well displays his singular intellectual contribution.

Years of meticulous research and judicious selection of key issues are masterfully captured by Professor Lai in this definitive and indispensable history of Chinese life in America. Becoming Chinese American affirms his status as the 'Dean of Chinese American Studies.'

About the Author

Him Mark Lai has researched Chinese American history, has written key articles and books, and in 1969 co-taught the first college level course in America on Chinese American history. Very active in community cultural activities, he produced a weekly hour-long community-based Cantonese language radio program from 1971 to 1984. In 1991 he became a coordinator of the Chinese Culture Foundation's "In Search of Roots" program, which organizes Chinese American youths to research their family histories and to visit their ancestral villages. Featured in the January 14, 2000 issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education as "the scholar who legitimized the study of Chinese America," Mr. Lai collected everything about Chinese American history that he could, which has resulted in one of the richest and most extensive personal collections of its kind.
Madeline Hsu teaches at San Francisco State University.