Asian Pacific Americans, Accomplishments and Tribulations Essay Example

were often directed to "Angel Island" located north of San Francisco Bay[4]1. Instead of fulfilling their dreams, they encountered harsh realities such as forced labor, low pay, menial occupations, racial discrimination and limited resources for improving their financial status.

Although Chinese immigrants faced racism in America, their lives were still better than the dangers they experienced in their homeland. They found employment in mines, laundries, food establishments, and even helped construct the railroad system. Among their many challenging tasks was excavating caves at Berringer's winery in St. Helena, located within California's Napa Valley.

The creation of efficient and consistent cooling systems in the caves where Champagne and wine were stored was accomplished by Chinese workers who carved them from solid rock. Sadly, many of these workers lost their lives due to cave-ins and work-related injuries, with some being buried in the very same caves while others continued to work under duress. Nevertheless, Chinese-Americans made significant contributions to the development of the West Coast and found success in various industries such as fishing, agriculture, and import-export businesses since their initial arrival on American shores.

Although Asians obtained degrees such as BA, MA, and Ph.D., they were unjustly deprived of employment opportunities by the white population based on their ethnicity.[6] Consequently, several Asians resorted to entrepreneurship to cater to Asian communities by launching establishments like grocery stores and professional offices in places like San Francisco's Chinatown, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Despite their qualifications and education, some job sectors dominated by whites remained inaccessible for Asians.

White individuals in the 1900s hired Chinese workers to perform undesirable tasks such as running laundries, farming vegetables, and operating fishing fleets that supplied West Coast

markets with a significant amount of fish. Despite their contributions, discrimination against the Chinese population persisted due to their perceived "uncivilized" Mongol heritage and fear of "The Yellow Peril". This fear was unfounded as they made up only 2% of the population yet instilled terror in 97% of others.

The "Gentleman's Agreement," an agreement reached in 1907 between the United States and Japan, aimed to put an end to Japanese immigration and discrimination against Japanese-Americans. Nonetheless, California passed the "Anti-Alien land law" in 1913, which restricted Asians from owning land and their leasing rights. Despite this prohibition, the Japanese found ways to bypass it.

The first generation of Japanese-Americans, known as the "Oceanic Group" or "Issei", began their immigration to the United States in 1876 by boarding the steam ship "Oceanic". They arrived in New York and some Issei parents transferred their land to their children who were born in America to secure legal citizenship. Although some of these early travelers returned to Japan, many found abundant opportunities in America.

Despite the firsthand account of how hard work could lead to success, immigration rates remained sluggish. However, a severe drought and economic depression ultimately sparked a boost in immigration. Around the same time, Hawaii required affordable labor to cultivate the swiftly expanding sugarcane industry. This scarcity of labor was partly attributed to the passing of a bill by the United States that banned Chinese immigration – this became widely known as the "Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882". Further provisions were added via the Gentry Act in 1892, extending limitations for an additional decade. In 1904, these limitations were indefinitely prolonged.

The sugarcane companies recruited workers from Japan to

work on a contract basis. The workers were provided with living quarters and a company-owned general store nearby. However, the company inflated prices to keep the workers longer. The treatment of workers by the companies was akin to the treatment of slaves in the South. The Japanese government intervened and sent a ship to retrieve their citizens, refusing to allow any Japanese contract laborers out of Japan. Undeterred, the companies sent agents to Japan to continue pressuring the Japanese government for necessary labor in the sugarcane fields.

Japan yielded due to the escalating economic downturn in Japan, which was caused by the heightened global demand for sugar and the development in the Hawaiian Islands that necessitated more workers. Subsequently, Japan provided workers, and those individuals became cognizant of California's wealth while in Hawaii. Instead of returning home after their contracts ended, many workers ventured to the mainland to search for prosperity. This immigration marked the first significant voluntary Japanese migration to America, but it was not the first Japanese immigration to America; rather, it was the first time that Japanese fishermen and commercial shipping traveled to America.

Through ocean currents, Japanese settlers came to the West Coast of America and Mexico. Joseph Heco (Hikuzo Hamada) and Manjiro Nakahana were among them, and during their time in the United States, they facilitated communication between Japan and America. The locals welcomed these educated Japanese settlers who caused no trouble unlike the Chinese immigrants.

During the mid-19th century, numerous Chinese immigrants relocated to the West Coast in search of employment in various industries such as gold mining, railroad construction, and domestic service. Despite their significant contributions, they were treated as an

inferior race. From California's annexation into the US in 1848 until the Exclusion Act of 1882, employers heavily relied on underpaid Chinese laborers. Although content with this situation, white workers felt animosity towards the inexpensive workforce since they competed for job opportunities.

The Democratic Party, representing the working class, passed the "Chinese Exclusion Act" in 1882 due to aggression towards Chinese people. This act prohibited Chinese laborers from immigrating to the United States and created a workforce gap that employers were cautious about filling with white working-class individuals who refused to work under unfavorable conditions and for low wages. At the same time, Japanese workers arrived seeking better employment opportunities.

In terms of willingness to work in adverse conditions for low pay, the Japanese resembled the Chinese. However, their reputation for efficiency and cleanliness made them a desirable workforce. Japanese immigrants often arrived in the United States via Hawaii and settled in San Francisco, Seattle, or Portland. Initially, labor agents played a significant role in connecting Japanese workers with employment opportunities. These agents not only acted as intermediaries between employers and job seekers, but also handled financial matters like collecting pay and maintaining records of worker earnings.

Tenement housing emerged in key areas like San Francisco, where Japanese laborers would reside during seasons of agricultural work or while they awaited employment opportunities. These tenement homes, often managed by agents, would offer traditional Japanese cuisine for an additional fee. Between farming seasons, many Japanese individuals would work in the railway or mining industries before returning to agriculture. Farming provided a financially lucrative and satisfying profession for many, as the Japanese were skilled at cultivating crops. Ultimately, the Japanese

became known for their farming prowess and were able to purchase or lease land for their work.

Between 1912 and 1921, Japanese-Americans made their greatest contribution to the farming industry. During this time period, they owned 12,726 acres in California, which increased to 74,769 acres, and leased 383,287 acres. In 1919, their farmland produced 13% of the total food output from only 1.6% of the total West Coast farmland. The value of these crops reached $67 million.

[10] The Yamato Colony was established in Merced, California by Kyyutaro Abiko, who believed that Japanese-Americans could thrive in agriculture. This vision led Abiko to purchase 3,000 acres of land in Livingston, California in 1904 and divide it into 40-acre parcels. He also advertised in Japanese-American newspapers to attract others interested in forming a Japanese-American farming community.

Land was acquired for $35.0 per acre and received funding for a five-year time frame from Nichi Bei Ginko, a bank affiliated with Abiko. Tajiro Kishi, the first Issei, purchased some of the land in 1906 and began his own farm. By 1908, thirty additional farms had been established.

The farmers started with cultivating apples, peaches, grapes, and almonds. Unfortunately, the yield wasn't ready yet. To survive until their desired crops were ready to be harvested, they decided to plant vegetable crops instead. This decision proved profitable due to San Francisco's proximity. Consequently, a food purchasing cooperative was established by 1910 and a marketing cooperative followed in 1914. Finally, a packing house was built by 1917.

In 1976, the association allocated land for multiple crops including 4,190.5 acres for almonds, 1,647.5 acres for peaches, 616 acres for grapes, 296.5 acres for

other tree fruit, 8.5 acres for kiwi fruit and an unspecified crop on 1,180 acres.

Specializing in cultivating sweet potatoes, the Japanese Colony generated an annual revenue of five million dollars [11] with a singular focus on agriculture. To avoid racial tensions with other ethnic groups, they abstained from pursuing commercial ventures like grocery stores, gas stations, laundries or dry goods. Despite being interned during WWII, the colony's fifty-four families resumed farming pursuits with the help of a land manager post-war. This exemplifies how Japanese-Americans contributed significantly to agricultural growth on the West Coast and excelled in various other fields.

The pig industry in Southern California and the poultry industry in Petaluma, Northern California, Portland, and Seattle were dominated by the Japanese. They excelled in cultivating nurseries for flowers and created the "Southern California flower growers association," which now provides at least half of all US flowers. Furthermore, significant contributions from the Japanese aided in developing the fishing industry along America's West Coast.

In California, the fisherman sailed out of various cities including San Diego, Longbeach, Los Angeles, Point Magu, Monterey, San Francisco, Bodega Bay, Fort Brag, and Crescent City. Additionally, fishing occurred in northern cities like Portland, Seattle, Juno, and Anchorage. An exemplar case of the Japanese fishing advancement was the village community at Terminal Island (East San Pedro, Los Angeles County), California. Mr. Hamashita is acknowledged for being the pioneer to fish out of Terminal Island.

The commencement of his business venture involved the purchase of the "Columbia" boat from an abalone company that had gone out of business. This inspired others to follow suit, leading to the construction of canneries and homes in the surrounding area.

In 1916, "Fisherman Hall" was built as a community center, followed by a school two years later in 1918. The establishment of these primary facilities saw the emergence of other community-oriented services such as grocery stores, meat markets, and barber shops. Although initially only men resided within the village, women and children soon joined them due to its prosperity resulting in rapid expansion.

Women became swiftly incorporated into the industry by working in canneries, drying sheds, and other support facilities within the area. In 1929, around 900 individuals comprising men, women, and children lived on and worked at the island. The population surged to almost 3,000 residents by 1942. However, the downfall of this tight-knit community was initiated on December 7th of that year. Though residing in one location, those who owe allegiance to another are considered "aliens" according to law. Nevertheless, through a process known as "naturalization," aliens are permitted legal citizenship.

[13]7 James D. Phelan predicted on November 12, 1907 that the United States and Japan would eventually have a conflict as Japan sought to control the Pacific as a world power.

On May 26, 1924, the President of the United States enacted the Comprehensive Immigration Law which limited alien immigration into the country and established an annual quota for each nationality. The quota for any nationality was set at two percent of foreign-born individuals from that nationality living in continental US based on the census data from 1890. However, no nationality could have a quota below one hundred individuals (sec.1a). [As provided by Congress…]

[14]8 Therefore, under authority granted by Congress through said law, President Calvin Coolidge announced quotas for each nationality effective July 1, 1924

until fiscal year end of 1925 with specific numbers allotted to each country.

In 1935, Congress passed a law that barred aliens from obtaining citizenship, but it allowed eligible aliens who had served honorably in the armed forces between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918 or were permanent residents of the U.S. to become citizens. As WWII approached, tensions rose between Japan and America despite being separated by three thousand miles on opposite shores of the Pacific Ocean. Japanese-Americans were viewed differently by society: some valued their efficiency and willingness to work hard for meager wages while others wanted Californians to turn against them. Due to increased racism before going into war with Japan, authorities deemed it best for both national security and safety reasons to intern Japanese-Americans. On February 19th in the year 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt instructed that their internment camps be established.

The signing of Executive Order 9066 by Roosevelt had a significant impact on many individuals, causing chaos and distress that still resonates today. In March 1942, the War Relocation Authority was created, which led to some voluntary evacuations from specific regions. However, due to the FBI's evaluation of possible threats to the country, people were forcibly relocated from areas like Terminal Island.

Within a day's notice, the Japanese-American community residing in America had to evacuate and move into internment camps situated across various states including California, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona and Arkansas. However, those living in Hawaii were excluded from this order as they held crucial employment positions. The internees were given remuneration for their work on farms, county crews and other jobs located in close proximity of the camps

that assisted with the war efforts. Despite receiving meager wages, some chose to shift to other areas for employment opportunities.

The Manzanar camp, located in Eastern California's high desert region, achieved self-sufficiency by growing their own vegetables, planting fruit trees, and raising livestock. Despite the harsh conditions, such as drafty buildings with poor insulation and having to queue in all weather conditions to eat in a communal cafeteria, life in these camps permitted some internees to enlist in the Armed Services in 1943 and, soon after, be included in the draft.

During 1943, the renowned 442nd combat team was established while some internees were allowed to come back home, provided they demonstrated loyalty to the United States and had a job waiting for them. Nevertheless, racism persisted after the war as numerous returnees found their belongings vandalized or stolen and sold off.

The Japanese-Americans slowly reconstructed their lives and adjusted to a somewhat normal routine. Despite what had happened to them, they did not hold a grudge against their new country and chose to move forward. However, they were still considered aliens and were unable to secure citizenship until 1952. Even after obtaining citizenship, their children were required to attend Americanization schools instead of regular public schools. With time passing, many internees sought closure for their past experiences and appealed to the United States Government for an apology. Finally, in 1998, they were apologized to and Congress passed a bill that granted each interned Japanese-American $20,000 for this unjust treatment. This gesture marked the beginning of healing for the affected individuals.

Despite encountering numerous challenges, Asian-Americans have played a vital role in advancing the United States through their professional

achievements and commitment to their families. However, research on Western-based Asian-American cultures has predominantly focused on their obstacles rather than their successes. Despite notable progress, discrimination from other ethnic groups remains an obstacle to further advancement. To showcase the accomplishments and influence of Asian-Americans in the West, I am motivated to undertake additional research and pen a book on this topic.

Upon finishing the course, I have come to the realization that I am capable of merging my written assignments from various fields into a cohesive document. Moreover, I would like to convey my gratitude for the class and recognize your admirable qualities as an exceptional educator.