ASA 001: Introduction to Asian American History

Prof. Richard S. Kim

Spring Quarter 2015
Class: MWF 12:10-1:00PM GIEDT 1003
Office hours: R 1-2:30PM or by appointment (3101 Hart Hall)
Course Description
This course is an introduction to the history of Asian Americans from the time of early migrations to the late
twentieth century. Using a broad range of material including academic articles, literature, films, and primary
source documents, we will examine a number of themes and issues for understanding Asian American history.
Main topical areas include imperialism, immigration, exclusion, labor, communities, intergenerational relations,
and social/political activism. We will study these topics through the analytical lens of race, ethnicity, class, and
gender. Since this is an introductory survey course, ASA 1 provides a broad picture of Asian American historical
experiences within the larger context of immigration and race relations in U.S. history. (A more detailed account of
contemporary Asian American experiences is covered in ASA 2: Contemporary Experiences of Asian Americans).
Because this is a survey course that is constrained by a 10-week time frame and by the amount of materials that
reasonably can be covered within the quarter, class lectures will necessarily be selective in exploring the depth of
the various dimensions of Asian American experiences. As a result, the content of lectures may not always
correspond exactly to the reading assignments. Nevertheless, lectures, films, and readings are meant to
complement each other, and therefore, all students will be held accountable for all course materials. Successful
study habits should include wakeful attendance and attention to lectures and discussions as well as keeping up on
each weeks readings. In order to make the most effective use of the limited time available for lecture, PLEASE
ARRIVE TO CLASS ON TIME. In a class of this size, late arrivals are extremely disruptive for both the instructor
and students already present. Additionally, please TURN OFF all laptop modems, cell phones, and any other
electronic devices prior to lecture. ATTENDANCE TO LECTURES AND DISCUSSION SECTIONS IS
MANDATORY.
Discussion Sections

001
002
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005
006

M
M
W
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4:10-5:00PM
5:10-6:00PM
6:10-7:00PM
7:10-8:00PM
4:10-5:00PM
5:10-6:00PM

OLSON
OLSON
OLSON
OLSON
OLSON
OLSON

159
159
167
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125
125

Chun Wai Chau

Chun Wai Chau
Dennis Somera
Dennis Somera
Diana Johnson
Diana Johnson

ATTENDANCE TO SECTIONS THE ENTIRE QUARTER IS MANDATORY. While opportunities to discuss

class materials during the lectures are encouraged, the discussion section is your chance to talk more about, get
feedback on, and think through all of the material presented in class. Maximizing the productive exchange of ideas
among class members necessitates that the required reading be done before the start of class. Attendance at lectures
and discussion sections is necessary to appreciate and understand the materials presented in class fully. In sum,
attendance, preparation for class, and active participation make up the requirements for success in discussion
sections.
Course Requirements and Grading
25%
Discussion section
10%
In-lecture quizzes on readings
15%
Midterm exam
20%
Final exam
30%
Two 3-6 page essays (Paper #1 is 35% and Paper #2 is 65%)
Quizzes: Approximately 6-8 quizzes will be administered during the quarter at random times during lectures.
Based on lectures, readings, and films, each quiz will consist of five objective questions. If you miss a lecture
when a quiz is administered, there will be NO OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE UP A MISSED QUIZ.
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Midterm and final exams: In-class exams, consisting of multiple choice and short sentence identifications.
THERE WILL BE NO MAKEUP EXAMS.
Analytical essays: One of key objectives of the course is to develop analytical and writing skills. Using the
lectures, readings, discussions, and films for the course, this paper will ask you to analyze some major aspect of
Asian American history. You will be required to write TWO different essays during the quarter. Essay prompts
and guidelines will be handed out separately. Paper #1 will be due in lecture on April 24 and Paper #2 on June 3.
LATE PAPERS WILL BE GRADED DOWN ONE FULL LETTER GRADE EVERY PASSING DAY,
INCLUDING WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS.
Failure to submit Paper #1 will result in a grade of 0 points for Paper #1 and Paper #2 will automatically be graded
down one full letter grade.
Discussion sections: Class attendance and participation in discussion sections are MANDATORY. The teaching
assistants will keep track of students attendance and participation in their respective discussion sections. If the TA
believes a student has missed discussion too many times, he or she can recommend that the student fail the course.
The TA will assess your participation and the quality of your input in section.
Required Texts:
Coursepack Reader. Available on Smartsite for course under Resources.
The following books are available at the UCD Bookstore (copies will also be on reserve at Shields Library on 2
hour loan):
Milton Murayama, All I Asking for is my Body (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1994)
Carlos Bulosan, America is in the Heart: A Personal History (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1995)
Kao Kalia Yang, The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir (Minneapolis: Coffee House Press, 2008)
Weekly Reading Assignments and Class Schedule

Course readings marked by an asterisk (*) are located in the coursepack reader. Page numbers
below refer to page numbers in the coursepack located in far right margin of each page.
Week 1 What is Asian American History?
Mar 30
Course intro
April 1

Bill Hing, What Does It Mean to be Asian American? in Major Problems in Asian American
History, pp. 1-3.*
Yen Le Espiritu, Panethnicity and Asian American Activism, pp. 4-7.*
San Francisco State University Third World Liberation Front Position, pp. 8-10.*
The Need for a United Asian-American Front, pp. 11-12.*

April 3

Roger Daniels, Neglect and Distortion of Asian Americans by American Historians, in Major
Problems in Asian American History: Documents and Essays, eds. Lon Kurashige and Alice
Yang Murray (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2003), pp. 13-16.*
Ronald Takaki, The Centrality of Racism in Asian American History, in Major Problems in
Asian American History, pp. 16-19.*
Sucheng Chan, Preface, in Asian Americans: An Interpretative History, pp. 20-21.*
(there are no pp. 22-29 in coursepack)
Guide to Reading Primary Sources, pp. 30-31.*

Week 2 International Context of Migration

April 6
Chan, Chapter 1: The International Context of Migration, pp. 32-43.*
Carlos Bulosan, America is in the Heart: A Personal History, pp. 3-28.
April 8

Bulosan, America is in the Heart, pp. 29-57.

April 10

Sucheng Chan, Shifting Chinese Immigrant Employment, pp. 44-47.*

Bulosan, America is in the Heart, pp. 57-71 and 87-103.
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Week 3 Migration, Race, Class, and Labor

April 13
Chan, Chapter 2: Immigration and Livelihood, 1840s to 1930s, pp. 48-53.*
Bulosan, America is in the Heart, pp. 104-126.
April 15

Chan, Chapter 2: Immigration and Livelihood, 1840s to 1930s, pp. 53-59.*

Milton Murayama, Problems of Writing in Dialect and Mixed Languages, pp. 60-61.*
Milton Murayama, All I Asking for is my Body, pp. 105-110 (read first); pp. 1-38.

April 17

Murayama, All I Asking for is my Body, pp. 39-64.

Hawaii Constitution, pp. 62-63.*
Ronald Takaki, Native and Asian Labor in the Colonization of Hawaii, pp. 64-67.*

Week 4 Anti-Asian Violence and Hostility

April 20
Takaki, "New World of Labor: From Siren to Siren," in Pau Hana: Plantation Life and Labor
in Hawaii, 1835-1920 (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1983), pp. 68-91.*
Murayama, All I Asking for is my Body, pp. 65-103.
Naturalization Act, pp. 92-93.*
California Foreign Miners Tax, pp. 93-94.*
The People, Respondent, v. George W. Hall, Appellant, pp. 95-96.*
An Act to Prohibit the Coolie Trade by American Citizens in American Vessels, pp. 97.*
An Act to Protect Free White Labor Against Competition with Chinese Coolie Labor, pp. 9899.*
Samuel Gompers Racializes Chinese American Labor, pp. 99-100.*
April 22

An Act Supplementary to the Acts in Relation to Immigration, pp. 101-102.*

Ah Sin, pp. 102-104.*
Memorial on Chinatown, pp. 105-107.*
In re Ah Yup, pp. 108-109.*
An Act to Execute Certain Treaty Stipulations Relating to Chinese, pp. 110-111.*
Andrew Gyory, The Significance of Chinese Exclusion, pp. 111-113.*
Bulosan, America is in the Heart, pp. 127-142.

April 24

Theodore Roosevelt Executive Order, pp. 114-115.*

Anti-Japanese Laundry League Flyer, pp. 115-116.*
The Asiatic Exclusion League Argues that Asians Cannot be Assimilated, pp. 117-118.*
California Alien Land Law, p 119.*
The Cable Act, pp. 120-121. *
Supreme Court: Takao Ozawa v. United States, pp. 121-123.*
National Origins Act, pp. 124-125.*
Mae Ngai, The Immigration Act of 1924, pp. 126-128.*
Bulosan, America is in the Heart, pp. 143-151.
PAPER #1 DUE IN LECTURE

Week 5 Community Formation and Resistance

April 27
Immigration Act of 1917, pp. 129-130.*
Supreme Court: United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind, pp. 131-133.*
California District Court of Appeal: Salvador Roldan v. Los Angeles County, pp. 134-135.*
Tydings-McDuffie Act, pp. 136-138.*
Bulosan, America is in the Heart, pp. 181-233.
April 29

Amendment 14, U.S. Constitution, pp. 138-139.*

Supreme Court: Yick Wo v. Hopkins, pp.140-142.*
On Higher Wages for Japanese Laborers, pp. 143-144.*
Federation of Japanese Labor, pp. 145-146.*
Bulosan, America is in the Heart, pp. 265-289.
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May 1

Chris Friday, Excerpts from Chapter 6 in Organizing Asian American Labor: The Pacific Coast
Canned-Salmon Industry, 1870-1942 (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1994), pp. 147153.*
Bulosan, America is in the Heart, pp. 315-327.

Week 6 Gender, Family, and Intergenerational Relations

May 4
An Changho, Grand Strategy for Independence for Korea, pp. 157-159.*
Korean Congress Declares Independence from Japanese Rule, 1919, pp. 160-162. *
Joan Jensen, Exporting Independence to Colonial India, pp. 163-166.*
Lili Kim, Korean Independence Movement in Hawaii and the Continental United States, pp.
166-169.*
May 6

IN-CLASS MIDTERM EXAM - THERE WILL BE NO MAKEUP EXAMS

May 8

Gee Theo Quee Angel Island Interrogation, pp. 170-173.*

Americanization and the Second Generation, 1920-1942, pp. 174-181.*
Judy Yung, Second-Generation Chinese American Women, pp. 182-185.*
Lon Kurashige, The Problem of Nisei Biculturalism, pp. 185-188.*

Week 7 WWII and the Reconfiguration of Race and Community

May 11
War, Race, and the Meaning of Citizenship, 1941-1988, pp. 189-193.*
Repeal of Chinese Exclusion Acts, pp. 194-195.*
May 13

Life Magazine, How to Tell Japs from the Chinese, pp. 196-198.*
Lieutenant John L. DeWitt Recommends the Removal of Japanese Americans, pp. 198-199.*
Executive Order 9066, pp. 200-201.*
Army Instructions for Removal of Japanese Americans in Los Angeles, pp. 201-202.*
Japanese American Mike Masaoka Vows to Cooperate with Government Removal Plans, pp.
203-204.*
Mike Masaoka, Japanese American Creed, p. 205.*
Toku Shimomura Diary, pp. 206-209.*

May 15

Supreme Court: Hirabayashi v. United States, pp. 210-212.*

Supreme Court: Yasui v. U.S. Supreme Court, pp. 213.*
Jimmie Omura on Japanese American Resistance to the Draft, p. 214-215.*
Journalist James M. Omura Condemns the Mass Exclusion of Japanese Americans, p. 216.*
The Fair Play Committee Calls on Nisei, pp. 217.*
Supreme Court: Ex Parte Mitsuye Endo, pp. 218-219.*
Supreme Court: Korematsu v. United States pp. 220-222.*
Justice Frank Murphy Criticizes the Supreme Courts Legalization of Racism, 1944, p.
223.*
A Government Commission Proclaims Internment a Grave Injustice, p. 224.*
A District Court Acknowledges Government Misconduct, pp. 224-225.*
Alice Yang Murray, The Internment of Japanese Americans, pp. 226-229.*

Week 8 Post -1965 and -1975 Immigrants and Refugees

May 18
War Brides Act, p. 230.*
McCarran-Walter Immigration and Nationality Act, pp. 231-233.*
John M. Liu and Lucie Cheng, Pacific Rim Development and the Duality of Post-1965 Asian
Immigration to the United States, pp. 234-246.*
Kao Kalia Yang, The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir, pp. 1-52.

May 20

Immigration and Nationality Act, 1965, pp. 247-249.*

Paul Ong, Edna Bonacich, and Lucie Cheng, Capitalist Restructuring and the New Asian
Immigration, pp. 250-253.*
Catherine Ceniza Choy, A Transnational History of Filipina Nurse Migration, pp. 254-257.*
Kao Kalia Yang, The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir, pp. 55-90.

May 22

Ruben G. Rumbaut, Vietnamese, Laotian, and Cambodian Americans, pp. 258-263.*

Famine: 1945 and The Death Toll in my Family: 1945-1975, in James M. Freeman, Hearts
of Sorrow: Vietnamese-American Lives (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1989), pp. 275284.*
Cambodian Refugee Bun Thab Remembers the Atrocities of the Khmer Rouge, 1993, pp.
285-386.*
Kao Kalia Yang, The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir, pp. 91-128.

Week 9 Post -1965 and -1975 Asian American Communities

May 25
Holiday NO CLASS
May 27

Ruben G. Rumbaut, Vietnamese, Laotian, and Cambodian Americans, pp. 263-271.*

Le Tran: Pilau Bidong Hoa Tong: South China Sea Pirates, Quan Nguyen: North Dakota
to California, and Choeum Rim: Greensboro, North Carolina, in John Tenhula, Voices from
Southeast Asia: The Refugee Experience in the United States (New York: Holmes & Meier
Publishers, Inc., 1991), pp. 287-293. *
Kao Kalia Yang, The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir, pp. 131-210.

May 29

Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act, pp. 294-295.*

Southeast Asian Refugee Acts, pp. 296-298.*
Kao Kalia Yang, The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir, pp. 213-274.

Week 10 Asian American Studies: Past, Present, and Future

June 1
Lucie Cheng and Philip Q. Yang, "The "Model Minority" Deconstructed," in Contemporary
Asian America: A Multidisciplinary Reader, ed. Min Zhou and James V. Gatewood (New
York: New York University Press, 2000), pp. 299-310.*
A Korean Americans Bitter Life in the United States, 1984-1992, pp. 312-313.*
June 3

Timothy P. Fong, "Anti-Asian Violence: Breaking Silence," in The Contemporary Asian

American Experience: Beyond the Model Minority (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice
Hall, 2008), pp. 314-328.*
PAPER #2 DUE IN LECTURE

June 10 (WED)

FINAL EXAM 6PM-8PM - THERE WILL BE NO MAKEUP EXAMS