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The Rocky Road to Liberty - Book Release Event
- Celebrate the 160 years of immigration history of Chinese Americans in the US
- Raise awareness of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
- Support immigration reforms for the new century
Date: 3-5PM March 27 th, 2010
Location: California Historical Center (Near Flint Center in De Anza College)
21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA 95014
Event Organizer: Chinese American Society
Co-Sponsors: Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation and California History Center
詳情見網站： http://ca-soc.org/wpmu284a/event.php
《通向自由的坎坷之路》--編者前言 （http://ca-soc.org/wpmu284a/rockyroad.php）
19 世紀中期華人首先作為淘金者來到美國，也許有人找到了黃金，而更多的人一無所獲。然後更多的人來到美國修鐵路，第一條橫跨美國大陸的鐵路。這些人也許是自願前來，也有人是被迫離開家園。他們工作努力，成果卓著，但被蔑稱為“苦力”，而且被當時的社會無情蹂躪。更後來，雖然知道當時的美國社會充滿難以忍受的種族歧視，但是他們還是前赴後繼地趕來，因為那時他們的祖國戰亂不斷，難以生存。
1882年，旅美華人的噩夢正式開始了，那年美國國會通過了“排華法案”，然後在接下來的數十年之中多次被修正加強，以達到排斥中國新移民，限製已經居住在美國的華裔移民的權利和行為的目的。當時的排華浪潮是從華人聚集的加州開始的，很快蔓延到全國。除了種族之間文化隔膜的原因，當時排華的主要理由是因為勤勞節儉的華人競取了其他人的工作，這個理由在經濟不景氣的時候會變得格外得人心。顯然，這些法案違反了美國憲法的精神，違反了美國自由民主的核心價值。由於排華法案，不僅新移民不能再來美國，美國的華裔妻兒也不能來此團聚，更不能在這裏形成新的家庭。還有，當時任何離開美國的華裔不能再自由回到美國，華裔的永久居民也被剝奪了成為美國公民的權利，甚至作為法庭證人的權利。在1924年，國會擴展了“排華法案”，將這些限製強加給所有亞裔種族。直到20世紀中期這些不合情理的限製條款被逐漸取消之前，華裔一直被隔離居住在所謂的“中國城”自生自滅。
無疑，華裔美國人對社會的貢獻是巨大的，然而中國早期移民的遭遇是悲慘的曆史一頁。
他們知道前往美國的路很遠，但是他們不知道這個旅程竟然是一輩子，甚至他們的兒孫仍然繼續在他們的旅程……
他們明白通往美國的路艱難坎坷，但他們沒有想到竟然需要用自己的尊嚴、鮮血、甚至生命去開拓向前的每一步。
他們以為自己永遠是中國人，會將屍骨和祖先一起埋在那個叫“中國”的地方，然而最終美國卻變成了他們永久的家園。他們更沒有想到數百萬新一代的中國人會沿著他們開辟的道路相繼來到美國，成為華裔美國人。
這些最早來自中國的移民，大約10萬名卑微、誠實、勤奮的中國人，他們獲取的很少，卻留下了那條橫跨美國大陸的鐵路，也為加州建造了一套造福世代的農業係統。他們攜帶的是和其他移民類似的一個典型的“美國夢”，然而這個夢對他們來說格外沉重，讓尋夢的航程格外坎坷。
今天，當我們打開塵封的曆史，回望那條他們曆經艱辛的道路，我們看見了不公正和種族歧視。我們還看見了那部可恥“排華法案”高懸在美國法典之中。
當我們現在享受著這個偉大的國家的自由、平等和民主的時候，我們清楚地知道，早期中國移民是如何被不公平地對待，他們遭受的痛苦是如何的不該，他們的靈魂不會安寧。
我們知道一個放之四海而皆準的簡單道理，就是如果有人做了如此錯誤的事，那麽至少應該“道歉”。是的，這些早期中國移民應該得到一個道歉，一個來自國會的正式道歉，因為那份可恥的“排華法案”以及早期中國移民所遭受的恐怖。
也許有人會說，“一個道歉太少了、太遲了”。對於死去的亡靈，這也許有幾分道理，然而國會的道歉將為這段讓華裔社區蒙羞數代的曆史畫上一個正式的句號。
也許有人會說，“對一件那麽久遠的事道歉有什麽意義呢？”事實上，道歉有著急迫的現實意義，因為該法案的立案緣由在現實中仍然不絕於耳，用不同的方式時常騷擾我們。而且，不公正的種子永遠都會存在於人類的某個角落，隨時在尋求合適的土壤和氣候再次發芽。
是的，為了這些曾經受到傷害的人，我們必須爭取一個正式的國會道歉！
這個過程一方麵可以讓公眾更好地了解華裔的曆史、認可華裔祖祖輩輩對美國方方麵麵的巨大貢獻、促進華裔社區更好地融入主流，同時從另一個側麵提醒整個社會不要重複曆史的不公正。這個過程也會讓華裔能夠有機會治療曆史的傷痛，還原作為華裔美國人的尊嚴。
當我們回頭看這段曆史的時候，甚至在排華最為狂熱的時期—19世紀的下半段，我們也可以看見良知仍然存在於社會。在1882年，共和黨籍麻州參議員Senator George Frisbie Hoar認為“排華法案”“將種族歧視赤裸裸地合法化”。在1893年，麻州眾議員Morse說，“於第52屆國會通過的排華法案（Geary Bill），我認為是不人道和不公正的”。從1870到1890年間，著名作家馬克.吐溫也是這段曆史的目擊證人，他用公正的筆不斷為華裔的不公平遭遇呼籲。這些故事說明良知可以跨越種族的隔閡、穿透國家的界限，反映出良知在曆史長河中折射出來的溫暖光芒。
為了爭取今天這個平等和公正的社會，許多民權領袖和團體都付出了許多努力。近年來，各國政府紛紛就其曆史上所從事的種族歧視的行為向受害人和公眾道歉。2006年，加拿大總理Stephen Harper就曆史強加在中國移民身上的特別稅收向華裔加拿大人道歉；2008年，澳大利亞總理Kevin Rudd就曆史上的種族歧視法案向澳洲土著道歉。在美國，1988年美國政府決定向二戰中被關押的日裔人士道歉並附帶賠償；2008年，就黑奴曆史以及”Jim Crow”法案，美國國會正式向非裔美國人道歉。還有，2008年，就過去美國政府對土著美國人的不公正行為，美國國會向土著美國人做出道歉。這個過程是正麵的，將國家的各個群體更進一步地融合在一起，而不是撕裂開來。
最後，讓我們來聽一聽麻州眾議員William Everett在1893年國會有關“排華法案”的聽證會上是如何發言的：
“讓我告訴你們，那一天總會到來的，也許是兩百五十年之後，那時，太平洋海岸邊（加州）的先生們的子孫將悔恨今天你們對中國人做法，他們將更願意和我們麻州人一起，而不是像加州人一樣，公平地對待中國人。”
眾議員William Everett是對的。2009年7月，在州議員方文忠先生的倡導下，加州政府終於為那段發生在130年前對中國人歧視的曆史正式向華裔美國人社區正式道歉。感謝神靈，這聲道歉來的比眾議員William Everett預期的要早了許多。
這本書是這段曆史的資料匯集，它佐證了美國早期的排華曆史以及華裔美國人追求自由的過程。今天，我們華裔美國人社區應該團結在一起來尋求一份國會的正式道歉，既為了慰籍那已經作古的10萬個亡魂，也為了讓我們的孩子有一個永久平安的家園。
董潔林
2010年1月
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The Rocky Road to Liberty: A Documented History of Chinese Immigration and Exclusion
Preface
Chinese American immigrants started coming to America during the middle of the 19th century, in the rush to find gold in California. A few may have found some gold, but most did not. Later arriving as the Transcontinental Railroad constructors, some may have worked here voluntarily, however others were forced here against their wills. They worked hard, were exceptionally productive, but were despised as “coolies” and abused brutally by the society then. Yes, even knowing that the very existence of the racial discrimination was against them here, they still kept coming, because the constant wars in their home country and hardship to survive there.
The nightmare of Chinese immigrants officially started in 1882, when the Chinese Exclusion Act(CEA) was adopted by the U.S. government as legislation. The anti-Chinese movement had started in California and spread out to the rest of the country quickly. After the initial passage of the CEA in 1882, there were almost no new Chinese immigrants allowed to the U.S. Chinese in the U.S. had little chance of ever being reunited with their families, or starting new families here. Because of the CEA, any Chinese who left the U.S. had to obtain certifications for reentry, and the CEA made Chinese immigrants permanent aliens excluded from the U.S. citizenship process. Later, the Immigration Act of 1924 would restrict immigration even further, excluding all classes of Chinese immigrants and extending the restrictions to other Asian immigrant groups. These restrictions were not relaxed until the middle of the twentieth century.
Obviously, the contributions by the Chinese Americans to the American society are profound, yet the hardships endured by the early Chinese immigrants are a sad chapter in American history.
They knew the road to America was long, but they did not know that the journey would take their entire lives, and their children and grandchildren have to continue this journey……
Understanding that the road to America would be rocky and tough, but they did not know that they had to use their dignity, blood, even lives to defend their every step forward in this country.
They thought that they were forever Chinese and would bury their bones with their ancestors in a home called China, but then America turned out to become their permanent home. Never did they image that millions of new generations of Chinese would follow the road paved by them to become Chinese Americans.
Those early immigrants from China to America, about 100,000 people, are humble, honest and hardworking human beings. They had consumed very little, and yet left the first transcontinental railroad behind and built the California agriculture infrastructure for later generations to enjoy. They had typical American dreams similar to all other ethnic groups who came to this land, yet their voyages were particularly turbulent.
Today, when we open the history book and look back on the road that they had to struggle through, we injustice and discrimination. We also see “The Chinese Exclusion Act”, shamefully listed as one chapter of the US law code.
The America of today would not be the same America without the achievements of its ethnic Chinese. When we are enjoying the freedom, liberty and democracy in this great country now, we know clearly that the early immigrants from China were treated unfairly, their miseries were not justified, and their souls would not be in peace for those horrible experiences.
It is a simple and universal moral, of when someone did something so wrong, the least that one should do is to “apologize”. Yes, the early groups of Chinese immigrants deserve an apology, a formal congressional apology for the “Chinese Exclusion Act”, and all the terrors happened to them in that dark era.
Some may say that it is too little too late. That is true to a certain degree for whom had passed away, but a congressional apology will serve as a formal closure on this issue which has overshadowed the Chinese American community for well over a century, despite their long legacy of contributions to this country from the early days of railroad construction, and through the fighting in the second world war together with other ethnic Americans, till today’s high-tech booming.
Others may say what’s the point since it happened long time ago? In fact it is very meaningful and imperative today, because that the very reasons behind the “Chinese Exclusion Act” are still well alive and come out to haunt us in various forms. Furthermore, seeds of injustice and prejudice always exist among human world, which are constantly seeking the right soil and climate to grow.
Yes, we must request a formal congressional apology on their behalf！
This process will educate the public about the great contributions of the early generations of Chinese immigrants in America, encourage the new immigrants to well integrate with the society and to make further contributions. It will remind the society to remember the injustice in history and never repeat the same mistakes again. Also, this process will help the Chinese American community to heal their wounded hearts, restore their honor and formally close a shameful chapter.
When we are looking back, we could also see the lights of conscience even in the darkest days of the anti-Chinese Hysteria. In 1882, Republican Senator George Frisbie Hoar of Massachusetts described the Act as "nothing less than the legalization of racial discrimination." In 1893, the US Congressman E. Morse from Massachusetts, claimed: “The Geary bill, so called, which was passed during the Fifty-second Congress, I regard as an inhuman and unjust bill……” From 1870 to 1890, Mark Twain observed this history and served as a fair eye witness to the account, which was reported in many of his writings. All these stories can tell that conscience could cross the boundary of race, penetrate the borders of nations, and reflect warm lights from the long river of history.
To reach the equality and fairness in today’s society, we see many civil rights fighters and groups throughout the US history to lead the society advancing into the next level. In recent years, governments around the globe have issued many apologies for their raciest wrong doings in history. In 2006, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized to Chinese Canadians for unequal taxes imposed on them in the late 19th century. In 2008, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologized to his country's Aborigines for racist laws of the past. In 1988 the U.S. government decided to pay $20,000 to each of the surviving 120,000 Japanese Americans imprisoned in camps during World War II. In 2008 the U.S. Congress formally apologized to black Americans for slavery and the later Jim Crow laws. Also in 2008, U.S Congress issued apology to Native Americans in an effort to recognize past abuses of native peoples by the U.S. government. Those processes produced positive results to communities, which have further bonded people together instead of tearing them apart.
Now, let’s listen to the Congressman William Everett at the hearing taken at the US House on Saturday, October 14, 1893:
“Let me tell the gentlemen further that the time will come, perhaps two hundreds and fifty years hence, when the descendants of gentlemen on the Pacific coast will regret your treatment of the Chinese at this time, and will be more inclined to follow the example of Massachusetts men in following some future California Armstrong in doing justice to the Chinese.”
Congressman William Everett was right. In July 2009, led by the state assembly member Mr. Paul Fong, the California state government eventually apologized to Chinese Americans for their discrimination acts against the Chinese that happened about 130 years ago. Thanks to God, it is much shorter than what the congressman had predicted.
This book has provided a collection of historic documents, which has revealed the discrimination against the Chinese immigrants in the early U.S. history, as well as the path of the Chinese Americans struggled through towards liberty.
Today, we, the Chinese American Society, unite together, to seek a congressional apology, for the 100,000 early Chinese immigrants to rest in peace, and for our children to have a peaceful homeland here forever.
Jielin Dong
Jan. 2010
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