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Perpetual Foreigner is a free, three-part webinar that accounts the history of various Asian ethnic groups in the United States, from the Transcontinental Railroad of the 1850s to the model minority myth of today.
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A Chinese American tea carrier of the Central Pacific Railroad. VIA: Alfred A. Hart
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1970s Asian Americans protest police brutality and racial profiling. VIA: Corky Lee
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A S E M I N A R O V E R V I E W
Part 1 - presented 02.24.2021
Chinese Camp, 1868. VIA: Alfred A. Hart
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The first major wave of Asian immigrants come for the California Gold Rush. They get jobs working on the Transcontinental Railroad, though their contributions are largely forgotten.
Yellow Peril fuels a series of immigration acts that subsequently exclude them from the country. |
Part 2 - presented 03.03.2021
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The United States enters WWII, but interns hundreds of thousands of Japanese Americans. Throughout the later Vietnam and Korean wars, Asian Americans are often the targets of hate, bigotry and more, despite several essential Asian American contributors in the wars.
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The Chinese Exclusion Act. VIA: Royal BC Museum
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Training spies for the Korean War. VIA: Blaine Harden
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Yick Wo v. Hopkins
Several Asian American Supreme Court victories expand Asian American rights and break barriers, but also divide minority communities.
Part 3 - presented 03.17.2021
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Asian Americans protest the Vietnam War in 1972 and the resulting xenophobia. VIA: the Asian Pacific American Photographic Collection Visual Communications Archive
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Asian Americans protest xenophobic sentiments on the steps of the Boston Statehouse. VIA: Steven Senne / AP
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Today, Asian Americans are scapegoats (9/11, COVID-19, etc.) and struggle to overcome the Model Minority myth. They are portrayed as perpetual foreigners and harmful stereotypes from the past still haunt them. They face the highest rates of job discrimination, highest rates of income inequality (within the race), and more.
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The history above is hardly taught in schools(if at all).
We believe that widespread humanization-focused education on Asian American history will go a long way in mitigating much of the xenophobia that affects everyone.
We believe that widespread humanization-focused education on Asian American history will go a long way in mitigating much of the xenophobia that affects everyone.
Let's fight racism together:
OUR SPONSORS / CONTRIBUTORS
Sharetea Issaquah
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King County Library System
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what are attendees saying about Perpetual Foreigner / ECAAR?
"This is eye opening—thanks so much!"
"Thank you for this presentation. I didn’t realize how many Chinese workers labored on the railroad. It’s so galling that they worked so hard, brought expertise and unique technology yet still were treated so unfairly."
"Thank you for bringing humanity to the numbers."
"Thank you! It’s very powerful to hear more specific stories!"
"Great presentation - thank you!!"
"Keep up this great work! See you at the next session!"
"Thank you, students. Your research is really impressive and I learned new things."
"Thank you for your thoughtful responses. And, thank you for this very good presentation. I appreciate your work."
"I liked how someone said life - liberty and property - seems like property - business and home ownership are key to a groups prosperity and sense of belonging"
"Thank you for this presentation. I didn’t realize how many Chinese workers labored on the railroad. It’s so galling that they worked so hard, brought expertise and unique technology yet still were treated so unfairly."
"Thank you for bringing humanity to the numbers."
"Thank you! It’s very powerful to hear more specific stories!"
"Great presentation - thank you!!"
"Keep up this great work! See you at the next session!"
"Thank you, students. Your research is really impressive and I learned new things."
"Thank you for your thoughtful responses. And, thank you for this very good presentation. I appreciate your work."
"I liked how someone said life - liberty and property - seems like property - business and home ownership are key to a groups prosperity and sense of belonging"
