The volume begins with an overview of China in the Late Qing period, setting the stage for the successive waves of Chinese immigration to the United States. Chinese Americans, like other immigrants, have come to seek their fortune, and each generation has newly negotiated their position in society and their ethnic identity as they try to support their families. Students, teachers, and interested readers will follow the progress of these immigrants as they become part of the American mosaic and learn about the problems they have encountered along the way and continue to encounter such as racism and job discrimination. Their contributions to building this country and shaping U.S. history are discussed in terms of a complex relationship with the larger community.
