2. Chinese Immigrants… Coming to America Who lived on San Francisco’s Angel Island ?

3. Chinese immigration to California The early days in San Francisco’s chinatown--where the past meets the present. Photo courtesy of “The Chinese in America”

4. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882… For the first time in American history, ethnicity was used to refuse entry of immigrants to our country as naturalized citizens. By this act, racism rears its ugly head and points directly at Chinese immigrants.

5. 1910: Immigration station on Angel Island opens to receive Asian immigrants.

6. Why was it called “Angel Island”? No one knows….some of the children on the island complained that it should have been called White Devil Island! Because they were Chinese immigrants, they were confined on the island before they could enter the “Golden Mountain”-- which is what they called California.

7. Finding their dream in ‘Gold Mountain’ … This Chinese bride, in traditional costume, entered Angel Island when she immigrated to the US, and married in 1927.

8. What were the children’s ages on Angel Island? Some were newborn infants when they arrived Some were newborn infants when they arrived Some were elementary or middle school age when they arrived Some were elementary or middle school age when they arrived Some were in high school when they arrived Some were in high school when they arrived

9. We’re all children of immigrants… “I sailed far away on a giant fish to the land of Golden Mountain, My mother and I came with only dreams to the island in the mist…. …is it a crime to be Chinese? No! I shall be strong like my ancestors.” From Angel Island Prisoner 1922 by Helen Chetin

10. Mr. Ng was 15 when he arrived in 1931: “ We stayed in the dormitory most of the time. There wasn’t much recreation. At most, there were one or two ping pong tables….there were over 100 people living there, all young and wanted to play, so I never did get a chance to play.” from the book Island by Him Mark Lai, Genny Lim, and Judy Yung

11. What was the food like on Angel Island? “There were two meals a day. It was ordinary food, with fish and meat. The cooking skills were too inferior and the food was difficult to swallow...many new Chinese arrivals chose to remain half-hungry.” ---Mr. Ma, age 17 in 1922

12. You can visit Angel Island… It’s in San Francisco Bay and you can visit with your class!

13. In order to find out more about what life was like on Angel Island, you can visit these web links: www.askasia.org www.memory.loc.gov www.pbs.org www.socialstudies.com www.lydialum999.com www.askasia.org www.memory.loc.gov www.pbs.org www.socialstudies.com www.lydialum999.com www.askasia.org www.memory.loc.gov www.pbs.org www.socialstudies.com www.lydialum999.com

14. Let’s give CREDIT where credit is due for this slide show! For further information about the photos used in this presentation, please visit these websites: www.angel-island.comwww.ditto.com www.sunsite.berkeley.edu/calheritage. com www.sfgate.com