Read: Ronald Takaki, Strangers from a Different Shore, Little, Brown and Company, 1998 edition. Haiming Liu, The Transnational History of a Chinese Family, Rutgers University, 2005.
Short-answer questions based on the readings:
1 How did Takaki discuss the significance of Asian American history?
2 Briefly describe the rise of Asian American Studies.
3 Explain and comment on the following terms: "sojourners, settlers, racial uniform, institutionalized racial discrimination" in Takaki's book.
4 How did Takaki compare Asian and European immigrants in terms of their return rate to the home countries, how they were treated in America, and how they were different in work experience?
5 Discuss why Asians were called "strangers" in America.
6 What was the vision of American society held by the founding fathers of this country as Takaki observed?
7 Based on Liu's book, discuss what are some of the major themes, theories and concepts such as the sojourner tradition in Chinese society, family as a social network, a transnational life and family.
8 Discuss various push and pull factors in Chinese migration, reverse migration, and immigration pattern mentioned in the introduction chapters of both books.
9 Discuss also the significance of the Chang family history.
Sample Solution