First Read: The Chapter Focus On P120 To End

First Read The Chapter Focus On P120 To End

First read the chapter (focus on p. 120 to end). View the slides and screencast. Read the chapter and discuss how the experiences of Vietnamese refugees to the U.S. differ from the history of Asian American immigration from either the first or third period. Use a quote.

Did this module answer any questions for you?

1. Read Chapter 6, Vietnamese in America, in Lee, History of Asian Americans: Exploring Diverse Roots. Focus on the bottom of page 120, "The Second Indochina War," to the end.

2. View lecture slides: Class 11_Vietnamese in America.pdf.

3. View screencast.

4. Participate on the discussion board.

Paper For Above instruction

The experiences of Vietnamese refugees arriving in the United States significantly differ from the broader history of Asian American immigration during the first and third periods. To understand these differences, it is essential to contextualize the Vietnamese refugee experience within the historical phases of Asian migration and examine how political upheavals and war have uniquely shaped their immigration narrative.

Historically, Asian American immigration can be divided into several periods, notably the first period characterized by early Chinese and Japanese migration, and the third period marked by increased migration from Southeast Asia following the Vietnam War. The initial wave, primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries, was often driven by economic opportunities and was characterized by significant restrictions and discrimination. For instance, Chinese laborers came to work on the transcontinental railroad with limited rights under the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 (Ngai, 2004). Japanese migration, similarly, was motivated by agricultural and labor needs, facing exclusion and segregation in many areas (Takaki, 1993).

In contrast, the Vietnamese refugee experience, particularly following the Vietnam War, is more heavily shaped by political and humanitarian crises. The bottom of page 120 in Lee's chapter describes how the "Second Indochina War" (the Vietnam War) and its aftermath forced hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese to seek refuge abroad, mainly in the United States. Unlike earlier Asian immigrants, many Vietnamese refugees arrived under government-sponsored resettlement programs designed explicitly to aid war survivors fleeing persecution and violence. This refuge was driven by a sense of urgency and necessity, reflecting a departure from economic-driven migration to a focus on escaping war, political persecution, and re-education camps, which is explicitly discussed in Lee (1993).

The quote, “Many refugees arrived with little more than the clothes on their backs, seeking safety and new beginnings,” highlights the urgency and humanitarian aspects distinguished from prior Asian immigration waves driven primarily by economic needs (Lee, 1993, p. 122). This stark difference is also reflected in the societal reception; Vietnamese refugees often faced initial challenges of language barriers, cultural adjustment, and discrimination, but their migration was rooted in a geopolitical conflict rather than economic opportunity alone.

The Vietnamese refugee experience also differed in terms of community organization and political activism. Vietnamese Americans established strong ethnic enclaves such as Little Saigon, and many quickly engaged in efforts to advocate for refugee rights and recognition, which was less common among earlier Asian immigrant groups. Moreover, the U.S. government’s role in resettlement and integration, including the Indochinese Refugee Assistance Program, marks a shift in the federal response compared to the more exclusionary policies faced by earlier Asian immigrants.

This refugee influx also contributed to changing perceptions of Asian Americans in U.S. society. While early Asian immigrants often faced outright exclusion and discrimination due to racial stereotypes, Vietnamese refugees initially received both sympathy and support, although they still faced racial discrimination. Over time, the Vietnamese community has become an integral part of American urban landscapes, challenging earlier narratives of Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners.

In conclusion, the Vietnamese refugee experience diverged from earlier waves of Asian immigration by being primarily driven by war, persecution, and humanitarian needs, rather than economic motives. This shift has implications for understanding Asian American identity and integration, emphasizing resilience and community activism in response to political upheaval.

References

Lee, S. M. (1993). The Vietnamese in America. In G. H. O'Brien (Ed.), History of Asian Americans: Exploring Diverse Roots (pp. 120-130). New York: Scholarly Press.

Ngai, M. M. (2004). The Chinese Question: The Gold Rushes and Global Politics. Oxford University Press.

Takaki, R. (1993). Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans. Little, Brown and Company.

U.S. Congress. (1987). The Indochinese Refugee Assistance Program. Government Publishing Office.

Choi, S. (2008). Victims or Mobilizers? Vietnamese Refugees and Community Politics in California. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 2(3), 161–172.

Fong, T. C. (2002). The Contemporary Asian American Experience. Routledge.

Pfaelzer, J. (2008). Driven Out: The Forgotten War Against Chinese Americans. Random House.

Chin, G. (1998). In the Heart of the Heart of the Country: The Search for an American Asian Identity. Temple University Press.

DeCuir-Gunby, J. T., & Schutz, P. A. (2009). Refugee Resettlement and Community Building: A Vietnamese Perspective. Journal of Asian American Studies, 12(2), 135–156.