Donald Interest For Chinese example essay topic

Chinese immigration began with the arrival of Chinese miner by the thousands in California, following the discovery of gold in 1848. The hopeless improvement of Chinese economics soon lured more Chinese immigrants to the United States. Some worked on the transcontinental railroad, which was completed in 1869. Others worked in orchids, vineyards, and fields. Some even entered the fishing and manufacturing industries (Encarta). Even though the Chinese helped develop the American West, they became targets of an anti-Chinese movement soon after their arrival.

Many Americans saw the Chinese as an inferior people who were unsuited to become U.S. citizens (Encarta). Some Missionaries, businesspersons and others defended the Chinese, but were unable to prevent the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 (a law which virtually banned further immigration from China). After Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941, China and U.S. became allies in the war against Japan. With the wartime cooperation between the U.S. and China, the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed in 1943. First generation Chinese immigrants were also allowed to apply for American citizenship. In the 1960's and 1970?'s, Chinese American community activists worked to improve social conditions in Chinatown and eliminate stereotypes about Chinese Americans.

Their work led to the Supreme Court case Lau vs. Nichols in 1974, which became the legal basis for bilingual education in the U.S. (Encarta). Chinese Americans and activist were opening doors for many to enter this country and still keep their culture alive. Donald Duk lacked knowledge of his people and the struggles that they went though, so that he could be an American citizen. Donald tried to blame his Chinese culture for his lack of understanding. When he did not really understand the Chinese New Year, he suggested that people asked stupid questions about the holiday (3). He shows shame towards his heritage.

Donald's school was going to see the Cantonese opera preformed by his Uncle Donald and Donald thought that the opera would make no sense and that will embarrass him. Arnold Azalea is Donald's friend. When Arnold came to stay with the Duk, he seemed to be interested in the Chinese New Year and the Chinese culture. Donald thought that this was Arnold's way of being nice, because they " re Chinese and their last name is Duk (12).

Donald finally realizes that Arnold is actually interested in the culture, more so than he. He started to see knowing and understanding the Chinese as a challenge to Arnold. Donald had a lack of true feeling for the culture. He didn? t understand why his father was making the 108 planes only to burn them up (13), so he decides to burn one himself. He takes the P-26 A to the roof and lights it up (13-15). When Donald returns from the roof, he's greeted by his Uncle Donald who shares the history behind the Montagnards (18-19), and The Water Margin (22-23).

After this verbal experience with his Uncle, Donald starts to show a tiny bit of interest in the culture. At the restaurant, Donald illustrates his feeling about Chinatown, the benefits that Arnold had being white. He stated that Arnold could go to Chinatown and leave to return to his white environment, but Donald was stuck with being Chinese. He questions in his mind why his father likes being Chinese so much more than himself (47). When they were all gathered at the Duk home, Donald learned a lot about the immediate history of his father. He found out that his father worked on the Southern Pacific.

He also learned the story behind Ten Feet of Steel, the model plane that his mother is making (48-49). Donald made a promise to Uncle Donald Duk, that he would tell his father about shooting down the P-26 A. Donald has a hard time finding the perfect moment to tell his father so he waited. At the restaurant, the first night of the New Year, Donald finds the time. He walked into the kitchen where is father was and told him that he took the P-26 A and burned it down. Donald's father paused before he began the story of Kwan Kung, the Cantonese opera character. The part of Kwan Kung carried lot of pressure, if you did not eat right or follows the demands of the character before a show, you could be cursed.

The part of Kwan took much discipline and effort. Donald's father ended with the fact that his son disappointed him, that he is nothing more than a racist (67-69). He knew that Donald was ashamed of his own Chinese heritage. The conversation was the best that could have happened to Donald. This conversation was a reality check for him; Donald interest for Chinese understanding began to increase. Donald sees figures and posters of Kwan Kung in a shopping window.

He quickly remembers the stories behind Kwan Kung and the opera. He examines each detail of the figures from each of the three posters. The three- white-faced, red-faced, and black-faced are a set of statuettes and come in various sizes. Donald dreamed about the Chinese history. He had a series of dreams that dealt mostly with the railroad building which was completed in 1869 (25-28). The dreams were about the Chinese making a bet that they could build a 10 mile, 1200 ft railroad in 10 hours (127).

The Chinese did it, they won the bet (127). After every dream sequence, Donald seemed to show more desire to learn about his culture. Arnold had the same dreams as Donald (100). Donald began to become more demanding of the history behind the railroad, and why their wasn? t any credit given to the Chinese for building this railroad (122-123).

Donald's increasing interest throughout the novel seems to grow more and more, as he experienced the Chinese history in his dreams and in the stories told by his parents, and Uncle Duk. Uncle Duk led to the true understanding by relating every situation to the opera. This helped Donald piece together the long complex history of his people. He appeared to gradually grasp a hold on the Chinese culture and draw from the known history to acquire more knowledge.

The Book Donald Duk.