Choosing Oppression or Courage

We were fortunate to be able to stay with family while we were in San Francisco last week trying to do some genealogy. We were blessed to have been helped a great deal by the Ethnic Studies Library at UC-Berkeley while researching the life of my paternal great grandfather, Tong, King-Chong  唐瓊昌

唐瓊昌

Most non-Chinese are familiar with Dr. Sun Yat Sen, the military face and leader of the Revolution which overthrew the Chinese empire, leading to the foundation of the Republic of China (a democratic Republic, not to be confused with the current communist government of the 'People's' Republic of China.) Most (older) Chinese know my great grandfather was the political face of the movement, leading the authorship of the ROC constitution, calling upon overseas (and mainland) Chinese to rise up and overthrow the Empire and establish freedom in China. Tong, King-Chong as Editor and publisher of the Chinese Free Press, the largest Chinese newspaper in the USA, wrote many essays and was widely published in english and chinese languages, and the most recognized Chinese person here in the USA by all white and chinese communities. He became the first Chinese lawyer in the US, and when Sun Yat Sen was arrested for treason here by the US government at the behest of China's Empress Dowager, served as Sun Yat Sen's lawyer successfully arguing for, and obtaining Dr. Sun's release.

Tong, King-Chong was born in China, a second son. In old Chinese culture, a second son is worth barely anything. Knowing his future in China was limited, he set out to America to seek his fortune and determine his own destiny. In this, he was similar to millions of other Chinese. 

The Chinese Historical Society of America, headquartered in San Francisco, tells the "story" of those "other" Chinese (although, they do reference my great grandfather in one of their publications--largely relating how his family was arrested in China for treason.) I was disappointed, but not entirely surprised, that the "Chinese story" told by CHSA is largely one of oppression, discrimination, racism, victimhood. To be sure, all of those things were true. But where are the stories of those 'other' Chinese who like my great grandfather, despite, language barriers, discrimination etc., rose up to live out the American dream: successful, contributing members in the own culture and American society at large, prospered because of the freedom afforded to them in America, and left a legacy of triumph for their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren?

To hear CHSA tell it, we were and are, a poor, oppressed, illiterate, woebegone people, waiting to be rescued, unable to lift ourselves out of our circumstance, forever to be slaves. WHAT A LIE. 

Tong, King-Chong is only unique by his fame. His story of arriving with nothing, believing in himself, and having the courage to live out his dreams is shared by millions of others. My other paternal great great grandfather, also a second Chinese son, arrived on the shores of America to pan for gold, and was reasonably successful (though not hugely.) He saw how the Chinese (and other) miners were being charged ridiculously high prices for mining equipment and supplies, so he gathered his gold, bought inventory cheap due to volume and then resold it at half of what other suppliers were charging. He became a millionaire in the process, eventually owning one of the main shipping lines from San Francisco to China.

Where are those stories, CHSA? Why not tell the stories of courage, of hope, of determination, of success? It can't be because you don't know those stories.

I know why CHSA (and organizations like them) don't tell those stories: they don't fit the narrative that America is bad, that white America oppresses, that the little man can't get ahead. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 required that you 'prove' you were entitled to come into this country. Was it a racist, oppressive law? Absolutely. But you know what came out of it? Millions of pages of family history, treasured stories, photographs and pedigrees which I, and other descendants of these wonderful people, would not have if it weren't for this "racist, oppressive" law (thank you National Archives for preserving them--btw, change your viewing policy!!)

You can choose to be a victim in your circumstance, or you can choose to be courageous and change your path. You can decide your destiny rather than believe the lie that your destiny has been chosen for you.  You like my ancestors and your ancestors, can chose courage when the choice is placed before you.