A Brief Journey through Asian American History

In order to understand the complexities of the Asian American experience, readers must be able to comprehend how the past has built a foundation for the treatment of individuals both inside and outside of the Asian community. Based on various academic editorials and books, we have analyzed what we believe to be the most valuable historical facts, stories, and ideas and presented them in a way that provides the most important information along with our perceptions of each topic. This compilation of articles looks to bring largely unknown issues to the forefront of reader’s minds, in a pursuit to create a better understanding of what it means to be Asian American today. The importance of historical events in how they affect modern society, social norms, and race relations is more important now more than ever. Beginning with a commentary on the history of Chinese exclusion in California during the late 1800’s, the pieces that follow touch upon multiple historical events related to various communties within the Asian community including Japanese internment, the Revolutionary War in the Philippines, the treatment of Korean immigrants following the Korean War, and much more. The existence of intersectionality between the Asian American identity and numerous other identities cannot be overlooked. All of the issues presented have an influence on both the African American and LGBTQ+ communities. We kindly ask readers to not only keep in mind how these articles have shaped their own lives, but also to remember how these acts of injustice have changed the perception of all other minorities. The main theme of this project can be encapsulated in a quote from legendary Japanese clothing designer Yohji Yamamoto: “With one eye on the past, I walk backwards into the future”https://digital.sandiego.edu/ethn-zines/1012/thumbnail.jp