The Chinese in Northern Mexico: Immigration, integration, and discrimination in Mexican society, 1882-1940

In The Chinese in Northern Mexico: Immigration, Integration, and Discrimination 1882-1940, the focus is on understanding what compelled the Chinese to immigrate to Mexico and how their lives in the country developed over time. After the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation was signed by both nations in 1899, the Chinese saw Mexico as an alternative to the United States, which was not allowing any Chinese to enter the country. The first part of the paper looks into the immigration patterns that led to the Chinese arrival, then shifts into examining what type of jobs, industries, and overall experience the Chinese had. The latter part of the paper deals with the rise of anti-Chinese sentiments that swept Mexico and how this affected the Chinese. Special attention is placed on the Chinese custom of intermarrying with Mexican women and the scandal this caused as well as to mention specific episodes of violence perpetrated against them in the northern states. An appendix is included with photographs and tables to supplement the text