Overview

The book represents one of the earliest efforts to link the history of European and Asian immigrants. By emphasizing the crucial role played by the immigrants’ traditions in shaping their adjustment patterns in America but by no means losing sight of the impact of discrimination against the newcomers, the book revised the monistic approach to the study of Asian American history which for many decades focused almost exclusively on the effect of discrimination. At the same time, general U.S. immigration history books seldom included the experience of Asians in their discussions. The many similarities between the adjustment patterns of the two immigrant groups discussed in the book highlight the necessity and feasibility of examining the history of Asian and European immigrants on the same footing.

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9780761874669

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"Surviving the City makes many significant contributions to American ethnic studies. Wang has offered a new set of origins and conceptual tools to work with so that scholars of Race and Ethnicity can now remake not only Chinese American history, but perhaps all ethnic American histories. --Andrew An Ho, University of Washington ""International Migration Review"" By comparing the history of the Chinese and Italians in the U.S., he is able to analyze many aspects of the Chinese immigrant experience. While aware of the influence of cultural heritage and the discrimination against the Chinese, Wang does not believe that they have much explanatory value. Instead, by viewing immigrants as rational actors making conscious decisions, the author offers persuasive arguments as to why the Chinese engaged in sojourning from the 1850s to the 1940s, and why they decided to remain after the 1950s. He also notes that the contrasting ethnic economies of the Italians and the Chinese determined residential patterns, receptivity to union membership, and whether kin and regional ties declined or not. Tightly reasoned and stimulating to read, Wang's important book is accessible to general audiences and all academic levels."" --Franklin Ng, California State University, Fresno ""Choice Reviews"""

Author Information

Xinyang Wang taught at Washington State University and the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology before retirement. His articles and reviews have appeared in Labor History, New York History, Studi Emigrazione: International Journal of Migration Studies, Eur-America, Western Historical Quarterly, The American Historical Review, and Amerasia Journal.

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