The Chinese Exclusion Act, a Steeplechase Documentary, airing in May 2018 on PBS, directed by Ric Burns and Li-Shin YU, looks at the history of Chinese immigrants to the US and their sixty year exclusion from becoming citizens, even when they were born in the U.S. The Exclusion Act in 1882 came after forty years of discrimination and harassment of Chinese coming to California for the Gold Rush and to work on building the Trans Continental Railroad leg, from California to Utah. In the case of the railroad, Chinese workers were encouraged to migrate to California from China. The Chinese were treated far worse than European Immigrants, like the Irish and Italians, who were also treated badly. However, European Immigrants never had an “Exclusion Act” to deal with, and complete exclusion from any path to citizenship or guarantee of basic human rights.
The Chinese Exclusion Act, edited by Li-Shin Yu mostly conforms to the same editing style seen in Ken Burns’ (Ric’s Brother) films. Archival photographs and other documentation combined with interviews with experts, historians, voice over narration, music and effects tell the story. There is an interesting use of effects in the documentary. Very subtle presence tracks are often heard under the voice over narration. This adds depth to the photographs being used and the narration.
standing L to R: sons Frank, Bill, Henry, Jimmy, George. Seated: Alice Wong, Lim Ben, daughter Nancy
The pace is excellent and the two-hour documentary opens up an aspect of US history of which not many people are aware. The Chinese Exclusion Act may be difficult to find in American History Books. But it is a significant part of history. The documentary makes no direct references to current anti-immigrant rhetoric, however, the similarity is obvious. By exploring this issue the documentary should help all Americans to see how history repeats itself. The documentary also reveals the deep-rooted tribalism that emboldens racist and ethnic hostility.
The Chinese Exclusion Act is an Educational documentary, about American History, Chinese American History and a clear look at racial attitudes in the US. It also examines how politics and politicians can manipulate people to turn on other people. This story is an “eye opener” about the early Chinese American experience and how it connects to the history of the country.
“This couldn’t come at a more important time in our country… because it tells a story, it tells our story. It shows what was done to our people, but it is also relevant to our present moment, and what is going on today, with anti-immigration laws and prejudices and what’s going on with the Muslim ban. They all have their roots, legally and politically in Chinese exclusion.”- Historian Mae Ngai at THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT screening.
An important part of the documentary looks at how Wong Kim Ark, a Chinese American born in the United States, who fought to get back into the country, after he traveled to China. In a test of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, carried all the way to the Supreme Court; the court ruled in 1898, that Wong Kim Ark had acquired U.S. Citizenship at birth. This ruling defined and supported the Amendment and established the precedent, guaranteeing that anyone born in the U.S. is a citizen.
This documentary is currently airing on Public Broadcast Television nationally in the U.S. (As of May 29, 2018)
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[amazon_image id=”B07BF2PQK8″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The Chinese Exclusion Act DVD[/amazon_image]
“THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT” ” is a production of Steeplechase Films and The Center for Asian American Media, in association with The New-York Historical Society. The Chinese Exclusion Act has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor. Additional funding provided by The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and The Committee of 100. Major funding for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Additional funding provided by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and public television viewers.”
CAAM’s”Who is American?” Immigration, Exclusion, & the American Dream educational and community outreach program for “THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT” PBS documentary, is supported in part, with support from the Committee of 100 and with a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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