Chinese Americans

Most of today's Chinese Americans are descendants of some of the early miners and railroad workers.

Those immigrants had come from the vicinity of Canton in Southeast China, where they had been uneducated farm laborers.
The same kind of young men, from the same area and from similar humble origins, migrated to Hawaii in those days.
There they fared far better, mainly because they did not encounter hostility.
Some married native Hawaiians, and others brought their wives and children over.
They were not restricted to Chinatowns, and many of them soon became successful merchants and active participants in general community affairs.
Chinese Americans retain many aspects of their ancient culture, even after having lived here for several generations.
For example, their family ties continue to be remarkably strong.
Members of the family lend each other moral support and also practical help when necessary.
From a very young age children are imbued with the old values and attitudes, including respect for their elders and a feeling of responsibility to the family.
This helps to explain why there is so little juvenile delinquency among them.
The high regard for education which is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, and the willingness to work very hard to gain advancement, are other noteworthy characteristics of theirs.
This explains why so many descendants of uneducated laborers have succeeded in becoming doctors, lawyers, and other professionals.
Chinese Americans make up only a tiny fraction of our population; there are fewer than half a million, living chiefly in California, New York, and Hawaii.
As American attitudes toward minorities and toward ethnic differences have changed in recent years, the long-reviled Chinese have gained wide acceptance.
Today, they are generally admired for their many remarkable characteristics, and are often held up as an example worth following.
And their numerous contributions to their adopted land are much appreciated.