Remembering the Contributions and Sacrifices Chinese Americans Have Made to America ... A Time To Give Back

By Sam Chu Lin

Many mainstream Americans know very little about Asian Pacific Americans 
and the challenges they have faced.   As far as many of these critics are 
concerned, they think, "Chinese and other Asian Pacific Americans should 
be more thankful to this country for the opportunities they have received, 
and that they should illustrate this by giving back." On my visit to 
Washington, D.C., ironically I found a partial answer to this dilemma. 

During a lull in the Committee of 100's activities, I visited the 
Smithsonian Institution and viewed the "On Gold Mountain" exhibit, the 
story of the Chinese American experience in America.   The curator told me 
this was the first time such an exhibit had ever been put on display at 
the prestigious museum and that it was breaking attendance records.
Murals and historical artifacts illustrated how early Chinese immigrants 
fought America's discriminatory Exclusion Laws for sixty-one years and 
helped to pave the way for others to succeed.   Archival photographs and 
uniforms worn by veterans help to demonstrate the patriotism of Chinese 
Americans.   They had fought for the Red, White, and Blue at Gettysburg in 
America's Civil War to the jungles of Vietnam. And these American citizens 
have helped to build a "better America" with their contributions in many 
arenas including the scientific, educational, and political fields.

Apparently the public is eager to learn more about this community, and a 
few examples help to illustrate that point.  With the help of Committee of 
100 members, Bill Moyer, a PBS moderator and producer, is completing a new 
TV series about Chinese Americans.   Author Iris Chang, likewise a 
Committee of 100 member, has also written a new book about Chinese 
American heroes and how they have given back to this country.  It's now 
being edited for publication.

It was a memorable experience when I delivered a speech to about a 
thousand teachers at a convention of the National Education Association in 
Washington, D.C.  As I wrapped up my remarks, hundreds of educators rushed 
to the stage to request a list of Chinese American contributors.  One 
teacher said, "There's so little material about Chinese American heroes." 
The classroom instructors were so anxious for the information, they waited 
until the list was duplicated and distributed. During a question and 
answer period, the audience roared with laughter when a group of Florida 
teachers admitted they didn't know that a Chinese American horticulturist 
helped to develop their state's frost resistant citrus fruit and paved the 
way for the state to compete against California.   They were also 
astonished to learn that a Chinese American cinema photographer won two 
Oscars for filming the Academy Award winning motion pictures "Hud" and 
"The Rose Tattoo."

After I put together a series of reports for KNX, the CBS radio station in 
Los Angeles, to commemorate the May observance of Asian Pacific American 
Heritage month, a reporter at the station reacted, "It's fascinating to 
know that a Chinese American scientist patented the process to make 
evaporated milk.  These people have really touched our lives. Every time I 
drink a cup of coffee and pour in powdered cream, I'll remember that." He 
added, "Everybody knows the Chinese invented the firecracker and rocket. 
I'm delighted to learn that there are Chinese American astronauts who go 
into space, and that a Chinese American scientist helped to develop the 
fabric to make the space suits."   (Part 2 of 3)