America's Lost Chinese: The Rise and Fall of a Migrant Family Dream

Chinese migrants in the 1850s encountered Americans, but alienation and xenophobia prevented cultural and economic enrichment. They established a Chinese settlement in Mexico, becoming the first Chinese magnates in the Americas. Their story is of nationhood, state racism, exile, grit, and new ways of belonging, with their home in Mexico long forgotten.

Format: Hardback
Length: 364 pages
Publication date: 27 July 2023
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

From the 1850s, as the United States pushed west, Chinese migrants encountered ordinary Americans for the first time, marking a significant moment in history. However, alienation and xenophobia caused the US to miss out on the opportunity for cultural and economic enrichment that could have come from embracing these newcomers. Instead, America offered the Chinese a fresh perspective and connections, leading to the development of their own dreams and aspirations.

Hugo Wong's great-grandfathers, driven by poverty in China, fled to California in the early 1900s. A decade later, they were excluded from the United States. Undeterred, they helped establish a Chinese settlement across the border in Mexico, led by a renowned dissident-in-exile with visions of a New China overseas. These pioneers would become among the first Chinese magnates in the Americas, meeting with presidents, generals, and missionaries, experiencing both astonishing victories and humiliating defeats.

The most tragic chapter of this epic 100-year drama unfolded during the Mexican Revolution, which resulted in the largest massacre and deportation of Chinese in American history. The Wong family, along with many other Chinese immigrants, faced immense hardship and loss as their homes and businesses were destroyed. Despite their significant influence over a Western population and territory, their presence in Mexico would eventually be forgotten.

Today, this family story is reborn, encompassing themes of nationhood, state racism, and a turbulent century. It explores the experiences of exile, resilience, and new ways of belonging, reflecting on the complexities of identity and the enduring impact of historical events on generations. Through the untapped personal papers of the Wong family, this narrative provides a unique perspective on the history of Chinese immigrants in the Americas and their contributions to shaping the cultural landscape of the region.

Weight: 700g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781805260561