Department of Sociology and Anthropology
SOAN 4760: Asians in America Instructor: Ming Tsui
Spring 2004, MWF 11 Office: SH 342
Office Hours: MW 9-10 and 3-4 Tel. 974-1388 (O), 944-0975 (H)
Contents:
Course Description
Course Requirements
SYLLABUS
Among various minority racial and ethnic groups in America, Asian Americans stand out. Their outward appearance, their cultures, and their religions have made them outsiders in America and have, to a certain degree, led to prejudice and hostility historically. Since World War II, however, people in the United States have increasingly seen Asian Americans as a part of middle-class, white majority. Indeed, in recent decades, Asian American’s educational and occupational statuses as well as their average family income have surpassed that of whites. How do we account for this rapid upward mobility? What factors have contributed to it? In what way have Asian Americans’ immigrant origin, their class status before immigration, their family structure, and their cultural tradition, influenced their adaptation and success? These are some of the questions our class is going to address. The readings will include historical research on the experiences of various Asian ethnic groups and on US immigration policies. Our main attention will be paid to three major Asian American groups: the Chinese, the Japanese, and the Korean Americans. In addition to a systematic examination of the history and current situations of these groups and their American journey, we will also compare their experiences with the experiences of other racial groups in the US in terms of social mobility and race relations.
Methods
This course will be run as a seminar. A seminar entails that students contribute regularly to class. Students in this class are expected to make frequent presentations of the readings, share in the exchange of ideas, lead and participate in class discussions, write and orally present a research paper. As collaboration and group effort are imperative to the successful accomplishment of these activities, regular attendance is essential. Only two un-excused absences are permitted without penalty.
Writing
Writing is a significant component of this course. There will be two short papers/book reviews (3-4 pages), and one research paper (10-15 pages). The papers must be handed in on time. Late paper will not be accepted. Extension will only be granted under extreme circumstances such as hospitalization and the instructor’s approval is required.
Mid-term exam
A in-class, mid-term exam will be given during the semester. Examination questions will come from assigned readings, class lectures and discussions. The exam will be graded according to the following:
90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, 59 or below=F
Grades:
Short-paper/book review =40%
Research paper =35%
Mid-term exam =25%
1. Huping Ling. (1998). Surviving on the Gold Mountain: a history of Chinese American women and their lives. New York: State University of New York Press.
2. Harry H. L. Kitano and Roger Daniels. (2000). Asian Americans: Emerging Minorities. (3rd edition). Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
3. Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler. (1994). The Chinese American Family Album. New York: Oxford University Press.
4. James W. Loewen. (1988). The Mississippi Chinese: Between Black and White. Prospect Heights, Illinois: Waveland Press.
5. Nazli Kibria (2002). Becoming Asian American: Second-Generation Chinese and Korean American Identities. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
6. Additional readings on Japanese, Korean Americans will be distributed in class.
Jan. 12 Introduction and overview of class
Jan. 14-16 Who are the Asian Americans
Read: Hoobler, Introduction by Bette Bao Lord and Chapter One; Kitano and Daniels, Chapter 1 and Chapter 12, pp. 199-200
Jan. 19-23 Immigration laws and their effects
Read: Kitano and Daniels 2; Ling, Introduction and Chapter 1; Hoobler, Chapters Two and Three
Jan.26-30 Voyage to America, early years: the Chinese
Read: Hoobler, Chapters Four and Five; Ling, Chapters 2 and 3
***1st short paper assigned, due Feb. 6
Feb. 2-6 The Japanese
Read: Kitano and Daniels, Chapter 5 and 6
***1st short paper due, Feb. 6
Feb. 9-13 The Koreans
Read: Kitano and Daniels, Chapter 9; Lee “Striving for the American dream: struggle, success, and intergroup conflict among Korean immigrant entrepreneurs” (handout)
Feb.16-20 Part of America, after WWII
Read: Hoobler, Chapter Six; Kitano and Daniels, Chapter 12, pp. 181-199, p.201;
Ling, Chapter 4
Fab.23-27 Family; Educational and Occupational Attainment
Read: Ling, Chapter 5; Zhou “Social capital in Chinatown: the role of community-based organizations and families in the adaptation of the younger generation.” Nakanishi “A quota on excellence....” “New York school for Chinese is a magnet for black pupils” (Handouts).
Mar. 1-5 Managing racism
Read: Loewen, Introduction, Chapters 1, 2, and Chapter 3 pp. 59-64.
Mar.8-10 Managing racism
Read: Loewen, Chapter 3 pp. 64-72 and Chapter 4
March 12: Mid-term examination
March. 12, 3pm to March 21 Spring Holidays
Mar. 22-26 Overcoming racism
Read: Loewen, Chapters 5 and 6
***2nd short paper assigned, due April 2
Mar.29-Apr.2 Becoming Asian American
Read: Loewen, Chapter 7; Kibria, Chapters 1 and 2
***2nd short paper due, April 2
Apr. 5-9 Becoming Asian American (continued)
Read: Kibria, Chapters 3 and 4
***research paper assigned and final paper due April 23, last day of class
Apr. 12-16 Becoming Asian American (continued)
Read: Kibria, Chapters 5 and 6
Apr. 19-21 Becoming Asian American (continued)
Read: Ling, Chapter 6; Kibria, Chapter 7; Raspberry, “Beyond racism;” Sowell “We’ve more than our quota of quotas” (handout).
Apr. 23 Last day of class, research paper due, read-around