_______________20th Century - Post WWII
 
 
 

1946

Philippines granted independence from the United States.

Luce Cellar Act passes through
Congress and signed by President Truman on July 3, 1946. Grants citizenship to Filipino and Indian Immigrants and extends token quota for legal immigration to both groups. Filipino Naturalization Act grants US citizenship
to filipinos who had arrived before March 24, 1943.

 

1955

Holt Agency begins international and interracial adoption of Korean children.

 

1965

Hart Cellar Immigration Act signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. Ends the racially motivated "National Origins" criteria of 1924 act. Race-blind immigration leads to new influx of immigrants from Asia and Latin America.

First year Asian immigrants outnumber European immigrants to United States.

East West Players, the 1st Asian American theater, formed in Los Angeles.

Malcolm X Assassinated

Dongha Yang '05, Yuri Kochiyama

 

1966

Seminal Model Minority Articles published in New York Times Magazine and US News and World Report.

 

 

1969

Evelyn Chen '01, The Black Power Movement and the Asian American Movement

Student Third World Liberation Strike at San Francisco State College. Asian American, African American, Latino and Native American students strike for ethnic studies. Longest student strike in US during the 60s and generally acknowledged as the birth of the Asian American Movement.

Radical criticism of "White America"developed: Institutional Racism Examined

 

1970

Asian American Theater Company founded in San Francisco.

Sarah E Park '05, Frank Chin's Influence

1974

Korean Produce Association of New York

(KPANY) formed in 1974.

 

1975

Maxine Hong Kingston's Woman Warrior published. Bestseller that brings Asian American perspective to mainsteam reading public.

Controversy erupts within Asian American community when Frank Chin criticizes Kingston's work.

1980

KPANY Boycotts of White Suppliers.

1982

Murder of Vincent Chin

See Helen Zia Speaks at Dartmouth

1988

The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 (Redress) signed by Ronald Reagan

 

1992

April 29th - Los Angeles Riot

Following the acquittal of 4 white LAPD officers for the beating of Rodney King, violent protest breaks out in South Central Los Angeles. For three days, the destruction is unchecked turning from a protest of police brutality into a multiracial riot. It resulted deaths, injury and massive destruction in the riot areas. 50% of all businesses damaged and looted were owned by Korean Americans and Korean merchants.

Interpretations of the riot have been numerous, including:

It was an uprising of the poor after years of neglect during the Reagan era. Successful in getting government to pay attention.

It was a Black-White conflict motivated by the Rodney King video. Latino, Asian, White and Black businesses were caught in the middle of the persistent Amerian race problem.

It was a Korean - Black conflict, following years of racial misunderstanding caused by 1) Economic tensions between Korean shops and African American communities, 2) the Media for sensationalizing racial tensions 3) racism by Korean merchants such as the shooting of Latasha Harlins by Merchant Soon Ja Du or 4) racism by African Americans such as Ice Cube or Nationalist leaders who viewed Korean Merchants as economic predators.

It was the first "multi racial" riot, including immigrants from many different countries including Latin American countries. The tension represented the stress of globalization and diversity on one community.

Carolyn Lee '06, Media Misrepresentation of the LA Race Riots from a Korean American Perspective

 

2000

Asian Pacific American Community reaches 11 million. (4% of US Population)

2002

Eugene Oh '06, Abercrombie & Fitch: Modern Day Asian American Empowerment

2050

Asian Pacific Americans reach 34 million people. Now accounts for 10% of US Population.


Sarah Oh '01, “Twinkies Are More Than Hostess Snacks: Korean-Americans at Dartmouth”

Feng Shen '01, Representing APAs in the Mass Media

Timothy M.Yang '03, The Malleable Yet Undying Nature of the Yellow Peril