| Many Chinese people left their culture and
family behind to chase hopes and dreams of a new life and rich opportunity
for a wealthy and successful future in American. Even though this is the
typical enthusiastic first response, undoubtedly, as seen in many memoirs
and other literary works, these hopeful Chinese were desperate to escape
the poverty and political turmoil of China. As detainees write in poems
full of prospect, "The gold and silver of America is very appealing"
(Poem 4 from Lai 36) and "I admire the land
of the Flowery Flag as a country of abundance/ I immediately raised money
and started my journey" (Poem 9 from Lai 40).
They risked the little they had to start a new life in America to fulfill
dreams of prosperity through hard-work and survival. Such hopeful aspirations
of a better and promising life in America are expressed in this poem where
this young man poetically describes his high spirits "like a shooting
arrow" (Poem 5 from Lai 36) and his heart
"nervous with anticipation" (Poem 5 from
Lai 36), because this is the beginning of the road and a new life of a promising
future for him. However, some immigrants were sent by families only to become
wealthy and spread the wealth as indicated in this poem, "My countenance
is blackened. It is surely for the sake of the family" (Poem
4 from Lai 36). Nevertheless, a general enthusiastic feeling accompanied
these Chinese immigrants on their voyage to America and the first few trivial
days detained at Angel Island. |
