Elena and Dustin presented their findings on Chinese immigration to BC from the 19th to 20th century to us in class. The presentation was timed just right, as it is important to understand background information to fully appreciate The Concubine's Children, a novel that refers to historical events. I am familiar with the racial policies implemented by the government (such as the Head Tax and the restriction of quotas) as this topic was only recently covered in my Canadian Geography class. However, I did not know the history of British interest in China in the 19th century nor the D'Arcy Island incident, which I found particularly interesting.

I believe it was Dustin who explained that the Chinese were resented because they kept to themselves and were mostly concerned with saving up money to send back home. Chan Sam's character is such a man that cannot let go of his true home in China while he leads his life abroad in BC. While this practice took place some decades ago, it may be surprising for you to find that it is still occurring. The situation is turned upside down-breadwinners are actually earning their money in Asian and sending money "home" to Chinese Canadian families. These dominant family wage earners have been coined "astronauts," who fly home to Canada several times a year on special occasions and holidays.

It is interesting to see the transformation in the discourse regarding the perception of Chinese Canadians. Once labeled "alien," the Chinese are now vital to the economy. The rapid development of China provides new foreign markets for western goods. Give the "brain drain" and the steady decline in births, many are turning to new immigrants in hopes of sustaining the present population.

The Japanese also experienced a similar Canadian history of the Chinese. They felt the impact of racism even stronger, as they were looked upon as assimilable. The threat was greater because the Japanese government was strong. This was the fundamental difference between Japanese and Chinese immigrants. The Chinese government at this time was weak and new immigrants who came as scab workers were seen as unassimalable. These new immigrants congregated in cramped Chinatowns. It is still true that Chinatown functions as a place of security and mutual aid. I have distant relatives who formerly lived in the Vancouver Chinatown and are able to live in this far-off land without ever having to learn a work of English. Nowadays, because of the influx of Chinese since the lifting of racial immigration policies, these old and new immigrants inhabit many different areas of Vancouver. Their only cultural links to Western society are their "banana" children.