Who Is American?: Chinese Exclusion, Japanese Internment, and Today
Screening, Reading and Discussion
Thursday, December 7th at 6:30pm
Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St, Boston, MA 02108
How have politics shaped our perceptions of Americanness throughout U.S. history? And how do today’s conversations on immigration and exclusion compare with political, legal, and cultural scenarios from our past? On the 76th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, join this dynamic conversation about the ongoing struggle to define who is American. View an excerpt of The Chinese Exclusion Act, a documentary on the United States’ first significant immigration restriction law, passed in 1882. Then hear director Benny Sato Ambush read an excerpt from the acclaimed play Hold These Truths, based on the true story of Japanese-American Gordon Hirabayashi, who resisted internment during WWII. Paul Watanabe, Director of the Institute for Asian American Studies, will remark on connections between Chinese exclusion, Japanese internment, and today’s immigration issues. A panel discussion and community conversation will conclude the event.
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This program is made possible with support from the Lowell Institute, Tufts Medical Center, and South Cove Community Health Center
Co-presented by CHSNE and Old South Meeting House with support from Lyric Stage Company of Boston, Institute for Asian American Studies at UMass Boston, Japanese American Citizens League-New England, ArtsEmerson, and Boston Asian American Film Festival
Chinese Historical Society of New England administrator
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