Chinese Exclusion Act Shadows Linger In Canada A Century Later

Chinese Exclusion Act

On The 100th Anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, Stories Of Isolation, Perseverance, And Bigotry Resound Through Generations In Canada’s History.

Yeung‎ Sing Yew, Henry Yu’s grandpa, fell in love with a Chinese streamside lady in 1937.‎ He had no idea that the harsh 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act would keep him from‎ his family for over 30 years.

As an increase to the 1885 head tax on‎ Chinese immigrants, the Exclusion Act restricted practically all Chinese immigration to Canada. Chinese people were‎ denied the ability to vote, hold public office, own property, and labor-specific occupations in addition‎ to financial constraints.

Anti-Chinese prejudice persists despite the end of overt discrimination. Asian Canadians still‎ face bigotry, according to University of British Columbia historian Henry Yu. Economic challenges and municipal‎ and provincial discrimination separated families after the Exclusion Act was repealed in 1947.

Yu’s family‎ was separated by the Exclusion Act for years, which fostered his scholarly interest in legislating‎ anti-Chinese racism. The Act shattered family structures and drove many Chinese men into “bachelor societies,”‎ preventing them from starting children.

In 2006, Stephen Harper formally apologized to the Chinese Canadian‎ community for the Exclusion Act. Landy Anderson’s grandpa, Ralph Kung Kee Lee, who paid the‎ head tax and worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway, attended the event aged 106.

Some‎ relatives feel the government’s apology and redress is inadequate. Gillian Der, whose great-grandfather paid the‎ head tax, says money can’t fix past wrongs. She views it as a symbolic effort‎ to hide structural prejudice that persists today.

Anti-Asian bigotry increased during the COVID-19 epidemic, complicating‎ the story. Asian Canadians continue to endure racism, as a 2021 study found a 47%‎ rise.

During World War II, Japanese internment added to Chinese Canadians’ feeling of being seen‎ as perpetual foreigners due to historical scapegoating. This history of exclusion still affects this sense‎ of otherness.

On the 100th anniversary of Chinese-Exclusion Act, Burnaby reviews past prejudice against Chinese‎ Canadians. The Senate held a national memory ceremony to acknowledge and reconcile this tragic past,‎ and the Chinese Canadian Museum opened in Vancouver.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledges the Exclusion‎ Act’s ugly record and pledges to learn from past errors to create a more inclusive‎ and equitable Canada. However, Henry Yu disputes the labeling of the Exclusion Act as a‎ “mistake,” arguing that they were white supremacy-based actions that still haunt the present.

As the‎ Chinese Canadian Museum opens and the country commemorates this melancholy milestone, the hope is that‎ awareness and recollection will lead to a future without historical prejudice.

History Of Racism In‎ Canada: The Chinese Exclusion Act

The Chinese Exclusion Act shows racism’s legacy in Canada. The‎ 1923 law banned practically all Chinese immigration, expanding the 1885 head tax. The Act saddled‎ Chinese immigrants with debt and robbed them of fundamental rights, establishing a starkly unequal society.‎ Chinese Canadians were deeply affected by institutional discrimination that denied them voting rights, public office,‎ property ownership, and career possibilities for years.

Despite being abolished in 1947, discriminatory measures persist‎ today. Decades of family separation drove many Chinese men into “bachelor societies,” denying them the‎ ability to have children. This history of racism continues to shape Canada’s racial inequities.

Apologies‎ And Redress: The Complex Path To Reconciliation

Stephen Harper apologized to Chinese Canadians in 2006‎ for the Exclusion Act’s harm. The government’s apology and reparations, although necessary, create difficult problems.‎ The apology was seen by Landy Anderson’s grandpa, who had paid the head tax and‎ worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway, but several families were dubious.

Gillian Der, a descendant‎ of a head taxpayer, emphasizes that money cannot fix past injustices. Some see the reparations‎ as an effort to ignore history and ongoing structural racism. How to confront past racism‎ remains a significant concern for Canada as it works toward reconciliation.

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Modern Challenges: Rising Anti-asian‎ Racism

During the COVID-19 epidemic, anti-Asian prejudice increased. Asian Canadians continue to endure racism, as‎ a 2021 study found a 47% rise. Some Asian Canadians struggle with internalized racism, like‎ Toronto lawyer Kate Shao. Shao’s father tried to adapt by denying his Chinese background in‎ Winnipeg, but pandemic-related scapegoating defeated him.

The rise in anti-Asian prejudice on the 100th anniversary‎ of the Chinese Exclusion Act highlights the need to confront deep-seated biases. Asians have been‎ blamed for social issues since Japanese incarceration, contributing to institutional racism. An inclusive approach to‎ fighting racism in Canada is needed more than ever.

Recognition, Remembrance, And Progress

As Burnaby‎ reviews historical prejudice and the Chinese Canadian Museum opens, Canada confronts its history to create‎ a more inclusive future. Justin Trudeau’s battle against bigotry and intolerance acknowledges previous errors. The‎ real problem, Henry Yu says, is acknowledging that the Chinese Exclusion Act was planned, purposeful,‎ and founded on racial racism.

The 100th anniversary of Chinese-Exclusion Act is a sobering reminder‎ of Canada’s prejudice and a call to action for equality. Recognizing and remembering past errors‎ is intended to liberate Canada from historical prejudice.