Asian Americans in Asian Americans in Popular CulturePopular Culture

Asian Americans and the LawAsian Americans and the Law

Dr. SteinerDr. Steiner

Racial Stereotypes in American Racial Stereotypes in American MusicMusic

Minstrel Shows and Chinese Minstrel Shows and Chinese ImmigrantsImmigrants

Shows presented “insurmountable Shows presented “insurmountable cultural differences” between whites cultural differences” between whites and Chinese and Chinese LanguageLanguage FoodFood HairHair

--Robert G. Lee, Orientals: Asian --Robert G. Lee, Orientals: Asian Americans in Popular Culture (1999)Americans in Popular Culture (1999)

LanguageLanguage

Chinese Song,Chinese Song, Charles A. Mason (1885) Charles A. Mason (1885)

Ki, Ki, Ki, Ching, Ching, ChingKi, Ki, Ki, Ching, Ching, Ching

Hung a rung, a chickel neckeyHung a rung, a chickel neckey

Suppe, fatte hungSuppe, fatte hung

Eno Posa keno Posey, keno JohnEno Posa keno Posey, keno John

Chinese manee goode manee from Hong Chinese manee goode manee from Hong KongKong

FoodFood The Heathen ChineeThe Heathen Chinee, Luke Schoolcraft (1878), Luke Schoolcraft (1878)

Lady she am vellie good, plenty chow chow Lady she am vellie good, plenty chow chow She live way up top side house, She live way up top side house, Take a little pussy cat and a little bow wow Take a little pussy cat and a little bow wow Boil em in a pot of stew with a little mouse Boil em in a pot of stew with a little mouse Hi! hi! hi! Hi! hi! hi!

HairHair

Big Long John, Big Long John, Luke Schoolcraft Luke Schoolcraft (1878)(1878)

Big Long John was a Chinaman, Big Long John was a Chinaman,

and he lived in the land of the freeand he lived in the land of the free

He wore a long tail from the top of He wore a long tail from the top of his head,his head,

Which hung down to his heels. . .Which hung down to his heels. . .

Popular Songs: “John Popular Songs: “John Chinaman”Chinaman”

John Chinaman (1855) John Chinaman’s Appeal (1856) (1856) John Chinaman, My Jo (1868) John Chinaman’s Marriage (1868)

Here and in China alike the English and Americans nickname every Chinaman “John.” Samuel Bowles , A Summer's Journey to the Rocky

Mountains, the Mormons and the Pacific States (1866)

John Chinaman (1855)John Chinaman, John Chinaman, but five short years ago,I welcomed you from Canton, John–

But wish I hadn't though;For then you honest, John,Not dreaming you’d makeA citizen as useful, John,As any in the state.

I thought you’d open wide your portsAnd let our merchants inTo barter for their crepes and teas, Their wares of wood and tin.

John Chinaman (1855)

I thought you’d cut your queue off, John, And don a Yankee coat,And a collar high you’d raise, John,Around your dusky throat.

I imagined that the truth, John, You’d speak while under oath.But I find you lie and steal and cheat.Yes, John, you're up to both.

John Chinaman (1855)I thought of rats and puppies, John, You’d eaten your last fill;But on such slimy pot piesI’m told you dinner still.

Yes, John, I’ve been deceived by you, and all your thieving clan,for our gold is all your after, John to get it as you can.

Since the Chinese Ruint the Thrade (1871)

For I kin wash an’ iron a shirt,An’ I kin scrub a flure;An’ I kin starch a collar as stiff As any Chineseman, I’m shure;But ther dhirty, pigtailed haythens;An’ ther prices they are paidHave brought me to the state youSee–They’ve ontirely ruint ther trade.

John Chinaman’s Appeal (1856)(1856)

Oh, now my friends I’m going away From this infernal place, sir; The balance of my days I’ll stay With the Celestial race, sir. I’ll go to raising rice and tea; I’ll be a heathen ever, For Christians all have treated me As men should be used never.

John Chinaman, My Jo (1868)John Chinaman, my jo, John,

You’re coming precious fastEach ship that sails from Shanghai

bringAn increase on the last.

And when you’ll stop invading usI’m blest, now, if I know

You’ll outnumber us poor Yankees,John Chinaman, my Jo.

John Chinaman, My Jo (1868)John Chinaman, my jo, John, You not only come in shoals,But you often shake the washing stuff And spoil the water holes.And, of course, that riles the miners,

John And enrages them, you knowFor they drive you frequently away John Chinaman, my jo.

John Chinaman, My Jo (1868)

John Chinaman, my jo, John, You used to live on rice,But now you purchase flour, plums And other things that’s nice.And I see a butcher shop At your Chinese place below,And you like your mutton now and then John Chinaman, my jo.

John Chinaman, My Jo (1868)

John Chinaman, my jo, John, Though folks may at you rail,Here’s blessings on your head, John And more power to your tail.But a piece of good advice, John I’ll give you, ere I goDon’t abuse the freedom you enjoy John Chinaman, my jo.

Get Out Yellowskins!Get Out Yellowskins!The Yellow-skins here in these hillsThe Yellow-skins here in these hillsNow know how it appearsNow know how it appearsTo have their gold by others stoleTo have their gold by others stoleAs we have suffered for yearsAs we have suffered for years

Get out, Yellowskins, get out!Get out, Yellowskins, get out!Get out, Yellowskins, get out!Get out, Yellowskins, get out!We’ll do it again if you don’t go,We’ll do it again if you don’t go,Get out, Yellow-skins, get out!Get out, Yellow-skins, get out!

Workingman’s PartyWorkingman’s Party The object of this Association is to unite all poor and The object of this Association is to unite all poor and

working men and their friends into one political working men and their friends into one political party, for the purpose of defending themselves party, for the purpose of defending themselves against the dangerous encroachments of capital on the against the dangerous encroachments of capital on the happiness of our people and the liberties of our happiness of our people and the liberties of our country.country.

We propose to wrest the government from the hands We propose to wrest the government from the hands of the rich and place it in those of the people, where it of the rich and place it in those of the people, where it properly belongs.properly belongs.

We propose to rid the country of cheap Chinese labor We propose to rid the country of cheap Chinese labor as soon as possible, and by all the means in our as soon as possible, and by all the means in our power, because it tends still more to degrade labor power, because it tends still more to degrade labor and aggrandize capital.and aggrandize capital.

Workingman’s PartyWorkingman’s Party We propose to provide decently for the poor and We propose to provide decently for the poor and

unfortunate, the weak, the helpless, and especially the unfortunate, the weak, the helpless, and especially the young, because the country is rich enough to do so, and young, because the country is rich enough to do so, and religion, humanity, and patriotism demand that we should religion, humanity, and patriotism demand that we should do so.do so.

When we have 10,000 members, we shall have the When we have 10,000 members, we shall have the sympathy and support of 20,000 other workingmen.sympathy and support of 20,000 other workingmen.

The party will then wait upon all who employ Chinese and The party will then wait upon all who employ Chinese and ask for their discharge, and it will mark as public enemies ask for their discharge, and it will mark as public enemies those who refuse to comply with their request.those who refuse to comply with their request.

““Denis Kearney, The White Denis Kearney, The White Working Man’s Hero”Working Man’s Hero”

You have heard of Moriarty, Mulcahey and Malone,You have heard of Moriarty, Mulcahey and Malone,

Also of McNamara, O’Malley and Muldoon;Also of McNamara, O’Malley and Muldoon;

But I will sing of Kearney, an anti-Chinaman,But I will sing of Kearney, an anti-Chinaman,

He’s down upon Mongolians, and all their dirty clanHe’s down upon Mongolians, and all their dirty clan

So give three cheers for Kearney,So give three cheers for Kearney,

For he’s a solid man;For he’s a solid man;

He’ll raise a grand big army and drive out the He’ll raise a grand big army and drive out the ChinamanChinaman

““Denis Kearney, The White Denis Kearney, The White Working Man’s Hero”Working Man’s Hero”

Last week we held a meeting, down Last week we held a meeting, down forenest the City Hallforenest the City Hall

The bold undaunted Kearney was first to The bold undaunted Kearney was first to get the call.get the call.

Said he, my fellow laborers, if you’ll lead by Said he, my fellow laborers, if you’ll lead by meme

We’ll make Capital respect us We’ll make Capital respect us

And drive out the cursed Chinee.And drive out the cursed Chinee.

““Denis Kearney, The White Denis Kearney, The White Working Man’s Hero”Working Man’s Hero”

Now goodnight, my fellow-laborers, I have Now goodnight, my fellow-laborers, I have to go away,to go away,

I’d like to stop and talk to you, but believe I’d like to stop and talk to you, but believe me I can’t stayme I can’t stay

So join me in the chorus now, and let your So join me in the chorus now, and let your motto bemotto be

God Bless the poor white workingmanGod Bless the poor white workingman

And the devil take the Chinee.And the devil take the Chinee.

Bret Harte’s “The Bret Harte’s “The Heathen Chinee” Heathen Chinee” appeared first as a poem appeared first as a poem entitled “Plain Language entitled “Plain Language from Truthful James” in from Truthful James” in the Overland Monthly in the Overland Monthly in September 1870. September 1870.

The poem was soon The poem was soon being reprinted and being reprinted and republished across the republished across the country as “The Heathen country as “The Heathen Chinee.” Chinee.”

This is the one from This is the one from Harte’s official publisher.Harte’s official publisher.

Which I wish to remark,And my language is plain,That for ways that are darkAnd for tricks that are vain,The heathen Chinee is peculiar,Which the same I would rise to explain.

Ah Sin was his name;And I shall not deny,In regard to the same,What that name might imply;But his smile it was pensive and childlike,As I frequent remarked to Bill Nye.

It was August the third,It was August the third,And quite soft was the skies;And quite soft was the skies;Which it might be inferredWhich it might be inferredThat Ah Sin was likewise;That Ah Sin was likewise;Yet he played it that day upon Yet he played it that day upon William William And me in a way I despise.And me in a way I despise.

Which we had a small game,Which we had a small game,And Ah Sin took a hand:And Ah Sin took a hand:It was Euchre. The sameIt was Euchre. The sameHe did not understand;He did not understand;But he smiled as he sat by the But he smiled as he sat by the table,table,With the smile that was childlike With the smile that was childlike and bland.and bland.

Yet the cards they were stockedYet the cards they were stockedIn a way that I grieve,In a way that I grieve,And my feelings were shockedAnd my feelings were shockedAt the state of Nye's sleeve,At the state of Nye's sleeve,Which was stuffed full of aces Which was stuffed full of aces and bowers,and bowers,And the same with intent to And the same with intent to deceive.deceive.

But the hands that But the hands that were played were played By that heathen By that heathen Chinee,Chinee,And the points that And the points that he made, he made, Were quite frightful to Were quite frightful to see,-- see,-- Till at last he put Till at last he put down a right bower, down a right bower, Which the same Nye Which the same Nye had dealt unto me.had dealt unto me.

Then I looked up at Then I looked up at

Nye,Nye,

And he gazed upon me;And he gazed upon me;

And he rose with a sigh,And he rose with a sigh,

And said, “Can this be?And said, “Can this be?

We are ruined byWe are ruined by

Chinese cheap labor,” Chinese cheap labor,”

And he went for thatAnd he went for that

heathen Chinee.heathen Chinee.

In the scene that In the scene that ensuedensuedI did not take a hand,I did not take a hand,But the floor it was But the floor it was strewedstrewedLike the leaves on the Like the leaves on the strandstrandWith the cards that Ah With the cards that Ah Sin had been hiding,Sin had been hiding,In the game “he did In the game “he did not understand.”not understand.”

In his sleeves, which In his sleeves, which were long, were long, He had twenty-four He had twenty-four packs, packs, Which was coming it Which was coming it strong, strong, Yet I state but the Yet I state but the facts; facts; And we found on his And we found on his nails, which were taper, nails, which were taper,

What is frequent in What is frequent in tapers, that's wax. tapers, that's wax.

Which is why I Which is why I remark, remark, And my language is And my language is plain, plain, That for ways that That for ways that are dark are dark And for tricks that And for tricks that are vain, are vain, The heathen Chinee The heathen Chinee is peculiar, -- is peculiar, -- Which the same I Which the same I am free to am free to maintain.maintain.

““The Heathen Chinee”The Heathen Chinee”Currier & Ives lithograph, 1871 Currier & Ives lithograph, 1871