Mountain of Gold
"Mountain of Gold" is a notable work that focuses on the history and experiences of Chinese Americans, particularly from the mid-19th century to the 1960s. Authored by historian and scholar Sucheng Chan, the text challenges the prevailing stereotypes of Chinese immigrants as unassimilable and unproductive members of American society. It draws on diverse sources, including individual case studies and demographic reports, to illustrate the resilience and contributions of Chinese Americans, who faced significant hardships and discrimination during their struggle for civil rights.
The book emphasizes the pioneering spirit of early Chinese immigrants who played vital roles in building infrastructure, such as the Central Pacific Railroad, and transforming California's landscape. Sung documents the evolution of public attitudes toward Chinese Americans, particularly highlighting the symbolic repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943 as a turning point in the recognition of their rights.
"Mountain of Gold" resonates with the 1960s civil rights movement, advocating for a more inclusive understanding of minority experiences in America. It contributes to ongoing discussions about identity, integration, and the historical context of anti-Chinese sentiment. The work is recommended for readers interested in a deeper understanding of Chinese American history and its relevance to contemporary societal issues.
Mountain of Gold
Published 1967
Author Betty Lee Sung
One of the first books to trace and analyze the history of the Chinese in the United States. Sung examines family and community life, anti-Chinese legislation, and the many contributions and accomplishments of Chinese Americans.
Key Figures
Betty Lee Sung (1924- ), author
The Work
In Mountain of Gold: The Chinese in America, Sung directly challenged prevalent stereotypes of Chinese as “unassimilable aliens” who supposedly could not become respectably productive, fully integrated members of American society. Drawing on individual case studies, social surveys, demographic reports, popular media, and a wide range of scholarship, Sung argued that the “Chinese have been able [in the 1960’s] to utilize their abilities in this country to their fullest extent.” She also documented the hardships endured by Chinese from 1848 to the mid-1960’s in their struggle for civil and legal rights. Overall, Sung attempted to show that “the experiences of this group, once hated and persecuted, may serve as a guide to dealing with present-day minority problems and peoples.” Accordingly, she emphasized the courageous pioneer spirit of early immigrants who built the Central Pacific railroad and transformed California wilderness into farmland, the harshly tested strength of Chinese who remained in the United States during periods of public persecution and anti-Chinese legislation, and the remarkable achievements of second-, third-, and fourth-generation Chinese Americans who proved that their people were as capable as any other. Sung carefully researched such aspects of Chinese American history as the causes, forms, and consequences of anti-Chinese sentiment; changing attitudes among the general public toward Chinese Americans (officially marked by the 1943 repeal of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act); and the often painful experiences of Chinese Americans trying to reconcile traditional and modern values.
Impact
Mountain of Gold’s basic themes reflect the 1960’s concern with recognizing and reinforcing minority groups’ rights as citizens of a democracy. Sung realized that Chinese Americans, like other minority groups, were generally misunderstood by the American public. To counter perceptions of Chinese Americans as “foreigners” who could not fit into American society, she composed a history of their experiences that reached a wide audience. Moreover, she set Chinese Americans apart from other minorities, claiming that they “were never so belligerent or pushy as to challenge the white majority’s position, nor so submissive and servile as to invite contempt.” Reviews of Mountain of Gold in the 1960’s were consistently favorable. Best Sellers magazine, for example, noted, “Any American who professes a humane interest in Civil Rights has an obligation to read[this book].”
Related Works
Other perspectives on the history of the Chinese in the United States are provided by Thomas Chinn’s A History of Chinese in California (1969) and Sien-Woo Kung’s Chinese in America (1962).
Additional Information
For general readers, substantial studies of Chinese American history include Ruthann Lum McCunn’s Chinese American Portraits (1988) and Ronald Takaki’s Strangers from a Different Shore (1989).