Part 1
Goal
- Write a reading response pa.per discussing “Breaking the Silence on Angel Island’s Immigration Station” by Marisol Medina-Cadena and Ah Hee Lee’s “Conversation with Immigration Officer”
Instructions
Ae Hee Lee’s poem “Conversation with Immigration Officer” recalls the history of the Angel Island Immigration Station in which officials interrogated immigrants—the majority of whom were Chinese—to ensure that they really were who they said they were.
First, if you have not already, read/listen to the following report, “Breaking the Silence on Angel Island’s Immigration Station” (Links to an external site.) by Marisol Medina-Cadena and Ah Hee Lee’s “Conversation with Immigration Officer.” (Links to an external site.)
Then, in an pa.per of at least 750 words, address the following questions:
- First, discuss the treatment of detainees at the Angel Island Immigration Station.
- How did Chinese immigrants at the Angel Island Immigration Station take advantage of the 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco to claim exemption from the Chinese Exclusion Act? (In your response, discuss the meaning of the terms “pa.per sons” and “pa.per daughters.”)
- Finally, describe the conversation between the immigration officer and the female immigrant (who is identified as “you”) in Ae Hee Lee’s poem. What is your interpretation of the immigrant’s responses to the officer? (Remember that interpreting poetry is highly subjective, so be creative; there is no wrong answer!)
- For full credit, please support your claims with . . .
- At least two direct quotations:
- One or more from the primary text: Ah Hee Lee’s “Conversation with Immigration Officer”
- One or more from the secondary text: “Breaking the Silence on Angel Island’s Immigration Station” by Marisol Medina-Cadena
- Analysis/interpretation of these quotations
- At least two direct quotations:
MLA
- Remember that you must correctly cite any print or web source that you quote or paraphrase. Submitting the words or ideas of someone else without proper citation is considered plagiarism.
Part 2
Initial Discussion Post (due Wednesday, 11:59pm)
Before answering the discussion questions, make sure you have watched the documentary “Breaking Through.”Links to an external site. (To access the video, you will need to log in with your Lancerpoint username and password. See the library’s troubleshooting tips if you have any trouble logging in. If the embedded video doesn’t work for you, the link to this video is at the bottom of the page under “MLA Citations.”)
- Discuss your reactions to and thoughts about Vincent Chin’s murder and the subsequent case against his murderers.
- What parallels can be drawn between Vincent Chin’s murder and the case against his murderers and the equally tragic murder of Latasha Harlins and the subsequent case against her killer?
- How did the 9/11 attacks affect immigration policy and the overall perception of immigrants in the United States?
Your response should be specific, thoughtful, and always collegial.
