(NAME-MCE) Interview with Assemblyman Paul Fong

[Anselmo Villanueva]

>From the August 2009 issue of The AACP Newsletter (Asian American
Curriculum Project) http://asianamericanbooks.com/

An Interview With California State Assemblyman Paul Fong
On the Passage of an Apology Resolution
For Past Wrongs Done to Chinese Americans
Interviewed by Emily Lin
Edited by Philip Chin

On July 17, 2009, the California State legislature passed Assembly
Concurrent Resolution No. 42 (ACR 42), formally apologizing for the
past actions of the State in California in encouraging and passing
discriminatory laws against Chinese Americans. These discriminatory
legal policies were later adopted by many of the western states
following the legal language and example set by California. Pressure
from these states was a main factor in the adoption of the Chinese
Exclusion Act of 1882 into federal law and subsequent discriminatory
federal laws that eliminated all but a trickle of Chinese immigration
to the United States. These restrictions on Chinese immigration only
ended with the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
that eliminated all national immigration quotas.

The resolution was introduced in the California State Assembly by
Assemblyman Paul Fong of Mountain View. Our intern, Emily Lin, a
student at Mills High School in Millbrae, California, had the chance
to ask Assemblyman Fong some questions about ACR 42.

________________________________
Emily Lin (EL): What is contained in the legislation?

Paul Fong (PF): ACR 42 acknowledges the history of Chinese in
California and apologizes for past discriminatory laws that resulted
in the persecution of Chinese living in California.

EL: Why - what inspired it?

PF: California is an academic, economic, and cultural powerhouse known
around the world. It is the diversity of our state that has played a
key role in California's success. However, behind the many
accomplishments, California has a shadow of shame, a history of racism
and discrimination, which many have attempted to forget. Acknowledging
our past wrongs will allow us to avoid repeating them in the future.

Before I became a State Assemblymember, I was a Political Science
Professor for 30 years and specialized in Asian American Studies. I
know the history of Asian Americans in the United States well. Now
that I am in Sacramento, I have the ability to educate future
generations about the importance of history and add another chapter to
the history books about California.

EL: Why does the bill only address Chinese Americans and not address
the related injustices that were done to other Asian American
communities?

PF: There has never been an effort to apologize to the Chinese
community. ACR 42 will be the first formal recognition of the state's
cruel and discriminatory laws. These laws enacted by California's
legislature led to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882-the first
(federal) law that targeted a specific group of people. So it is time
to apologize to Chinese Americans for singling out their ancestors
with unjust laws - including my ancestors.

EL: What's the significance of this legislation?

PF: With the election of President Barack Obama, there may be a
temptation to believe that discrimination is no longer a problem in
2009. However, the pain of discrimination is still felt in America by
many, including Chinese Americans, who are still subjected to racism
and negative stereotyping. ACR 42 acknowledges the past discriminatory
practices against Chinese Americans as an important step to address
the current forms of discrimination against not only Chinese
Americans, but all Americans.

Furthermore, beyond an apology, ACR 42 provides education and
awareness to all Californians about the anti-immigrant sentiments that
existed not only in the past, but still persist to this day.

By expressing regret for and acknowledging the discriminatory actions
taken in the past, the Legislature reaffirms its commitment to
preserving the rights of all people.

As the text of ACR 42 states, "ours is a state with an imperfect
history where intolerance spurred the enactment of unjust
discriminatory laws that have too often denied minority groups access
to the promise of America, that all men are created equal. Today that
struggle continues, and learning from our past will help enable us to
travel further down the path toward building a more perfect Union."

EL: Going forward, what's next?

PF: I will be seeking introduction of a Resolution at the Federal
level to apologize to Chinese Americans for the Chinese Exclusion Act
of 1882. I was waiting for ACR 42 to be chaptered into law first, and
now that it has, I will begin seeking support from the federal
government.

EL: What events inspired you to create and pass this legislation? Is
there any personal experience or family background that encouraged you
to do this?

During the 19th and 20th Centuries, California enacted some of the
most discriminatory laws and Constitutional provisions, directly
persecuting Chinese living in California and the incoming Chinese
immigrants.

Our Legislature denied Chinese the right to own property, work,
testify in court, and marry persons of their choosing. It was our
California government that pushed Congress to adopt the Chinese
Exclusion Act of 1882, the first federal law ever passed barring a
group of immigrants solely on the basis of race or nationality - a law
that directly impacted my family.

During this time, my grandfather was held at Angel Island for two
months before being allowed access into California. Trying to
establish his life in the state, my grandfather was forced to lease
land to begin his floral business. He was denied the ability to own
property.

However, despite the many barriers placed on Chinese Americans by our
government, Chinese in California have made vast contributions to the
state. They constructed most of the western leg of the
Transcontinental Railroad, helped build our Delta levees, and assisted
in the success of our fishing and agricultural industries, making
California the great state it is today.

EL: What is your opinion of the status of the Chinese American
Community today? How do these past injustices hold us back and why did
we need this legislation?

PF: The Chinese American Community today is thriving and successful.
However, discrimination is still a problem.

Like any wound that goes unattended, the pain, though perhaps
diminished, still exists. ACR 42 seeks to right the wrongs of our past
by acknowledging, not only the discriminatory laws that were in
effect, but also the many contributions Chinese Americans have made to
the state.

EL: What is the affect of this legislation for Chinese Americans?

PF: ACR 42 is a formal apology to Chinese Americans for past
discrimination. This is an important first step in healing old wounds.
In addition, ACR 42 will serve as an educational tool to ensure that
our children are aware that the contributions the Chinese American
community made encouraged the development of California and enriched
its history.

EL: What practical good does this legislation (apology) do?

PF: I hope to accomplish several things with this formal apology. The
apology is symbolic of California's, and hopefully the nation's
acknowledgement of a long history of wrongdoing against
Chinese-Americans. In the 19th century and 20th Century (until WWII),
many discriminatory laws were passed against Chinese Americans. For
example, Chinese couldn't own land, own weapons, and were blocked from
public school and employment. Chinese were declared as dangerous, and
by law, could be exiled from communities. Not until we apologize and
recognize these wrongs can we move forward as a state and a nation.
The objective of ACR 42 is not to seek financial compensation, but
rather to open up a dialogue about an era of our history that has been
suppressed, and to educate Californians about this history.

EL: What are some of the steps and actions we have to take to achieve
higher status? What do we lack that keeps the Chinese Community from
stepping forward? How do you foresee the future of the Chinese
community?

PF: As a student I fought to keep ethnic studies courses in the
curriculum. As a professor, I taught the next generation of students
about Chinese American history and culture. As an Assemblymember, I'm
paving the way for future Asian American legislators. I encourage the
Chinese and other Asian communities to speak up for representation and
fight to keep history alive. By using our voices, Chinese Americans
can have strong representation and respect.

EL: What are some of the further actions you are considering? I read
an article that said you are considering the funding of a monument.
Why not spend that money and time on getting our schoolbooks and
curriculum changed to include more Asian American history?

PF: I am currently pushing for federal legislation that would offer an
apology for the passage of the Chinese Exclusionary Act of 1882. In
addition, I strongly advocate for getting our school's history
curriculum to include the injustices against Chinese Americans. In the
same way the injustices against Native Americans, African Americans,
and Japanese Americans are included, the past Chinese American
experience must be taught as well.

EL: You're interested in getting federal legislation passed that
apologizes for the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. What do you hope to
accomplish with this action?

PF: The Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the
Emancipation Proclamation, and the other great documents which set
forth the core values of America are inspirations, aspirations that
can only be given meaning with exercise and effort. ACR 42 opens a
dialogue to discuss racism and discrimination. My hope is that the
nation will join the conversation and applaud the passage of ACR 42.

EL: Thank you very much Assemblymember Fong.