Our group of three—Cal, Sara, and myself included—focused on the Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion exhibition. From the early days of the China trade through the history of Chinese immigration and the lives of Chinese Americans, this exhibition explores the complicated history of the Chinese in America. The term embodies the issues of immigration, citizenship, and belonging that influenced both the Chinese American experience and America’s growth as a country. The “Empress of China,” the “Chinese Theatre,” and “What shall we do with our boys?” are just three of the exhibition’s numerous notable artifacts that will be discussed in this post.

To begin with, the first American trade vessel to visit Chinese seas, the “Empress of China,” left New York port in 178 with a speculative cargo of furs, lead, wine, Spanish silver pesos, and ginseng. In the same year, the ship returned to New York with porcelains, silks, and teas for the American market. The voyage’s success inspired others to invest in expanding their trade with China. It is also important to note that this information is depicted on an elegant fan.

Second, Stafford Mantle Northcote’s oil painting portrays a Chinese theatre by displaying the audience a live performance in which the characters are dressed in traditional Chinese clothing. The artwork shows the story of early Chinese immigrants to America who brought Cantonese opera with them. They began supporting touring opera troupes from China and opening theaters as early as 1852. Cantonese opera was a popular type of entertainment produced in their home region of southern China, with recognized themes and heroes. The theatre also served as a public gathering place for laborers without families to exchange news and socialize.

Finally, George Frederick Keller’s illustration “What shall we do with our boys?” divides the frame, with two-thirds occupied and dominated by an eleven-handed Chinese worker-monster. Because white Americans viewed Chinese immigrants as a threat to their jobs, Chinese in the picture were represented with “many hands” or monstrous animals robbing white laborers of their jobs. As a result, this political cartoon depicts these stereotypes: unemployed white employees are compelled to resort to loitering and criminal activity.