The Chinese American Method

Raising a child is challenging for many parents, especially for a new, immigrant family. For those parents, they not only have to face the challenges of integrating themselves into a new environment, but they also need to handle the conflicts coming from two cultural backgrounds. Like many Chinese Americans, the authors inherited the traditional Chinese culture. Yet they also opened their minds and embraced their new culture. Through the collisions of these two cultures, they developed a unique parenting strategy: a combination of the best of both worlds to educate their children. This approach offered them a cutting edge in developing their children to be among the most competitive. As they raised their children, they • held parties to build their children’s social groups; • used teamwork to create a harmonious family, strengthening the family bonds; • helped their children excel in academic competitions; • taught their children how to be rigorous and strive for perfection; • inspired their children to explore innovative strategies to overcome obstacles; • developed their children’s creativity, leadership, and initiative; • encouraged their children to be involved in the community; and • gave their children freedom to develop their individual personalities and discover their full potentials. The authors believe that their story will be beneficial to other parents and also provide a new perspective of Chinese American families for mainstream Americans.

Collection of essays by Chinese-American scholar Him Mark Lai; published in association with the Chinese Historical Society of San Francisco.

"This book is a wonderful source for people who are interested in Chinese American history, Los Angeles Chinatown, women rising up through the ranks of a newspaper organization during an era when few women worked in journalism, and family memoirs in general."—Lisa See, author of On Gold Mountain "A fascinating and invaluable historical document. . . . [It] will provide insight into the lifesyles of earlier Chinese American immigrant families [and] sheds light on the Americanization process."—Russell Leong, editor of Amerasia Journal

With case studies from the USA, Canada, Chile, and other countries in Latin America, American Chinese Restaurants examines the lived experiences of what it is like to work in a Chinese restaurant. The book provides ethnographic insights on small family businesses, struggling immigrant parents, and kids working, living, and growing up in an American Chinese restaurant. This is the first book based on personal histories to document and analyze the American Chinese restaurant world. New narratives by various international and American contributors have presented Chinese restaurants as dynamic agencies that raise questions on identity, ethnicity, transnationalism, industrialization, (post)modernity, assimilation, public and civic spheres, and socioeconomic differences. American Chinese Restaurants will be of interest to general readers, scholars, and college students from undergraduate to graduate level, who wish to know Chinese restaurant life and understand the relationship between food and society.

A team of noted specialists explains the health issues most common to Asian Americans, how and why treatment disparities exist, and the changes necessary to improve the health of this growing population. According to the most recent census, there are 11 million Asian Americans now, and their numbers are expected to triple by 2050. Hailing from more than 50 different countries and cultures, their health is affected by genetics, actions, beliefs, and prejudices that differ from those of others in the United States. In these timely volumes, a cross-disciplinary team of specialists explains the health issues and diseases most common to Asian Americans, how and why disparities in both disease development and treatment exist for them, and what changes must be made to improve the health of this growing group. This comprehensive collection includes vignettes and personal stories that illustrate the issues discussed and their impact on both individual and societal levels. Behavioral factors, including diet, smoking, and substance abuse are addressed. The text also describes traditional Asian American medical practices, as well as ways in which those practices have influenced American health care overall.

Chinese America - Stereotype and Reality is a comprehensive and fascinating textbook about the Chinese in America. Covering more than 150 years of history, the book documents the increasing importance of the Chinese as a social group: from immigration history to the latest immigration legislation, from educational achievements to socio-cultural and political accomplishments. Employing the author's detailed knowledge of the Chinese Diaspora, combined with her meticulous research, the book explores the history, diversity, socio-cultural structures, networks, and achievements of this often-overlooked ethnicity. It highlights how, based on their current position, Chinese Americans are well-placed to play a major role in future relations between China and the United States - the two largest economies of the twenty-first century.

Since 1784, when the American ship Empress of China arrived in Guangzhou, Chinese-American relations have experienced advances and setbacks. As the Chinese economy rapidly expands, China assumes a more dominant position in world politics, and continued fruitful relations with the United States are a primary concern for both nations in the twenty-first century. This encyclopedia contains more than 400 descriptive entries of important events, issues, personalities, controversies, treaties, agreements, organizations and alliances in the history of Sino-American relations, from Chinese and American perspectives. Also included are maps, a chronology, a list of acronyms, and three appendices (American chiefs on missions to China, Chinese chiefs on missions to the United States, and the correspondence of Wade-Giles to Pinyin).