Global Diasporas

Student’s Name

Institution of Affiliation

The Chinese have been deemed to be some of the earliest explorers, according to scholars such as Cohen. Scholars such as Cohen trace the history of the Chinese as trade diasporas. As the paper will discuss in detail later, the term trade Diasporas has several elements and connotations that define those falling within the class. The presence of the Chinese in our neighbourhood inspires this study to question several elements of Diasporas. The study relied on a group Chinese in the neighbourhood in an attempt to establish whether some of the underlying concepts on Chinese migration still hold. In its analysis, the study will examine how the neighbours live at their home, their relationship with their wider families, whether they are involved in any trade, whether there are differences between Chinese settlers in the neighbourhood and themselves, as well as how the three neighbours have adapted to the American culture. Through the study, the three participants establish several theories about Chinese Diasporas. One of the, most evident theories is the fact that the Chinese primarily migrated in the 1910s due to political, and economic factors. Secondly, the study notes through Mr Wang that the Chinese have different identities and social constructs that differ from each other. The study further establishes a decline in native culture. The decay in migration not only led to a reunification of families but has also led to the reorganization of family businesses. 

One of the main differentiating aspects between the Chinese and the rest of the population in our neighbourhood is the dialect. Whereas most of us perceive the Chinese to speak in a similar language and have a similar culture, the subjects of this study appear to disagree with our assumptions of the singularity of the Chinese culture. According to the subjects of this study, there exists a different identity that aids them in distinguishing the rest of the Chinese, an assertion that is fortified by McKeown. According to McKeown, the idea of a distinct entity called the “Chinese diaspora” is contentious since the Chinese have developed unique histories and identities in the societies where they live. McKeown further agrees with the assertions forwarded by the three Chinese that they have a distinct dialect. McKeown argues that the dissimilarities are evidenced in class, region, dialect, type of migration, as well as the nationality of origin (McKeown, 1991). 

Lisa Lowe, further points out that there is a possibility of a loss of the identity amongst the Chinese. Lowe contends that literature suggests that there has been a loss of “original” culture between the Chinese-born first generation and the American-born second generation (Lowe, 1991). It is, nonetheless, useful to note that Lisa’s contention is based on examining literature. In the particular case, the study attempted to establish the correctness or the absence thereof of the assertion by use of an elderly individual. In this particular case, Mr Wang, who is in his 70s narrates that most of the youth in their twenties are no longer interested in the culture and ways of the Chinese. Mr Wang, for instance, notes that most of the youth can barely communicate through Mandarin. Wei, a grandson to Mr Wang, who indicates there is a growing need for the youth to be ‘cool’, fortifies the contention by Mr Wang. Mr Wei narrates that one of the ways that Chinese children attempt to fit in the wider society is by learning and keeping up to date with popular culture, which involves immersing themselves into learning slangs as well as dressing in a particular way. Wei would thus fall into the category Lowe refers to as “American-born second generation.” The discussion by Wei is augmented by Lowe who contends that there is in existence a generational conflict between the likes of Mr Wang and Wei, which Lowe points out are differences between “native” Chinese values and the “| westernized-culture” of Chinese-Americans (Lowe, 1991). In essence, Mr Wang views himself more of a Chinese compared to Wei. Since this study has not attempted to examine the generational conflict in the wider Chinese literature, the study limits its assertions from conversations. 

With Mr Wang’s dialect being Mandarin, studies indicate that Cantonese, Hokkien is used by those from Taiwanese, and Hakka by those in South East Asia. These differences are challenging to establish for outsiders. The study did not delve into the differences between the languages used by different classes falling within the Chinese Diaspora classification. Nonetheless, Mr Wang informed us that they could easily differentiate the dialect as well as the culture one is from through the use of official language. Yet, Cohen argues that the limitations by the second-generation Chinese have not deterred them from cashing in on the Chinese tourism in Chinatowns. According to Cohen, Chinatowns have radically shifted their primary aim. Cohen, citing Kwong, argues that the migration of the rich to China has seen the rich opt to use banks that avoid strict regulations (Cohen, 2008). Apart from the introduction of bank systems, Kwong, as cited by Cohen, notes that the authentic versions put forward by the Chinese to the outsiders may be a facade. The observation by Kwong leads to the conclusion that the absence of knowledge by the outsiders on the Chinese culture can easily lead to the general population being duped.

The study further sought to establish the kinship system amongst the Chinese. To this end, the study asked the limited group of participants whether their relatives were born in the United States and whether they can trace their family tree. Mr Wang, who was more knowledgeable on the topic narrated that he was born in the United States and his parents had come into the United States in the 1910s. 

According to Robin Cohen, during the 1910s, the 1911 revolution may have precipitated migration. Cohen notes that the period witnessed a period where most of the Chinese worked abroad but maintained a close political, social and cultural relationship with Hsiang. Cohen further notes that the Chinese during the period served odd jobs such as laying railways across the United States and working on tropical plantations (Cohen, 2008). Mr Wang recollects that his grandparents had come with the hope of a better life and in search of greener pastures, a claim that Cohen agrees with. According to Cohen, the Chinese had the option of either starving at home or working hard abroad. Cohen notes that the subject has not found prominence within the Chinese literally community since it signifies a period where the Chinese surrendered on the face of an imperialist. The reason for migration by Mr Wang’s parents would thus fall within political, and, economic factors that made most of the Chinese to migrate. 

However, most of the family members such as Uncles and Aunts, came to the United States later on in the 1970s. Mr Wang gives a first-hand account of the limitation of Chinese during World War II. Mr Wang warns that most of his recollection is primarily hearsay and is based on his father’s recollection on policies passed that denied his brother from coming to the United States. Mr Wang nonetheless notes that the sons and a daughter of his father’s brother who was denied entry to the United States have occasionally joined them to the United States and live with them. McKeown, in his discussion, is of the view that migration occasioned after 1978 has largely contributed to the reunification of families (McKeown, 2005).

McKeown explains Mr Wang’s family business. Whereas Mr Wang contends that the family business has nothing to do with culture and is just a way of the family finding sustenance, McKeown is of the view that Chinese family businesses can be linked directly to the decay of migrant networks. According to McKeown, after World War 2, the Chinese restructured their businesses to include their spouses and children. The study notes that women run the shop. According to McKeown, traditionally, the family business was a reserve of the Male and a few best friends (McKeown, 2005).

The location of Mr Wang’s family business and their choice of settlement highlights several issues that define and are characteristic with Chinese Diasporas. According to Cohen, the Chinese primarily rely on Chinatowns as their unique institutional vehicles for them to conduct business, albeit, not settling in them. With the family business located at the heart of Chinatown, the family has opted to find settlement in our neighbourhood. Kwong, as cited by Cohen further, observes that a new wave of migration occasioned by wealthy Chinese has led the Chinatown and the composition of the Chinese migrants becoming fundamentally different. Whereas Mr Wang does not indicate any profound changes, Mr Wang notes that there is an increasing pressure to sell their businesses to wealthy Chinese who are desirous of modernizing Chinatown. Kwong, as cited by Cohen, further indicates that these wealthy Chinese have established dual citizenship and often have families in different places (Cohen, 2008).

Conclusion

Whereas to most of us, the Chinese are similar and perceived to lack distinct categories that differentiate them, and the Chinese have different classes, identity and social constructs. The dissimilarity amongst the Chinese Diasporas can be evidenced by not only their dialect but also by the region that the Chinese Diasporas come from. Through Mr Wang and his family, it is evident that the Chinese as Diasporas present some characteristics. Whereas Mr Wang is a trader, we can argue that the primary reason that his parents migrated to the United States as a result of economic and political factors. In contrast, his relatives arrived in the country after the lift of restrictions on migrants to visit; leading to an alteration of the conventional model business was done. Apart from the different reasons for migration, it is also evident that the Chinese identity may be transmitted through a generational gap. Based on the narrations by Wei, Chinese Diasporas continue to take up an approach that is Westernized to fit within the culture. The Westernization by the likes of Wei has led to a generational conflict between those such as Mr Wang and Wei.

References

Cohen, R. (2008). Global diasporas: An introduction. Routledge.

Lowe, L. (1991). Heterogeneity, hybridity, multiplicity: marking Asian American differences. Asian American Studies, 1, 254.

McKeown, A. (2005). Chinese diaspora. In Encyclopedia of Diasporas.