How Did Chang Define Chinese Identity

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4. How did Chang define Chinese identity?
Chang began his description of Chinese identity by stating the importance of where a person has lived. A Chinese youth who is American born or raised and then travels back to China will go through the process of acculturation and have to reconnect with their heritage. (Chang, 10) However, having a sense of both Chinese and American culture often gives a person a sense of belonging and a stronger cultural identity. (Chang, 10) Many Chinese that migrated to America brought their culture with them. They kept their Chinese identity by sustaining the same organization of family life and holding onto their ethnic identity. (Chang, 12) Since many Chinese people would travel back and forth between America and China, they often experienced a transnational family life. (Chang, 12) Therefore, many Chinese migrants felt a sense of their Chinese identity as well as a Chinese-American identity.

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4. When and how did the Chinese first arrive in America? …show more content…

(Chang, 14) To clarify the reason for the multitude of Chinese citizens migrated to America, Chang utilizes the history of the rise and fall of the Chang family. Yitang, a founding family member of the Chang family, immigrated to the United States and was married there. His son, Sam, later followed him and taught Yitang’s family about Chinese culture. (Chang, 18) This practice allowed for many Chinese natives to stay connected to their heritage. Yitang originally settled in San Diego where there was a population of 293 Chinese residents. (Chang, 34) He then moved to Los Angeles where there were approximately 2,111 Chinese living in the area. (Chang, 34) At this time the city of Los Angeles was the fourth largest Chinese community in the United States. (Chang,

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