CDN Exam Q’s
1. “The media has often referred to Ohbijou as ‘multicultural’. In an article written
for a college weekly the author describes us as: ‘multicultural in both influence and
membership.’ We have also been introduced on the radio as the ‘multi-culti’ band.”
(Mecija, 2013). What is the problem with being labelled “multicultural”?
Multiculturalism creates a global union established with various cultures, generally national
cultures. Multiculturalism’s structure is imposed on those who do now not need it: when you
consider that it is a global structure and there is no escape from it. This structure limits freedom,
it limits possibility, and it limits viable futures. It’s like a political standard to have. In terms of
the article, the band was not just being seen as a band. “This association is a polite way of saying
that not all of us are white, which is the usual configuration of bands in Canada” as stated. Being
defined as multicultural, you are being othered. The problem is regarding the fact that being
multicultural means you are not white which entails that you are another person, not equal to a
white man. The band was described as “a Toronto pop orchestra of mixed race” which is being
seen as an outcast since they are not all white, the typical. The band is used as a representation of
Canada, the fact that the band is not made of white people like how it normally is, it reaffirms
Canada’s Claim to multiculturalism. “Our cultural and gendered make-up has been intrinsically
important to how some media makes sense of us” shows the fact that there is still racism
involved regardless of how the general Canadian population is set out to be seen as meaning not
everyone is accepting of the fact that a band is multicultural and not all white. Canadian
Multiculturalism Act 1988 was passed to preserve and enhance multiculturalism in Canada so
when a band who is multicultural play their music they are not perceived with judgmental and
racist eyes from some of their viewers. The act affirms the policy of the Government of Canada
to ensure that every Canadian receives equal treatment by the Government which respects and
celebrates diversity. It was implemented to promote respect for cultural diversity and grant ethnic
groups the right to preserve and develop their own cultures within Canadian society though just
because the government says that Canada is indeed multicultural doesn’t necessarily mean
Canada is even though it is intended that Multiculturalism encourages racial and ethnic harmony
and cross-cultural understanding. It creates this illusion of a post-race and color-blind society in
which racial difference is inconsequential. The band was confronted with a fan who described
the Asian influence in their music. Mecija recounts being surprised and confused by this
response so she goes on to ask, “how did our performance, our ‘sound’, communicate the
cultural aspect of an Asian in light of the fact that to herself and her band they were just an
orchestral pop band. The construction of otherness confined her work as a musician to a single
narrative. Mecija played songs that were Asian influenced in culture music because her body was
being interpreted as being an Asian person and The moment, your identified by a particular color
of skin tone, there are certain expectations that are set, and as an artist it seems that she felt she
need to conform to those expectations however being considered multicultural is problematic for
the two reasons mentioned above which would entail the fact that Casey Mecija and Ohbijou just
wanted to play music and they never wanted to shoulder the burden of representing something as
heavy as a multicultural Canada and she did not intend to be a representative of an entire nation
and its desire to be multicultural. Being multicultural neglects the uniqueness of the hyphenated
identity. Mecija’s grievances with the use of the label “multicultural” means that her gender,
sexual, racial identity have been fragmented and selectively mobilized to reinforce dominant
narratives. It can be a pro to be considered multicultural because it is projecting an in image of
openness and acceptance to the people of its own country and to the outside world. To make
music, as racialized person in multicultural Canada, is a difficult project. The band’s success coopted as a success story for multiculturalism around Canada to share and grow further from.
2. “Go ahead, [-]. Scream into a deaf ear. That’s what my people have been doing for
eighty years…” Who says this, what are they referring to? Explain the situation
behind the statement.
Sylvia, a great auntie of Max who was later revealed to be an illegitimate child of a white lady
who drugged a Chinese man using opiates and subsequently sexually assaulted him. Sylvia, as a
baby, is presumably killed by her mother’s husband, who kills Sylvia’s father out of anger.
Sylvia’s father, Tommy Jade, was scammed out of his life savings in a paid attempt to bring his
wife from China and this is the scene where Max receives his son’s ear while getting a lap dance.
This line is said by Sylvia, after she tosses a tiny package wrapped in gauze, containing Danny’s
ear. Max is outraged at the fact that she’s harmed his son, and he curses and screams, but they
fall on deaf ears, Sylvia doesn’t care for his pain, she’s concerned with the pain her people have
faced that are facing. The Ear belongs to Danny and the ear, on the part of Sylvia, symbolizes the
vanity with which Chinese community petitions the government to right historical wrongs.
Historical amnesia and refusal to listen on part of Canadian Society. The Ear is a threat to Max.
But also, a reminder that he doesn’t listen to nor respect his son, thus reflecting his relationship
to Chinese community and history. The reason for this Outrage on Sylvia’s part was that Max
wasn’t listening, he wasn’t trying hard enough to actual uncover what happened. Max and Hatch
characters represent both Canada’s general sentiment and government position and
responsibilities towards the injustices against Chinese Canadians. To Max, the ear speaks to a
risk, that he needs begin to tune in. It is additionally an update that he doesn't tune in to nor
regard his child. Protection from expression of remorse and authentic amnesia is exemplified in
Max's character toward the start of the play. Belief that there was nothing unjust as it is said
“Law is just like any other law. We acted with justice” Max also is a negotiator and represents
government’s position- acknowledgement. His manoeuvres to skirt around the issue,
“Recognizing… acknowledgement… it’s not about liability. We do not accept liability.” (p. 31)
shows reluctance and opposition to accepting liability for historical injustice. Ear can also be a
symbolic representation of his continued refusal to listen and acknowledge what the Canadian
Government. For Sylvia the ear symbolizes the Vanity with which Chinese Communities petition
the government to right historical wrongs. The fact the ear is cut off, represent the historical
amnesia and refusal to listen on part of Canadian Society. The Head Tax and Redress movement,
pushed by the CCNC contextualizes’ the play broadly and the Chinese head tax was imposed on
Chinese migration to Canada somewhere in the range of 1885 and 1923, under the Chinese
Immigration Act (1885). With barely any exemptions, Chinese individuals needed to pay $50
which was later raised to $100, and afterward $500 to come to Canada. This legislation was the
first in Canadian history to reject migration based on ethnicity. It was levying entry of Chinese
immigrants in increasing amounts of money in an effort to curb immigration. At the point when
the assessment was expelled from the Chinese Immigration Act in 1923, Chinese migration was
prohibited until 1947. CCNC pushed for families that were separated and never
reunited, Chinese who were killed and harassed, and Chinese who were exploited while working
on the Canadian Pacific Railway which can be related to Obasan wherein Aunt Emily similarly
petitions to the government over the course of her lifetime over the Japanese displacement and
internment camps. The people, Sylvia is referencing to are Chinese Canadians, who had been
affected by the Head Tax and the Exclusion Act. The redress is to acknowledge the injustices
committed by the Canadian government by enacting these laws for the purpose of restricting and
limiting the immigration and movement of Chinese persons in Canada. This was implemented
for the purpose of deterring Chinese Immigrants, the prices stated at $50, then increased to $100,
then $500. Even with the increase in price, Chinese Canadians were still determined to bring
their families over. The initial group of immigrants were males, as they were the bread winners
of the family. The make workers were exploited for their labor, as it was cheaper to hire Chinese
men. This idea that Canada was right to discriminate against them. “I hate them, everyone one of
them…. They paid a f-ing tax. Jesus, I pay taxes… because it’s what I owe. They owed it to my
country to. We gave them opportunity, work and wages.” - Hatch (p. 88) shows that it just seems
like it is about money when it is much greater than that overall. With the head tax, families were
separated and never reunited; Chinese were killed and harassed. “Too many Chinese means that
white people will have too few jobs.” - Tommy Jade, in a letter to his wife. (p. 32). Danny's Map
depicted that the yellow line can never be on the red line and it is the portrayal of the two
different ways that you can take to a similar goal and as long as he listening it is alright on the
grounds that we need to remain on the correct side of history, which is the yellow line. Danny’s
Map portrayed that the yellow line can never be on the red line and it is the representation of the
two ways that you can take to the same destination and as long as he listening it is okay.
3. How is physical violence used in both Paul Nguyen and Chuckie Akenz’s music
video “You Got Beef?” and David Yee’s Lady in the Red Dress, and what are its
impacts?
A child of Vietnamese background is bullied by two black men for which a child calls for
reinforcements. Near the end of the video we see the Vietnamese males, pull out machetes and
guns to attack the two black males that bullied the child. Leading up to the final scene, we hear
the lyrics embody the physical violence, that the gang well perpetrate against anyone that tries to
hurt them. “U want beef? We right here, we’ll never stop we don’t care. There won’t be, no more
peace. It’s all about Vietnamese”. The opening line suggests that if you want to pick a fight,
there right there, they aren’t going to maintain the peace anymore. It demonstrates the narrative
of everyone else versus Vietnamese which is to defend one of their own and assert their
presence. Their purpose was to reclaim their identity and it demonstrates the narrative of
everyone else versus Vietnamese “Fuck wit Vietnamese considered bad for your health. We were
born to fuckin fight, and we’ll leave you in a mess. The minute you talk you get machetes to
your chest.” Shows that they won't burn through their time conversing with you rather simply
battle it out physically. This entire thought of on the off chance that you upset them; they will
physically hurt your downright terrible. As a minority gathering, they represent through there
standing together and utilization of savagery to exhibit their capacity and their capacity to
depend on every one of their own kin for a battle delineates that they won't simply bow down to
what anybody says. They are resilient people who won't let anybody hurt one of their own. This
likewise exhibits however Canada professes to be multicultural there are noteworthy hatred to
those not having a place with a similar ethnic foundation as them. Some dominant Narratives
would be Jane-Finch, Uncouth, violent, thug, delinquency, ghetto, gangs. There is also othering
taking placed based on racial and ethnic differences. Through violence individuals are reclaiming
their agency, that’s often lost or taken away. For “The Lady in the Red Dress”, the violence we
experience in this play is basically completed by Sylvia and the violence is utilized as an
apparatus to authorize equity and is a retaliation intends to end. In this specific case violence is
the final retreat, nobody is tuning in, and the best way to get consideration is to utilize violence.
Sylvia has control over Max, and she is waving her sexual control over these men, utilizing what
is accessible to her, for example, violence, much the same as Rocky who utilizes his clench hand,
she utilized firearms and blades. The thing about fiction is that we get the opportunity to
weaponize these generalizations. Directly off the bat in act 0 we consider her to be as she
slaughters John which shows that she has a savage power that she employs which is altogether
different from the orderly power that Coogan, Max and bring forth have through the
administration. Her methods are immediate and difficult and violence as an approach to rouse
Max to research the past. Retribution against whites engaged in decades of anti-Chinese
activities Justice and Truth. We are intended to gain from history and follow up on its lessons,
for example, the significance of Max's rehashed passing’s. Danny's Map depicted that the yellow
line can never be on the red line and it is the portrayal of the two different ways that you can take
to a similar goal and as long as he listening it is alright on the grounds that we need to remain on
the correct side of history, which is the yellow line. The cutting off of Danny's ear, is a physical
violence she directs against Danny and consequently she needs Max to discover however much
as could reasonably be expected. Sylvia basically utilized him as a shortcoming to get Max to
watch further and discover what happened to Tommy.
4. In Heaven on Earth, Baldev asks Aman, “should I beat you”, to which she replies,
“get a job first”. Explain how gender and power are related in Asian cultures in
Canada.
In a typical Asian household, males are the bread winners while the female are in charge of
taking care of the house and the kids. The male is seen as the dominant figure and has power
over his compliant wife. Power in Asian Cultures are tied to capitalism, to the job and income
one brings into the family. Rocky fits into the gender role of the male and what’s expected of
them. As a son of an immigrant family, he has sponsored most of them to Canada, and he is
currently trying to bring the rest of his family. Rocky also provides for the family, where he is a
source of income as a cabdriver he’s providing for his family. Rocky asserts dominance over
Chan. This is done by deciding where she works and having her wages being sent directly to
Rocky, so Chan has no finance. She can’t even ask money for herself, which entail enforces the
notion that she needs to rely on him. The power Rocky has is unstable, as he struggles to
maintain a strong source of income. The inability to not earn enough to sponsor his family, in a
way emasculates him. He has this insecurity in his capacity to perform and this causes him to
exaggerate his claim to power even more, Rocky uses Chan as a punching bag, to get out his
anger and frustration and controls the money that Chand earns. Aman and Baldev are an
inversion of these roles in light of the fact that Baldev is not earning money and Aman is more in
control, as she is producing a source of income for the family. Baldev power/control is pretty
much non-existent in the film, as he is unemployed and is currently living in his wife family
home, which is frowned up on in Asian cultures, to depend on the women’s family, when it is the
Husband that’s supposed to provide for them. Maji makes a comment about Aman still living
with them and Baldev comes onto Aman, asking if he should beat her first, and she in turn
replies get a job. You don’t have power or agency unless you bring in a source of income.
Maji might seem odd that she is the head of the household in light of patriarchal structure (could
also come from the loss of power paji has in their household as he is no longer the breadwinner
and has become more passive) but when Chand gets slapped, Maji normalizes the violence,
which cements the power. Having Chand give her a leg message after Chand get slapped by
Rocky during their honeymoon, also demonstrates the power that Maji has over Rocky, who they
hold that power over Chand. Gender divides control and power. Imbalances among people are
one of the most tireless examples in taking control or power. For instance, ladies' absence of
impact marks political basic leadership the world over. The family is also a field of power and
governmental issues. Power elements in families and families collaborate with those in general
society circle in shaping outcomes. Gender shapes organizations and how they influence the
circulation of power. Generally political and monetary organizations, truly ruled by men, are
customized to men's understanding. They glorify 'manly' types of conduct and depend on men's
power over ladies. In this way this tends to lock in two sorts of power such as men's power over
ladies, and the power of the ‘manliest’ men over everybody. Take ideological groups. They are
key watchmen for ladies' political support, yet their male-commanded societies frequently make
them blocked off to ladies. In Burundi and Kosovo, for instance, female government officials
host griped that significant gathering choices were taken in bars, spaces ladies frequently can't
get to.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS:
1. With reference to at least two (2) pieces of material from the course, examine and
analyze the significance of ghosts and the supernatural and/or myths and legends in the
course Asian cultures in Canada.
Chinese old stories include a rich assortment of ghosts, and other spirits and myths. As per
conventional convictions a ghost is the soul type of an individual who has passed on. Ghosts are
ordinarily malevolent and will make hurt the living whenever they are bothered. Numerous
Chinese people convictions about ghosts have been embraced into the legends and myths in East
Asian societies. Generally, the Chinese accepted that it was conceivable to contact the spirits of
perished family members. It was accepted that the spirits of the dead can support them in the
event that they were appropriately regarded and compensated. Supernatural/Myths are used in
light of the fact that “Asian culture has prevalence of ancestry and wisdom” hence use of
mythological imagery and that the use of myth allows characters to cope and face conflict. The
myths and stories have morals and lessons that are taught for which there is a source of clarity.
In Jade Peony, Sek-lung, the only child born in Canada, is the one who inherits cultural
knowledge through his grandmother. Contrary to his first-generation siblings and parents who
attempt to distance themselves from their Chinese heritage, preferring “secular” Western values,
Sek lung asserts that his grandmother, in order to pass peacefully, needs to be honored in the
traditional way. “No one wanted to believe me, though no one really wanted to doubt me either,
for the world of Chinatown was the world of what if….” Sek-Lung deems finds traditional values
highly important since he wants his grandmother to pass peacefully instead of following the
secular Western values.
In No foreigners, when grandpa pass away, his inheritance/ fortune is a house. “If you want
access to house, you must tell the password.” In festival, grandpa appears as a moth for which he
asks the passcode for which it was answered wrong. Grandpa then becomes a larger moth and
swallows him in light of the fact that he is disobedient in the Chinese tradition. It is saying that
knowledge is password is based on knowledge of Chinese ethnicity such as culture, language,
food and eventually he passes the test. Moths are seen to symbolize finding a calling within
one’s self and in the Chinese culture, is typically associated with the souls of the departed. The
significance of using moths is to represent Lucky utilizing Chinese tradition to make him get in
contact with his grandfather which shows him getting in touch with his Chinese heritage once
again.
For Heaven on Earth it is a fantasy, a counter story telling is used as a “strength” of main
character for escapism in face of physical abuse. Always praying to God for strength and
storytelling. Imagining possibilities of a future relationship, bounded in honesty. In South Asian
culture cobras are meant to be sacred and they are as the ideal as in what reality could be. A
cobra is a manifestation of change that she desires and, in the end,, she wraps around her neck,
conforming to what she thinks is true. Cobra means power for which it is a supernatural/cultural
entity and protection means providing security. In picking up the snake, she is saying “I am
capable and powerful” since a cobra is also a very dangerous animal.
2. Using examples from Wayson Choy's The Jade Peony and at least one (1) other text or
film, explain the concept of hybridity and its significance to Asian cultures in Canada.
Sek Lung having missed the Chinese Education along with the English and struggled to fit in. He
was a Canadian Born Chinese, but wasn’t recognized as a Canadian, but an alien because of his
Chinese roots. “If you were born in Canada, you were an educated alien – never to be a citizen,
never Canadian with the right to vote - “And educated fool” In the words of some old China
man.” with the Hybrid identity, Sek Lung struggled to find a place where he belonged and said
“But born in Canada children, like myself, to the tray one. For we were in Mo no know a child.
Children with no old China history in our brains.” The language barrier he had really impacted
his ability to communicate with other Chinese persons and to find a place where he was accepted
was tremendously difficult. “English words seem more forthright me blunt like road signs.
Chinese words were awkward and messy like quicksand. I preferred English but there were no
English words to match the Chinese perplexities.” and “Each dialect open up another reality to
them another time and a place they shared” This was something he doesn’t have access to so, he
does not have the connection to his Chinese roots. With the passing of his grandmother, he loses
a bit of the Chinese roots. As she was his source for the Old Chinese way.
Social hybridization is the mixing of components from various societies. I feel that without
social hybridization, the world we live in would not be anyplace close as intriguing and
coordinated as it is today. In Canada, they communicate in English just as French. In one nation,
two dialects are the fundamental language; that is a case of social hybridization. Sek Lung is a
closeted gay who wants to play out his manliness. All of Jung Sum’s smaller identities form the
hybridity, which is he, a sum of his nationality, sexuality, and family history. Due to his
hybridity of identity he is marginalized more than once: already he does not belong to his family
since he is adopted. He likewise doesn't have a place with other straight folks since he is a
closeted gay. This is intelligent of the Asian Canadian experience in light of the fact that the term
Asian Canadian is itself a half breed personality (hyphenated character). In consolidating these
different characters, Asian Canadians regularly wind up having a place with neither nationality,
and such is the situation with Jung Sum and his sexuality since he acts like a run of the mill
masculine man yet he is gay so he doesn't completely have a place with young men nor with
young ladies. He is in the middle of; like his family ancestry, he is never again connected with
his introduction to the world dad who was oppressive towards him.
At a similar Jung Sum doesn't completely have a place with his family since he isn't bloodidentified with them. In the event that he has a place with neither one of them he is stuck and
needs some place in the center and therefore needs to make a personality for himself. We
consider this to be spoken to through his proprietorship and training of the turtle, and he gets
known as the person with the turtle to his neighbors as opposed to a masculine man who boxes
(sex), sexuality, or nationality (Self generative sex development). The feeling of having a place
between two universes can assist us with understanding Asian Canadians and their pursuit and
dynamic procedure of making an identity for themselves – one that isn't forced upon them but
instead one that they decide for themselves.
He really grappled with the idea that he would be better off, if he was white, rather than Chinese.
“I sometimes wish that my skin would turn white, my hair go brown, my eyes widen and turn
blue, and Mr. and Mrs. O’Connor next-door would adopt me and I would be Jack O’Connor‘s
little brother.” He does not feel like he is belonging to a singular space by having an identity that
transcends physical borders, where Sek Lung is influenced by his Chinese roots, how he’s raised
by his grandmother, and his identity as a Canadian. “Stepmother knew this in her heart and
feared for me. All the Chinatown adults were worried over those of us recently born in Canada,
born “neither this nor that,” Neither Chinese Nor Canadian, born without understanding the
boundaries born mo no - no brain”. The sense of belonging between two worlds can help us
understand Asian Canadians and their search and active process of creating an identity for
themselves – one that is not imposed upon them but rather one that they choose for themselves.
From the Hungry Ghost, Shivan is half-Tamil and half-Sinhalese however is socially Sinhalese.
He is an Asian Canadian foreigner who is Homosexual and attempted to be financially free. He
was dependent on his grandma, which is a conflict for his mom however it was alright for
Shivan. We find in Shivan's character curve that another repercussion/challenge of a homosexual
personality is that there is contradiction inside the person's locale concerning how the individual
in question ought to act, and with which culture they should recognize more. We see this in one
scene among Shivan and his sister when Renu is conversing with him via telephone and is asking
him to return to Canada to abstain from being an unfortunate person trapped in the TamilSinhalese conflict. “Have you gone mad? You’re Tamil!” (p. 179) Renu shouts. Shivan reacts
that he is Tamil just in name; he communicates in Sinhalese, eats Sinhalese cuisine food, and is
socially Sinhalese all around.
Regardless of Shivan's hybridity comprising of the two his Tamil and Sinhalese sides, he is the
operator in this circumstance since he chooses how he needs to live and with which culture he
needs to distinguish more. Rather than just submitting to his sister's arguing that he is a Tamil
and in this way in threat, Shivan willingly volunteers to distinguish himself as a Sinhalese. He
makes it known not exclusively to his family, yet additionally to himself, the individual that he is
and what he sees as valid for himself. This is intelligent of Asian Canadians and the activity we
should take in developing and helping ourselves as well as other people to remember our own
personality, so as not to be anticipated with bogus impressions of what others consider us.
3. The play NO FOREIGNERS trouble the concept of “foreigner”. With reference to two
(2) or more works we have studied in the course, explain the various meanings of
“foreign” in the context of Asian cultures in Canada.
4. Explain the several ways in which the “home” can be both a desirable and undesirable
concept. Refer to at least two (2) works we have studied in this course to support your
argument.
Home is a spot favored, where you and your family can be secure, have all you need, and offer
your trouble and joy. Where you can support each other as a family. It doesn't make a difference
how enormous or little. Home is a place of refuge and a safe place. A spot to live with our
families and pets and appreciate with companions. A spot to fabricate recollections just as an
approach to construct future riches. A spot where we can really simply act naturally. What's
more, regardless of whether our homes are huge, little, extravagant or unassuming, they are our
safe houses and our havens.
Shivan, from the Hungry Ghost wants just the same. He spends the entire time in his journey
where he is looking for a home, where he feels like he can belong. He tries on these different
faces, to feel like he belongs. And often the homes are either taken away from him or it’s not
enough for him. You lose your sense of home. Diaspora, a group of people who has been
scattered from an original homeland, or idea of homeland. Where they form a community based
on this idea of the homeland. Based on the imagination of this home he has this Diaspora and
always has this imagined idea of home, constantly yearning for home. Where he is comfortable.
Home can also be an idea; it doesn’t have to be an actual place. Shivan urges his mom to move
to Canada and he was searching for a spot where he can have a place. You need the solace of
acting naturally without being terrified. There are such huge numbers of layers of how unhomely
Sri Lanka is to him from the Sri Lankan culture to him doubting his social personality. Aacho, a
landowner, she can likewise make a home unhomely for somebody when she pulls away and
objects to somebody. As the ground-breaking individual in the house she holds a ton of capacity
to do what she wants. When Shivan comes to Canada, the individuals he lives with, a far-off
family, who dismiss Rri Lanka tend not to connect with other Sri Lankan's since they don't take
into account Sri Lankan nourishment to be cooked inside their homes or have certain rituals.
They help move out in their very own home, and there are a few issues with the house for which
it is their space where nobody can direct how they are to live. With this home, Shivan begins to
get himself, where he can make his concept of home to make associations with and where he
goes to class. He finds the gay network however avoids them since they help him to remember
himself. So, there is presently an issue of how agreeable you are in your very own skin.
Incomprehensibly, despite everything he feels forlorn, as the gathering (this turning out
gathering) doesn't get him and that he's this wonderful darker kid who is always searching for a
spot to call home yet not having the option to discover it. The issues that you think you’re getting
away by leaving one home, never is gone, in light of the fact that you're as yet a similar
individual and regardless of whether you go to a better place the acknowledgment is
incompletely for which Shivan is viewed as this extraordinary individual in the gay club and
homes that are always distant, you can see it however you can't contact it. A topic that we see is
looking for and always needing something.
In Jade Peony, Sek Lung is home with his grandmother. He finds acceptance with her and learns
about the old Chinese ways which allowed him to learn about his Chinese Roots. His
grandmother was a source of acceptance and after she passes, all he feels is resentment. We see
that when he starts to pull away from his family and when his desires become to be the youngest
sons of the O’Connors, a white Canadian family. Home as traditions taken from Grandma (in
case of Sek-Lung). Tommy Jade even went as far as trying to bribe the immigration officer so
that his wife could be brought over but there are so many restraints that make is nearly
impossible. When Sek Lung was with his grandmother in his home, he felt secure and content
with his culture and life but when she had passed away, it was as if the culture passed away as
well and was buried beneath. This is when the home was desirable to Sek Lung. When he felt
secure and a spot where he can really simply act naturally instead of feeling resentment and
having the urge to run away to a new white family in order to be culturally accepted.
There are other Chinese people who choose Canada to be their home but are turned away or
isolated from general society due to the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia, the
taxation with all the head tax business and the exclusion act, Chinese people were still
determined with calling Canada there home. The Head Tax and Redress movement, pushed by
the CCNC contextualizes’ the play broadly and the Chinese head tax was imposed on Chinese
migration to Canada somewhere in the range of 1885 and 1923, under the Chinese Immigration
Act (1885). With barely any exemptions, Chinese individuals needed to pay $50 which was later
raised to $100, and afterward $500 to come to Canada. This legislation was the first in Canadian
history to reject migration based on ethnicity. It was levying entry of Chinese immigrants in
increasing amounts of money in an effort to curb immigration. At the point when the assessment
was expelled from the Chinese Immigration Act in 1923, Chinese migration was prohibited until
1947. CCNC pushed for families that were separated and never reunited, Chinese who were
killed and harassed, and Chinese who were exploited while working on the Canadian Pacific
Railway which can be related to Obasan wherein Aunt Emily similarly petitions to the
government over the course of her lifetime over the Japanese displacement and internment
camps. The people, Sylvia is referencing to are Chinese Canadians, who had been affected by the
Head Tax and the Exclusion Act. The redress is to acknowledge the injustices committed by the
Canadian government by enacting these laws for the purpose of restricting and limiting the
immigration and movement of Chinese persons in Canada. This was implemented for the
purpose of deterring Chinese Immigrants, the prices stated at $50, then increased to $100, then
$500. Even with the increase in price, Chinese Canadians were still determined to bring their
families over.
Chinatown, the town in Toronto is a decent sense of network and social community for Asian
individuals to hang out and warm up to each other to feel progressively like home after postmigration. “We’re in Canada, not Old China’. ‘we in Chinatown,’ said grandmama. ‘things
different here.’” within this foreign land, Chinese people have established roots, they created a
community for themselves and are continuously building up and progressing forward on these
cultural communities. Being closer to people of the same ethnic origin gave a sense of
community and there was a shared value that Chinese people carried that was differentiable and
more conservative then the Western ways.
Lack of homely feeling for China post-migration