The Lucky Ones Sparknotes
The book, The Lucky Ones: One Family and the Extraordinary Invention of Chinese America, shed light upon the Chinese Americans and their migration to America around the 1860s. One of the most prominent ports of entrance into America was out the port out west in San Francisco, California. The port is where JEU DIP came through on a ship. Along with JEU DIP, many of these immigrants suffered through countless fates. These outcomes were bad or sometimes good, but Chinese people struggled to overcome different obstacles. Even though there were hardships, JEU DIP, and his future family created their new life as Chinese Americans. Overall this book shows where the Chinese people fit in, in America, and what became of their lives. However, some families,
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like JEU DIP'S, were quick to decide in changing their old ways of life to be Chinese American. When coming to America, many young women became prostitutes while the young men became servants for rich families.
JEU DIP later became known as Joseph Tape, and started his new life in America with this name. Tape worked for an Irish man, but eventually managed to get married, and obtain enough money to create his own business. By having his own business this was the stepping stone he needed to enter the American middle class or the bourgeoisie. This type of thing was not necessarily the outcome for all Chinese people and families, however some did have similar financial success. Joseph and his family adapted to all of the American traditions and ways of life that other American families maintained. The Tapes fought hard to get their children into an American public school. They dressed themselves and their children in custom American clothing, they even spoke fluent English. The Tapes even changed their Chinese names to American ones and did the same for their children. These actions showed how important it was for Joseph and his wife, Mary, to fit in, in America. This also showed how Joseph wanted to be treated like a real American as well. Joseph wanted the best for his family and wanted them to not miss out on American activities, culture, or privileges like education. There were plenty of other Chinese families who came to America but did not adopt much of the
American life. They lived in Chinatown in California, practiced their own culture, worked for people richer than they were, and did not attempt to start or maintain their own businesses. However, there were some exceptions in Chinatown because there were merchants who made a decent living. One thing that the Chinese people brought to America that helped them to overcome some obstacles, was their labor. "Richard Sneath of the Merchants Exchange praised Chinese merchants for their honesty and reliability. "I have never had a single one of them fail to live up to their contracts," which, he said, was more than one could say for the white race" (34). This was important because it showed the work ethic that they had to do any job they were asked to do to make some money. It seems that they were dependable and reputable workers. I think this made Joseph a good business man because he worked hard to overcome the expected Chinese stature in America. Even as the years passed, the generations of his family, even the ones that became interpreters, continued to live up to this notion. The United States West, had many immigrants, and this book shows how Chinese people were subject to racism and discrimination, which were some difficult hardships that they faced. The book helped me to understand that prejudice can happen anywhere and to any type of people, just not African Americans who were segregated in the South, which is one of the most common perspectives heard about. There is a greater understanding regarding this and all of the obstacles Chinese people faced throughput their life when immigrating to the United States, then living there and trying to create a new life. The Chinese were even threatened by the Exclusion Laws. These laws prevented any Chinese people from immigrating into America. Unfortunately, most Chinese people turned to smuggling which was dangerous and illegal. "Indeed, smuggling Chinese into the United States from Mexico had become big business. According to one newspaper account, the government was "much exercised" over the "wholesale smuggling of Chinese" from Mexico" (135). This was another struggle that Chinese people faced because they were attempting very dangerous and illegal business. One thing that I feel that the book left out specifically were the Tape's struggles. From the beginning of the book it seems as if they had mostly everything figured out financially. Another observation I have made was that Joseph and Mary Tape valued family a great deal. They valued who their children's spouses were and what their accomplishments were. This seemed important to recognize because there were other struggles that Chinese families went through besides economic problems.
like JEU DIP'S, were quick to decide in changing their old ways of life to be Chinese American. When coming to America, many young women became prostitutes while the young men became servants for rich families.
JEU DIP later became known as Joseph Tape, and started his new life in America with this name. Tape worked for an Irish man, but eventually managed to get married, and obtain enough money to create his own business. By having his own business this was the stepping stone he needed to enter the American middle class or the bourgeoisie. This type of thing was not necessarily the outcome for all Chinese people and families, however some did have similar financial success. Joseph and his family adapted to all of the American traditions and ways of life that other American families maintained. The Tapes fought hard to get their children into an American public school. They dressed themselves and their children in custom American clothing, they even spoke fluent English. The Tapes even changed their Chinese names to American ones and did the same for their children. These actions showed how important it was for Joseph and his wife, Mary, to fit in, in America. This also showed how Joseph wanted to be treated like a real American as well. Joseph wanted the best for his family and wanted them to not miss out on American activities, culture, or privileges like education. There were plenty of other Chinese families who came to America but did not adopt much of the
American life. They lived in Chinatown in California, practiced their own culture, worked for people richer than they were, and did not attempt to start or maintain their own businesses. However, there were some exceptions in Chinatown because there were merchants who made a decent living. One thing that the Chinese people brought to America that helped them to overcome some obstacles, was their labor. "Richard Sneath of the Merchants Exchange praised Chinese merchants for their honesty and reliability. "I have never had a single one of them fail to live up to their contracts," which, he said, was more than one could say for the white race" (34). This was important because it showed the work ethic that they had to do any job they were asked to do to make some money. It seems that they were dependable and reputable workers. I think this made Joseph a good business man because he worked hard to overcome the expected Chinese stature in America. Even as the years passed, the generations of his family, even the ones that became interpreters, continued to live up to this notion. The United States West, had many immigrants, and this book shows how Chinese people were subject to racism and discrimination, which were some difficult hardships that they faced. The book helped me to understand that prejudice can happen anywhere and to any type of people, just not African Americans who were segregated in the South, which is one of the most common perspectives heard about. There is a greater understanding regarding this and all of the obstacles Chinese people faced throughput their life when immigrating to the United States, then living there and trying to create a new life. The Chinese were even threatened by the Exclusion Laws. These laws prevented any Chinese people from immigrating into America. Unfortunately, most Chinese people turned to smuggling which was dangerous and illegal. "Indeed, smuggling Chinese into the United States from Mexico had become big business. According to one newspaper account, the government was "much exercised" over the "wholesale smuggling of Chinese" from Mexico" (135). This was another struggle that Chinese people faced because they were attempting very dangerous and illegal business. One thing that I feel that the book left out specifically were the Tape's struggles. From the beginning of the book it seems as if they had mostly everything figured out financially. Another observation I have made was that Joseph and Mary Tape valued family a great deal. They valued who their children's spouses were and what their accomplishments were. This seemed important to recognize because there were other struggles that Chinese families went through besides economic problems.