The Chinese Exclusion Act was a United States federal law signed by President Chester A. Arthur on May 6, 1882 prohibiting the immigration of all Chinese laborers. In times of economic and geopolitical crises, the tensions existed between different ethnic groups and the Chinese Americans paid for the crisis. At the beginning, the law was only a “restriction law” (1882-1888). However, the “restriction law” was ineffective, followed by outbreak of anti-Chinese violence.  The confluence of local violence along with national exclusion and international expansion shifted the nature of US border control with a long-term policy of “complete exclusion law” (1888-1943).  The hostile political environment lay the grounds for the general public to embrace a racism against Chinese Americans.  The Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed in 1943.

“I hope that this short retelling will inspire all of us in the AAPIS community to share our creation stories, and, in doing so, raise our voices in resistance and solidarity to transform our future.”

“Fire on Gold Mountain” is a set of 10 drawings by Ava Salzman, who is a 6th generation Chinese American.