Being Chinese in Canada : the struggle for identity, redress and belonging / William Ging Wee Dere.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dere, William Ging Wee, 1948- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Chinese--Race identity.

Chinese.

Manners and customs.

Social conditions.

History.

Canada--Race relations.

Canada.

Race relations.

Dere, William Ging Wee, 1948-.

Dere, William Ging Wee.

Dere, William Ging Wee, 1948---Family.

Chinese--Canada--History.

Chinese--Canada--Social conditions.

Chinese--Canada--Social life and customs.

Chinese--Race identity--Canada.

Chinese--Social conditions.

Chinese--Social life and customs.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

400 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Madeira Park, BC : Douglas & McIntyre, [2019]

Summary:

"After the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed in 1885-construction of the western stretch was largely built by Chinese workers-the Canadian government imposed a punitive head tax to deter Chinese citizens from coming to Canada. The exorbitant tax strongly discouraged those who had already emigrated from sending for wives and children left in China-effectively splintering families. After raising the tax twice, the Canadian government eventually brought in legislation to stop Chinese immigration altogether. The ban was not repealed until 1947. It was not until June 22, 2006, that Prime Minister Stephen Harper formally apologized to the Chinese Canadian community for the Government of Canada's racist legacy. Until now, little had been written about the events leading up to the apology. William Dere's Being Chinese in Canadais the first book to explore the work of the head tax redress movement and to give voice to the generations of Chinese Canadians involved. Dere explores the many obstacles in the Chinese Canadian community's fight for justice, the lasting effects of state-legislated racism and the unique struggle of being Chinese in Quebec. But Being Chinese in Canada is also a personal story. Dere dedicated himself to the head tax redress campaign for over two decades. His grandfather and father each paid the five-hundred-dollar head tax, and the 1923 Chinese Immigration Act separated his family for thirty years. Dere tells of his family members' experiences; his own political awakenings; the federal government's offer of partial redress and what it means to move forward-for himself, his children and the community as a whole. Many in multicultural Canada feel the issues of cultural identity and the struggle for belonging. Although Being Chinese in Canada is a personal recollection and an exploration of the history and culture of Chinese Canadians, the themes of inclusion and kinship are timely and will resonate with Canadians of all backgrounds."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Coming to Gold Mountain

My father, Hing Dere

The turbulent exclusion years (1923-47)

Family reunification (1950s)

My mother, Yee Dong Sing Dere

Getting organized

Life of the party

Life after the party

The questions of China

Being Chinese in Canada

Moving the community

Moving the mountain

Crying in the wilderness (1984-93)

Shutting the floodgates (1994-2000)

Coming in from the wilderness (2001-6)

Half victorious

Being Chinese in Quebec

"Listen to your Mother"

Identity and belonging.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Dere, William Ging Wee, 1948 or 1949- Being Chinese in Canada.

Dere, William Ging Wee, 1949- Being Chinese in Canada.:

ISBN:

9781771622189

1771622180

OCLC:

1066142913

Publisher Number:

99980901280