This panel discussion will discuss the history of “Paper Sons” and the impact this phenomenon had on family relationships within the Chinese community during the 20 th Century. The panel will also explore how the secretive “Paper Son” system has affected the cultural and political roles of Chinese Americans today.
Paper sons were Chinese immigrants who purchased false identification papers in order to immigrate to the United States during the decades of the Chinese Exclusion Acts (1882-1943). These laws specifically prohibited Chinese laborers from entering America. “Paper Sons” lived with counterfeit identities, and were therefore vulnerable to social discrimination, often falling victim to public paranoia during times of political hysteria.
Actual paper sons will be invited to share their real life experience.
Betty Lee Sung is a leading authority on the Chinese in America. Dr. Sung is Professor Emerita of the City College of New York/CUNY, and co-founder and former board chair of the CUNY Asian American / Asian Research Institute (AAARI). Her first book, Mountain of Gold, was a pioneer in its field and laid the foundation for Asian American Studies at City College of New York in 1970. She remained at the college until her retirement in 1992, having advanced to Chair of the department. In 1994, she completed a database of the Chinese immigrant records in the New York Region National Archives. In 1996, she was awarded an honorary doctorate, Doctor of Letters, from State University of New York Old Westbury, where she gave the commencement address. She is active in many organizations and has been honored by the Cosmopolitan Lion's Club, the Organization of Chinese Americans, the Asian American Higher Education Council, the American Library Association, the Chinese Communities in Houston and Philadelphia, among others.
Wendy Cheung, co-owner and producer of Blue Highway Films is currently developing a documentary on Paper Sons. She will be filming the panel discussion for the documentary.
Winifred C. Chin, visiting scholar of Asian/Pacific/American Studies Program & Institute of New York University and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Far Eastern Civilizations. She is also the co-author of Paper Son, One Man’s story, published by Temple University Press, 2000.
