American Born Chinese

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

The United States is frequently referred to as a land of immigrants. Based on your knowledge, what does the word immigration mean? What are some of the effects of a variety of cultures and customs on a society?

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Answer question orients students to the sociological perspective of the graphic novel. Yang uses relatable and interesting content to explore the treatment of first- and second-generation immigrants living in the US. Students should understand that the term “American” can be seen as a compilation of nationalities, ethnicities, and races from around the world. However, despite a multi-faceted American identity, many communities are discriminated against, systematically and socially. For example, Asian Americans have been subjected to difficult living and working conditions and limited access to education, property, and protection of human rights since first immigrating to the US in the 19th century. This question relates to the themes of Otherness and the Effects of Racism and Discrimination and Identity and the Limitations of Transformation. After initial discussion, students might explore possible meanings of these newly introduced themes.

• This article provides a broad overview of different immigration waves to the US before 1965.
• The National Endowment for the Humanities’ media resource on “The History of Becoming American” includes a clip on the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

Short Activity

Different Asian communities have migrated to the US in the past three centuries. Working in small groups, research the history of one Asian American community. Trace their emigration from their country of origin to the US. What are some of the challenges that this community has experienced? Share facts and statistics with your classmates.

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Activity invites students to explore the variety of Asian communities that immigrated to the US, the causes of emigration, and other historical facts. , Students should understand that although each group of immigrants had different motivations and experiences, many of these groups experienced shared difficulties in the US, such as Otherness and the Effects of Racism and Discrimination and—in relation to second-generation immigrants—the challenges of Growing up in America as the Child of Immigrants.

• “Asian American Milestones” shares a timeline of immigration from Asia to the US.
• Migration Policy Institute provides statistics regarding Asian American communities in the US.
• PBS News Hour discusses the discrimination of the Asian American community in the article, “The Long History of Racism Against Asian Americans in the US.”

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

What does the word “stereotype” mean? In your experiences or observations, how are stereotypes generally harmful when applied to people?

Teaching Suggestion: This question encourages students to reflect on the difficulties of stereotypes in society. Many of the difficulties that immigrants faced in the US were perpetuated by negative stereotypes that contributed to a legacy of hate, discrimination, and unfair portrayals. This question relates to the theme of Otherness and the Effects of Racism and Discrimination.

• This is Merriam-Webster’s definition of “stereotype.”

Differentiation Suggestion: For an analytical approach in more advanced classes, students might reflect on harmful stereotypes they have seen in the media and explain why they are problematic.