Description
Book SynopsisAnalyses how Chinese Americans ventured beyond the confines of Chinatown by joining the military and working in defense industries
Trade Review"Wong's book on the experiences of Chinese Americans during World War II will not only go a long way to fill in the gaps but also challenge students to think critically about social change for Asian Americans during Word War II. He skillfully employs numerous quotes from newspaper sources and interviews to tell this complicated history of ethnic tensions and racial formation. Americans First is a terrific book for course use. By illuminating a little known area of Asian American history, the book provokes much discussion and debate."
—Mary Ting Yi Lui, Yale University
"Americans First is insightful, beautifully written and highly readable from beginning to end.... an excellent reference for anyone interested in Asian American history, US-China relations, identity politics and migration studies."
—The Journal of Chinese Overseas
Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Chinese America before the War; 2. Chinatown Goes to War; 3. The "Good Asian" in the "Good War"; 4. Hawai'i's Local Warriors; 5. The Fourteenth Air Service Group; 6.Into the Mainstream; Appendix: Employment Tables; Notes; Acknowlegments; Index
