contract stood, in theory, balanced and bilateral. In practice, it forced millions of Chinese to move to the US. Willingly or, more often, unwillingly.
The Empire decided those Chosen Ones. Young, healthy, strong men. In order to guarantee the conduct of the individual, their families were held as hostages. It was a threat, which kept them docile and obedient.
From that to the establishment of a Chinese Mafia, which controlled human trafficking at the submerged request of China itself, the step was short. It introduced workers, Opium, and prostitution. Fuelled by the suffered wrongs, it even managed to control them at the expense of the United States. What goes around comes around.
No wonder, they all lose out. Even if, as always, the weakest ones were the main victims.
But Double Standard does exist in misery as well. If the men worked fifteen hours a day and in dreadful surroundings, it was nothing compared to the heartbreakingly conditions of the unluckiest of them all. Females and very, very, young. Only seven years old and forced into sexual slavery, they died before reaching the age of twenty.
Regardless, Chinese were unmistakably efficient. The entirety of their activities, in 1880, widespread and hit the exposed nerve of USA economy. Their trade was flourishing and, as nowadays, they were able to charge incredibly competitive prices. Fashion, herbs, perfumes, fruit, vegetables, all at derisory prices. Their skills extended to every single area. From artisanship and manufacturing to private services. They even took the wind out of the circus’ sails. Their spectacular acrobatics were impossible to reproduce for the massive All-American Americans. In addition, they did not use animals. Therefore, they had no further expenses. As labourers, they were impeccable. No liberal ideas, no half-assed demands for reduced working hours or more dignified living conditions. Nossir. They kept their mouths shut and earned half the price of their White colleagues, who gritted their teeth and ranted against those who were stealing their job. Some things never change.
Furthermore, as long as these evils concerned foreigners, nobody had anything to say. They could have slaughter each other and employers could care less. After all, they were perfectly replaceable.
Figure 3 – Young Woman In Traditional Hong Kong Clothes, 1860.
However, when the phenomenon exploded amongst Americans -both traders and workers- trouble began. By 1850, Chinese had gathered in the area of old Portsmouth Square. After the Gold Rush, they set up independent laundry businesses. It was a dirty job, no pun intended, which no one at that time wanted to do. Except for them. Soon, there were florist shops, greengrocers, stores meant to meet the day-to-day needs of a growing town. In two years, Little Canton had expanded enormously and offered thirty-three retail shops, five restaurants, fifteen herbalists, and several pharmacies. The complete area was in full development. Even the local authorities appreciated it. They often praised it publicly and presented it as a model of diligent industriousness. For Chinese, it was almost like being at home. Almost being the operative word. Systematically, that small town became a recreational core. Being the new San Francisco was the target. By popular fury, that area became Chinatown. It was a Press idea. Something innocent, created to simplify a banal concept. Yet, Americans saw -or wanted to see- an act of arrogance. One that would, bitterly and inexorably, led to resentment towards the entire Chinese community. Any excuse to go after Non-Whites.
Nevertheless, Chinatown grew and developed into the symbol of a city within a city. Only a dusted memory remained of the twelve wooden houses of those first years. By 1880, the entire area had grown into an elegant neighbourhood that housed twenty-two thousand people. Rich White Broken Hearts could forget their sorrows in the depth of gambling halls and Opium houses, not to mention the brothels. Chinoiserie was synonym of colourful, fashionable, and luxurious. Porcelains, mirrors, spices, love tinsels were what Americans -especially women- wanted.
Soon, a crescendo of feelings undermined the US Government. Main one being the terror of a future Capitalism made in China. And God have mercy, if someone other than White People could speculate on Market Economy.
An obvious question arises. What is the US reaction, every time something or someone Non-American makes it tremble? Easy. It starts questioning the morality, real or imagined, of their foreign customs.
Hence, ‘The Yellow Peril’ invaded the United States.
Figure 4 - Chinatown, 1860. A Few Wooden Houses And Some stores. In Thirty Years, It Thrived And Became The Core Of American Economy. Not To Mention, The Favourite Option Of The Rich And Famous' Night Life.
The country, due to the Civil War, was experiencing a difficult historical situation. The economic destabilization of the South, the alternating political trends, the hunger for change, the eagerness to dominate Europe produced a devastating knock-on effect . A large part of the population had suffered negatively from the consequences of the Restoration Of The System . Thousands were doomed. Children starved. Traders bankrupted daily. Immigrants died in the streets, of natural causes or -more often- killed. The prisons overcrowded. Violence was everywhere. Surviving was close to impossible but imperative.
On the other hand, the Organized Crime thrived. First in line was the Irish Mob. It functioned as a complement of the Government, coercing les protégés to vote. In addition, it supported all the illegal activities bound to alcohol and drugs.
Then, the Triad. Always on the very edge of legality, it addressed its own fellow citizens and operated exclusively according to the directives of Chinese ideology. One must fight enemies with their own weapons. Tirelessly. In order, one day, to take their place.
Said Yellow Peril was a direct consequence of US behaviour. As always, they exploited labourers to the point of being overwhelmed. Chinese-Americans could not help but express only their imperialistic nature, dominated by honour and an exacerbated feeling of redemption. Adapting to the worst conditions of life, they aspired to improve their own existence. That Social Rise would put them on the same level as the Westerners.
It was an innate sense that cannot disappeared by mere deportation to another country. Forced chastity, loneliness, and oppression sublimated it. Behind that indelible smile, Chinese hid a tragic strength and an impressive stubbornness.
Their everyday motto? Survive At All Costs. Then, Prosper.
Figure 5 - San Francisco's Chinatown, 1906.
One could talk hours about the difference between intelligence and cunning, without ever coming to terms with it. The truth is simple. Some misconduct, producing a temporary advantage, is -over time- harmful and detrimental. Selfishness and lack of empathy cause an inevitable damage. If the victim is not prone to forgiveness, the echo of it will widen immeasurably and with certain destructive results. Simply put, an action leads to a reaction. That was the relationship between Uncle Sam and Chinese. That is why the whole New Continent cried out to the Yellow Peril.
Between 1880 and 1882, finding a scapegoat was quite easy. Americans accused Chinese of unfair competition, job theft, and social rivalry. After the first Immigrants Regulation And Restriction, approved in 1861, which banned interracial marriages -even if Chinese abhorred the very thought of connecting with Westerners- there were others.
