Chapman students, faculty dive deeper into history, culture of Asian American studies

As a pilot of Chapman’s new Asian American studies minor, which is scheduled to be implemented in fall 2023, students and faculty had the opportunity to tour the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Jessica Bocinski

Chapman University students, faculty and staff toured Los Angeles's Chinese American Museum (CAM) earlier this month to further explore components of Asian American studies, a minor to be implemented at Chapman this coming fall.  

Regarding the museum’s educational tours and exhibits, the museum’s website states that they offer a culturally-rich environment where Chinese American communities, history and cultural practices are explored in the context of United States diversity.  

According to Jennifer Keene, dean of Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and an attendee of the tour, the museum allowed students and faculty to specifically explore the history of Chinese Americans in Los Angeles and Chinese immigration into the U.S., as well as stories from family descendants about their ancestors' immigration or escaping persecution.

“Experiential learning helps bring the relevance of classroom studies into sharp relief,” Keene wrote in an email to The Panther. “There was a lot to digest, especially about the racism, violence and discrimination against Chinese Americans. Yet, the museum also highlights the strength and perseverance of Chinese Americans and the impact of this community on the fabric of our nation economically, culturally and politically.”

For Keene, the workshops and guided tour provoked many unanswered questions.

“One question asked us to discover why the 1930s were so important in the history of Chinese Americans in LA,” Keene said. “Another (was) how illiterate Chinese immigrants communicated news home (general stores had scribes who could write letters for them); and another asked the group to share their own families’ stories of immigration or escaping persecution.” 

Associate Dean of Wilkinson College Stephanie Takaragawa also attended the Chinese American Museum tour. According to Takaragawa in an email to The Panther, the project’s hands-on educational experience about Chinese American history was insightful for attendees. 

“I think what a lot of people learned is that they don’t know anything about the history of Chinese immigration to the United States or why the Chinese Exclusion Act happened, what it was like for the early immigrant Chinese and how the U.S. was built on a lot of Chinese labor,” Takaragawa said. “Even things like why Chinatown is where it is, who built it and why the Chinese American Museum is on Olvera Street, a Mexican marketplace in Downtown LA. 

With the Asian American studies minor launching in the fall, Takaragawa noted that workshops at the Japanese American National Museum and the Chinese American Museum are part of introducing Chapman faculty, staff and students to Asian American history. 

“Asian American history is U.S. history, and we are in a multicultural society,” Takaragawa said. “Everyone should learn as much as they can about the world that they inhabit if they want to be able to fully participate in American society.” 

According to Takaragawa, the minor stems from student and faculty desire for more Asian American study at Chapman.

“(The Asian American studies minor) was implemented because for several years, Chapman students have been asking for this type of curriculum,” Takaragawa said.

Takaragawa has served as the Asian Pacific Student Association’s faculty advisor for around 10 years.

“Every year, students ask why we don’t have Asian American studies,” Takaragawa said. “It's actually why I first started teaching my FFC: Yellow Peril to Yellow Power (class) and why we began advocating for Asian American studies.”

Keene, also a proponent of the Asian American studies minor, has been involved in the creation of the new interdisciplinary minor, which follows the recent addition of minors in Latinx and Latin American studies, Africana studies and ethnic studies.  

“These minors are great additions to any students’ major course of study to amplify their understanding of American society and to better prepare them to be leaders and change agents in the future,” Keene said.

According to Takaragawa, there is more experiential education regarding ethnic studies in sight for Chapman students and faculty through Wilkinson events in addition to the Asian American studies minor.  

“These workshops at the Japanese American National Museum and Chinese American Museum are part of introducing our faculty, staff and students to this history,” Takaragawa said. “We also want to have more Wilkinson community events to bring all of Wilkinson together out in the world, as truly global citizens.”