Michael Luo on Belonging, Exclusion, & the American Dream

In the mid-19th century, tens of thousands of Chinese immigrants traveled to American shores in the pursuit of a better life in the “land of opportunity.” Quickly, however, their quest for the American dream became a nightmare, as racial violence and anti-Chinese sentiment became widespread, culminating in the signing of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. Author Michael Luo explores the complex story of the Chinese American community, following their perseverance in the face of bigotry from the mid-1800s through today, detailing how Chinese Americans have become an essential part of our nation’s cultural, political, and economic life.

MICHAEL LUO is an executive editor at The New Yorker and writes regularly for the magazine on politics, religion, and Asian American issues. He joined the New Yorker in 2016. Before that, he spent thirteen years at the New York Times, as a metro reporter, national correspondent, and investigative reporter and editor. He is a recipient of a George Polk Award and a Livingston Award for Young Journalists

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