Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America by Michael Luo
Why This Book Matters
Strangers in the Land tells the sweeping, often erased story of Chinese immigration to the United States, from the earliest arrivals to the struggles of modern American-born Chinese communities. Michael Luo, a seasoned investigative journalist and descendant of Chinese immigrants, weaves together family history, legal precedent, and national policy to show how Chinese Americans have been both builders of the nation and targets of exclusion.
The book traces landmark moments in immigration history, including the Chinese Exclusion Act, the rise of anti-Asian violence, and the fight for citizenship rights through the case of Wong Kim Ark. Luo’s research reveals how many of today’s immigration battles are rooted in the legal and cultural frameworks first used to exclude the Chinese.
For organizers, educators, cultural workers, and policy advocates, Strangers in the Land is more than history. It is a tool for building stronger multiracial coalitions and for understanding how anti-immigrant sentiment has long shaped American politics. Use it to inform your messaging, contextualize community engagement work, or strengthen efforts that connect racial justice to immigrant rights.
Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America by Michael Luo
Why This Book Matters
Strangers in the Land tells the sweeping, often erased story of Chinese immigration to the United States, from the earliest arrivals to the struggles of modern American-born Chinese communities. Michael Luo, a seasoned investigative journalist and descendant of Chinese immigrants, weaves together family history, legal precedent, and national policy to show how Chinese Americans have been both builders of the nation and targets of exclusion.
The book traces landmark moments in immigration history, including the Chinese Exclusion Act, the rise of anti-Asian violence, and the fight for citizenship rights through the case of Wong Kim Ark. Luo’s research reveals how many of today’s immigration battles are rooted in the legal and cultural frameworks first used to exclude the Chinese.
For organizers, educators, cultural workers, and policy advocates, Strangers in the Land is more than history. It is a tool for building stronger multiracial coalitions and for understanding how anti-immigrant sentiment has long shaped American politics. Use it to inform your messaging, contextualize community engagement work, or strengthen efforts that connect racial justice to immigrant rights.