This page was created by Maria Tsiao. The last update was by Curtis Fletcher.
Religious Life & Faith Institutions
Brief Introduction
We defined religious life and faith institutions to refer to any religious or faith influence for residents of Chinatown—either from existing beliefs brought from China, or missionary activity and conversion attempts made in Los Angeles. We also wanted to examine how these beliefs manifested themselves in physical or ideological societal institutions in Chinatown. We began by primarily researching churches established in Chinatown, because Christian missionary activity appeared to be some of the most prominent religious actions of the time. Given that residents of Chinatown struggled with conformity and xenophobia, it seemed unlikely that accounts of Chinese religion and beliefs would be more salient than Christian conversion.Missionary Activity
We first started with the narratives of Christian missionaries who worked with residents of Chinatown; descriptions of conversion success and English tutoring demonstrated that missionaries had genuine, although somewhat patronizing intentions with Chinatown residents (Friends' 636). But these positive accounts subsequently framed this success within the Western mentality instilled into these Chinese immigrants—that English and Christianity are essential to civility, but also social acceptance (637). The apparent success of conversion from the perspective of these white missionaries also appears to be linked with a mentality of fear, or at the very least, intimidation. One Chinese immigrant writes to a friend in China, "if we learn to be good, many American people will like us Chinese. If we do not, then will many Americans dislike us. I, a thousand times, think it very important for our countrymen in California to learn English" (637). Although "successful" conversion attempts also produced a mentality that language and religious conformity was absolutely required for Chinese immigrants to reach a bare minimum threshold of tolerance. Despite the specific qualifications for Chinatown residents to become acceptable in the eyes of white society, Chinese immigrants seemed to expand their desire to remain in Los Angeles. From The Chinatown War: "Otis Gibson, a Methodist missionary who worked among the Chinese immigrants, reported that some were becoming so attached to American ways that they were no longer content to live in China and wanted to settle permanently in the United States. He also thought that their numbers were constantly increasing" (Zesch 9).
Xenophobia, the "Perpetual Foreigner," and the Model Minority Myth
Christian missionaries initially converted Chinese immigrants under the assumption that they would return to China and spread Christianity there, but missionary work may have influenced some Chinese immigrants in their decision to remain in the United States, and specifically Southern California (Friends' 637). Missionary efforts began to take on more long-term efforts, linked with the enthusiasm expressed by Chinese immigrants for living in Los Angeles (Reed 883). Anglo-Chinese churches were founded in Chinatown, as well as schooling resources for Chinese children and adults. The church became a source for cross-cultural interaction, as well as solidarity for the evident xenophobia expressed by many Angelinos and Californians as well (Reed 884). Supporting Chinese immigrants became something of a divisive topic for white missionaries, and divides were formed primarily around methods of conversion. As one missionary describes, "where the Chinese are kindly treated, and where the churches are willing to take a loving interest in their salvation, the best results can be achieved. Here in San Francisco, our churches have no interest in our work. They are, with few—very few—exceptions, all anti-Chinese" (Reed 883). Well-intentioned efforts versus ones that emphasized Chinese immigrants in a framing of sin likely contributed to Chinese immigrants' feelings around conformity, because there was ultimately no stable front of solidarity even from the church (Stewart 710). Another interesting observation is that missionaries with xenophobic perspectives also viewed the Chinese Exclusion Act as a method to expand Christianity in China while keeping America pure from Chinese immigrants, as "their temptations are peculiar and their discouragements great" (Stewart 710).
Sources
Friends', Review H J., S. "THE CHINESE AT LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: TRANSLATION." Friends' Review; a Religious, Literary and Miscellaneous Journal (1847-1894), May 19, 1877, 636, http://libproxy.usc.edu/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.libproxy2.usc.edu/docview/91109706?accountid=14749.Stewart, J. H. "The Board of Foreign Missions: THE CHINESE IN LOS ANGELES." New York Observer and Chronicle (1833-1912), Nov 29, 1906, 710, http://libproxy.usc.edu/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.libproxy2.usc.edu/docview/136282014?accountid=14749.
Zesch, Scott. The Chinatown War: Chinese Los Angeles and the Massacre of 1871. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2012.