{"title":"Beth Lew-Williams","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the impactful works of Beth Lew-Williams, a distinguished author who delves into the intricacies of historical narratives with a focus on Asian American history. Her engaging and insightful writing sheds light on pivotal events and themes often overlooked in traditional accounts, making her books a vital resource for anyone interested in history and military studies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong her notable works is \u003cem\u003eJohn Doe Chinaman\u003c\/em\u003e, which provides a meticulous exploration of key moments in American history, focusing on the experiences and challenges faced by Chinese immigrants in the United States. Through her thorough research and compelling storytelling, Lew-Williams offers a fresh perspective on how these experiences have shaped the nation's history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you are a history enthusiast, a student, or just eager to learn something new, Beth Lew-Williams' books provide enlightening and thought-provoking insights into America's complex past. Her contributions to the field of history not only educate but also inspire ongoing dialogue and reflection on the issues of race, immigration, and identity.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"john-doe-chinaman-by-beth-lew-williams-9780674294110","title":"John Doe Chinaman","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA revelatory history of the laws that conditioned the everyday lives of Chinese people in the American West—and of those who negotiated, circumvented, and resisted discrimination.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLegal discrimination against Chinese people in the United States began in 1852, when California passed a tax on foreign gold miners that was explicitly designed to exploit Chinese labour. Over the next seventy years, officials in California, Oregon, Washington, and other western states instituted more than five thousand laws that marginalised and controlled their Chinese residents. Long before the Chinese Exclusion Act banned Chinese immigration, these laws constrained the activities and opportunities of Chinese people already living in the United States.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this eye-opening account, Beth Lew-Williams describes a legal architecture redolent of Jim Crow but tailored specifically to people often referred to only as \"John Doe Chinaman\" or \"Mary Chinaman\" in official records. Enforced by police and tax collectors, but also by schoolteachers, missionaries, and neighbours, these laws granted the Chinese only limited access to American society, falling far short of equality or belonging. Cementing stereotypes of Chinese residents as criminals, invaders, and predators, they regulated everything from healthcare to education, property ownership, business formation, and kinship customs. Yet in the face of these limitations, Chinese communities reacted resourcefully. Many fought, evaded, and manipulated these laws, finding ways to maintain their prohibited traditions, resist unfair treatment in court, and insist on their political rights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on dozens of archives across the US West, \u003cem\u003eJohn Doe Chinaman\u003c\/em\u003e reveals the depth of anti-Chinese discrimination beyond federal exclusion and tells the stories of those who refused to accept a conditional place in American life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46871407493356,"sku":"9780674294110","price":71.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/1442983482428.jpg?v=1759878761"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/beth-lew-williams.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}