Television Review: Becoming American: The Chinese Experience, on PBS

by Todd Lee
posted 5/16/03

I am not a Chinese American history scholar, so on those terms I’m unable to evaluate the historical accuracy of Bill Moyers’ recent PBS series. However, as someone fortunate enough to be familiar with the general outlines of our history in America, and someone familiar with the themes and driving forces of that history, I think the series is worth noting, and is a valuable refresher.

Moyers’ piece, which weaves individual Chinese Americans’ personal narratives into a chronicle of our history, is something all Chinese Americans should see. Particularly for those of us, young and old, who have not had the opportunity to study our past, it’s a chance to see where we’ve come from: our contributions and tribulations on Gold Mountain. In a style that is reminiscent of some of Ken Burns’ documentaries on America and Blackside’s wonderful pieces such as “Eyes on the Prize” , Moyers provides old movie footage, recent interviews on videotape, and still photography to present images (such as those of early San Francisco Chinatown) that are historical treasures, part of a history (particularly a visual history) that is not well enough documented or preserved.

Chinese Experience- Oppression and Resistance