Each student submits an essay that reflects on their contribution to the video project. You can use many of the materials researched for your podcast but you need to write this paper yourself.
The paper should have a central theme and includes an abstract of the project, the process of choosing a theme, the research involved, the production itself, evaluation of group working relationships and what you learned about the topic.
How did all this effort contribute to an understanding of the topic in particular and history in general? How could a project such as this be improved for the next class?
Review the work of 2 other group projects and comment on how projects such as this can enhance viewers understanding of Chinese American and Chinese diaspora history.
Resources:
1. learn about locke:
2. description of the project:
“Locke Chinatown: The Intersectionality of Law, Assimilation, & the Rural Life of Chinese Americans” is an exploration of the last rural Chinatown in the United States. Born out of the labor of Chinese workers who transformed swampland into fertile farmland, Locke became a haven where Chinese residents built close-knit relationships amidst discrimination and adversity.
Despite facing harsh working conditions and societal exclusion, the community initially flourished, establishing vital institutions like schools doubling as town halls and gathering places for political organizations. However, the discriminatory policies such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Alien Land Law of 1913, coupled with forced assimilation efforts, led to the decline of rural Chinese American communities like Locke. Despite its designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1990, Locke’s future remains uncertain, reflecting the broader narrative of assimilation that has shaped the Chinese American experience across the nation.
Through interviews and literary analysis, “Locke Chinatown” delves into the struggles of a community caught between preserving its cultural heritage and navigating the pressures of assimilation in America.
3. 2 examples from other groups:
1. https://www.canva.com/design/DAGDxCihRHU/GYc1awprUJMHmn2qZ6YuVA/view
2. https://drive.google.com/file/d/132tnEquBYMPGBZe2xkvI9YmnQLZFa9Bv/view
4. full interview transcript used for the project — see attached
5. video script for our video — see attached
