Description
The immigrant minority population has countless been subjected to discrimination and inequality throughout American history. Built on the basis of racial stereotyping, Chinese Americans have been a targeted group for many myths that foster the segregation of their community. This unethical and immoral mentality of the minority group is dangerous when coupled with an environmental disaster: the Bubonic Plague. From 1900-1904, San Francisco was struck with the harsh onset of the Plague. Rather than trying to prevent the spread and quickly develop treatment, White city councilmen decided to hide the epidemic and ultimately sacrificed the Chinese population to the disease for their own selfish gains. Does the White-dominated government viewing of the Chinese and Chinese American population as the causation of the plague create an impetus to delay necessary recovery? This is a continuous problem even in modern society, as demonstrated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As classified as Chinese origin, the current pandemic is eerily similar to the 1900 San Francisco Plague, both being used as outlets for blame on the Chinese population. These mentalities degrade and punish undeservingly on the Asian population, slandering the Asian identity and pride as demonstrated by the rising hate crimes throughout America (e.g., on elders, in Asian plazas, on historical monuments, etc.) Drawing on the inequity of the minority group, my research plans to expose and draw attention to the continuous social injustice and unethical treatment of the White American society.
The American Neglect: The Effect of the 1900-1904 Bubonic Plague on the San Francisco's Chinese Community
The immigrant minority population has countless been subjected to discrimination and inequality throughout American history. Built on the basis of racial stereotyping, Chinese Americans have been a targeted group for many myths that foster the segregation of their community. This unethical and immoral mentality of the minority group is dangerous when coupled with an environmental disaster: the Bubonic Plague. From 1900-1904, San Francisco was struck with the harsh onset of the Plague. Rather than trying to prevent the spread and quickly develop treatment, White city councilmen decided to hide the epidemic and ultimately sacrificed the Chinese population to the disease for their own selfish gains. Does the White-dominated government viewing of the Chinese and Chinese American population as the causation of the plague create an impetus to delay necessary recovery? This is a continuous problem even in modern society, as demonstrated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As classified as Chinese origin, the current pandemic is eerily similar to the 1900 San Francisco Plague, both being used as outlets for blame on the Chinese population. These mentalities degrade and punish undeservingly on the Asian population, slandering the Asian identity and pride as demonstrated by the rising hate crimes throughout America (e.g., on elders, in Asian plazas, on historical monuments, etc.) Drawing on the inequity of the minority group, my research plans to expose and draw attention to the continuous social injustice and unethical treatment of the White American society.