educating americans about how asian americans have been part of America has literally been part of building America and our railroads and having *** scene not as *** foreigner but as *** vital fabric of this country. So you're constantly aware that you are in somebody else's house. You are in somebody else's country. Whether or not that is true or not. But that's how how ingrained it is. I am looked upon as american over there and I'm looked upon over here as *** perpetual or forever foreigner here. My father has been here since 1938 And my grandfather has been here since 1887 in normal circumstances. I would have been third generation and I've been in Boston since 1961. I came here on my own with attack on my lapel that says boston Massachusetts. They put me on *** plane and there I go. At the age of six. Suzanne met her father in the United States not knowing she would never see her mother again Is my family's story is also similar to *** lot of um families in that generation. The Immigration Act of 1882 was signed into law by President Chester, *** Arthur institutionalized and it's done by the government and it sets the tone. This sets the tone of how the rest of the population will see the chinese that they are foreigners in the old days. Woman cannot come legally to the U. S. Is part of the immigration law. The chinese exclusion act of 18 82 that was the first time they ever passed *** federal law, they exclude an ethnic group. The only time it says that all chinese cannot come except for if you're *** scholar or *** business person, but nobody can become *** citizen. The act created *** new era that changed the United States from *** country that welcomed immigrants from everywhere to *** country that restricted immigrants from certain places. So if you're not *** citizen then you can't bring your family here. That law lasted for 61 years ending in 1943. However, the repeal was still restrictive opening up Chinese immigration to just 105 visas annually. Piece of legislation. It did what it meant to do that don't want the Chinese to be here permanently. The lasting effects has left asian americans feeling like second class citizens. People see you *** certain way and when the government have these kind of policy and set this tone, they give license to people to do whatever they want. It sets the tone of how the rest of the population will see the chinese that they are foreigners. But in 2021 san Jose California apologized for the 1887 Chinatown destruction. China town in San Jose was built in 1872. 15 years later, city council approved in order to remove it and to replace it with *** new city hall before officials acted. Chinatown was burned down by arsonists. The fire destroyed homes and businesses displacing about 1400 people. The council acknowledges the acts of fundamental injustice, terror, cruelty and brutality, including the dismantling and destruction of the city's chinatowns on behalf of those who fought the good fight and continue to do so. I'd like to say to the city of san Jose apology accepted and resolution embraced. Thank you Today. The younger generation is finding new ways to fight for inclusion while honoring the contributions of asian americans. The cookie activists, Jasmine chose cookies are providing representation to her community and she hopes she can spark the change gathering these missing pieces of my personal identity. I I feel like I'm on this continuous excavation of my history. So there's *** lot of mixed feelings between feeling very liberated and empowered but also very angry and and sad that I didn't learn about these people sooner we have to be teaching that kind of history in *** school curriculum. This is not asian history, this is american history. I am proud to be Asian. I belong here. We just don't want to feel like we belong just like any other human vidas