Three Tough Chinamen

Overview

Hemmed in by prejudice and restrictive laws, Chinese Americans lived in a defensive crouch at the turn of the 20th century. This is the true story of three scrappy and ambitious brothers who fought hard for their share of the American dream. Activists who rose to prominence and spoke out against injustice, these men made waves and broke barriers; they defied laws to defend their interests and tore down the walls that separated them from the rest of society. Exciting and informative, this history weaves the tale of Chinese immigrants with the larger relationship between China and the United States during that time.  

Reviews

"Seligman has done a masterful job of reconstructing the lost stories of three remarkable brothers who came to America to stay. Theirs are compelling stories, artfully retold in awesome detail."  —Sasha Gong, director, China Branch of Voice of America

"With his incisive research and elegant writing, Seligman has rescued from obscurity the history of the three Moy brothers whose lives and experiences personalize the difficult but exciting history of Chinese immigrants in 19th and early 20th century America. The brothers were key players in the early phases of Chinese immigrants' relationship with the non-Chinese; with Seligman's historical narrative we now know why. Three Tough Chinamen is an important and significant contribution to the chronicle of the Chinese in America."  —Raymond Lum, Ph.D., Harvard-Yenching Library, Harvard University

Author Biography

Scott D. Seligman is a historian, the author of Chinese Business Etiquette, and the coauthor of The Cultural Revolution Cookbook and Now You're Talking Mandarin Chinese. He lives in Washington, DC.