Chinese Americans

Bluff City Chinese – Film and Chinese American History Discussion Guide

This discussion guide includes activities and discussion questions to facilitate learning and conversation on the Chinese American history presented in Bluff City Chinese, a short documentary film directed by Thandi Cai. Bluff City Chinese follows two storytellers of different generations on a mission to share the untold history of Chinese American immigrants in Memphis, Tennessee. The film observes the complex nature of crafting historical narratives from scratch and explores how a yearning for identity can bring generations of people together to break ground for a more hopeful future.

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Bluff City Chinese – Film and Community Memory Discussion Guide

This discussion guide includes activities, discussion questions, and a chapter-by-chapter breakdown to facilitate learning and conversation on themes of community memory established in Bluff City Chinese, a short documentary film directed by Thandi Cai. Bluff City Chinese follows two storytellers of different generations on a mission to share the untold history of Chinese American immigrants in Memphis, Tennessee. The film observes the complex nature of crafting historical narratives from scratch and explores how a yearning for identity can bring generations of people together to break ground for a more hopeful future. 

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A red and white graphic of Arkansas’s outline features bamboo stalks and a dogwood flower, bordered by a rough red square—an emblem reflecting the Arkansas Chinese Heritage.

The 1869 Southern Planters Convention on Chinese Labor | ARNCTA

This lesson plan examines post–Civil War debates in the South over the recruitment of Chinese laborers to replace enslaved workers. Using primary source articles and editorials from Arkansas newspapers, students analyze competing perspectives on race, labor, and immigration in the Reconstruction-era South.

Lesson Plan
A green gravy boat icon sits next to the blue text Southern Foodways Alliance on a white background, reflecting stories of Chinese Grocers and their impact on Southern cuisine.

Chinese Grocers | Southern Foodways Alliance

The Southern Foodways Alliance site is home to a collection of oral histories recorded by Jung Min (Kevin) Kim centered around Chinese grocers in the South. Through interviewing grocery store owners in the Mississippi Delta, Kevin uncovers stories of Chinese immigrants, family legacies, and well-established Chinese-owned grocery stores that have served their communities for decades. Kevin Kim also wrote the “Chinese” entry in the Encyclopedia of Arkansas which can be referenced for further information on Chinese Arkansans. 

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A red and white graphic of Arkansas’s outline features bamboo stalks and a dogwood flower, bordered by a rough red square—an emblem reflecting the Arkansas Chinese Heritage.

Legal Struggles of Chinese Americans in Arkansas | Arkansas Chinese Heritage Project

This lesson plan invites students to explore the consequences of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act in Arkansas. Drawing on primary source materials from the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, the lesson plan includes sample readings, discussion questions, and classroom activities designed to fulfill Arkansas state social studies standards for Arkansas History and High School U.S. History.

Lesson Plan
A person stands with hands on hips in the middle of a large cotton field, as if reflecting on themes explored in the Far East Deep South film, gazing toward the horizon under a partly cloudy sky.

Far East Deep South – Film and Discussion Guide

This discussion guide includes a timeline, discussion questions, activities, and a chapter-by-chapter breakdown to facilitate learning and conversation on themes established in Far East Deep South, an award-winning film directed by Larissa Lam and produced by Baldwin Chiu. Far East Deep South follows a Chinese American family’s journey to the Mississippi Delta, where they uncover surprising family revelations and explore the complex history of Chinese immigrants in the segregated South. The film highlights the deep connections between the Chinese and Black communities during the Jim Crow era and the lasting impact of discriminatory immigration policies.

Teacher Resource
A red and white graphic of Arkansas’s outline features bamboo stalks and a dogwood flower, bordered by a rough red square—an emblem reflecting the Arkansas Chinese Heritage.

Arkansas Chinese Heritage Project

Founded in 2023 as a joint initiative of the University of Central Arkansas’ Center for Asian Languages and Cultures and the Chinese Association of Arkansas, the Arkansas Chinese Heritage Project documents the experiences of Chinese Americans in Arkansas through oral histories, archival research, and educational resources. The site includes lesson plans on the Chinese Exclusion Act and the 1869 Memphis Planters Convention, offering students a localized lens on national conversations about immigration, labor, and race in American history.

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