A number of Chinese laborers migrated to the U.S in 19^th century in search of the better paying jobs especially in California gold mines. However, their search for better life was faced with numerous challenges, which included mistreatment and death. According to Yuk Ow et al (1852), the Chinese culture that discouraged burying their dead in the foreign lands was one of these challenges. The Chinese laborers therefore had to arrange for their remains to be shipped back to China in case they met their sudden death in the United States. This was made possible by various associations made of the Chinese that contributed money to ensure their fellow Chinese laborers rested peacefully buried in their homeland.

Although carrying the dead was a challenge for the Chinese, dying while searching for a better life was even worse. The resentment to the Chinese was great because of the competition they posed for the American jobs. A letter addressed to the governor expresses the equal resentment the Chinese laborers faced from the American leaders as well, (Asing, 1852). Despite America being a country made of immigrants from Europe, the Chinese were not welcome in this new nation.

The worst disaster in the Chinese history in United States gold mines was the attack on Chinese laborer at Rock Springs in Wyoming In 1882. The deadly violence initiated by the American laborer in defending their jobs left twenty-eight Chinese men dead (U.S house report, 1885). The violence was triggered by the lack of participation of the Chinese in a strike organized by the white men to push for wage increment. Despite some of the attackers positively identified, none was arrested to face justice. Life for the Chinese miners became a matter of chance their wives back home composed songs to discourage their husbands from going to America but rater stay behind to watch their families and respect their parents (Hom, 1987).

References

Asing, N. (1852). Letter to his Excellency governor Bigler. University of California press, 1-2.

Hom, K. (1987). songs of the gold mountain wives. university of California press, 1-2.

OW, Y., Lai, M., & Choy, P. (1876). the second exhumation and the return of the remains of our departed friends back to homeland. university of California press, 1-4.

U.S house report. (1885). memorials of the Chinese laborers in wyoming. university of California press, 1-7.