Editor's Introduction

Abstract

Because of a combination of several factors, both historical and contemporary, most works on Chinese Americans have dwelt on the negative aspects. Given that life consists of negatives as well as positives, history must deal with both. As a historian, I like to get facts straight and view them in the proper perspective, and, as a Chinese American, I have an intrinsic curiosity about the history and environment related to my own life and others with whom I am familiar. Hence I organized an international academic conference entitled "Chinese Contributions to America," which was held in Flushing, Queens, New York, on October 19-21, 2000.