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Le, Phuc Thai

Collin College 
DigitalCommons@Collin 
INRW/Coreq Student Showcase Developmental Education 
Spring 5-6-2024 
Historical Journey of Asian Americans: From Departing Homeland 
to Political Engagement and Voting Rights 
Phuc Thai Le 
Collin College 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.collin.edu/inrwshowcase 
Recommended Citation 
Le, Phuc Thai, "Historical Journey of Asian Americans: From Departing Homeland to Political Engagement 
and Voting Rights" (2024). INRW/Coreq Student Showcase. 17. 
https://digitalcommons.collin.edu/inrwshowcase/17 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Developmental Education at DigitalCommons@Collin. 
It has been accepted for inclusion in INRW/Coreq Student Showcase by an authorized administrator of 
DigitalCommons@Collin. For more information, please contact mtomlin@collin.edu. 
Historical Journey of Asian Americans: From Departing Homeland to 
Political Engagement and Voting Rights 
Numerous individuals believe that the American Dream is a route that can help them 
pursue their dream to gain happiness, wealth, and whatever they desire. During my childhood in 
my country, Vietnam, I often heard about how living abroad can bring me closer to my dreams. 
This notion was supported by several factors, including the opportunity to experience newfound 
freedom and gain new experiences that come with residing in America. Like me, an increasing 
number of Asian individuals are making plans to immigrate to America, contributing to its 
cultural variety and becoming a significant force in elections and the government. However, 
Asian Americans have still encountered various forms of discrimination. In 2022, the New York 
Times announced that Michelle Steel, having served her first term as one of the first Korean 
American women in Congress since 2020, successfully secured reelection for a second term in 
Orange County, California (Lai). However, Ms. Steel still experiences hardship relating to her 
accent because Mr. Chen, a Democrat, and Taiwanese American Navy reservist defeated by Ms. 
Steel in the California 45th Congressional District Election, ridicules her accent (Lai). Ms. Steel 
exemplified a shared journey experienced by numerous Asian Americans, encompassing both 
achievements and challenges. While Asian Americans have achieved political success, they have 
struggled with voting power. Consequently, along with the historical journey of Asians to 
America, they faced numerous issues to gain the right to vote. Three factors have had a lasting 
impact on the Asian-American community, driving increased engagement in national 
government: the historical journey of Asians to America, the obstacles they confronted in 
securing voting rights, and the increased presence of Asian Americans in immigration patterns 
and electoral processes.  
First, the arrival of Asians to the United States represents a profound historical journey. 
In his book, A New History of Asian America, the author pointed out that it is impossible to 
determine the exact period in which Asian Americans appeared in America (Lee 5). Instead, Lee 
suggested that it is better to look at what establishes a recognizable representation (5). According 
to recorded documents about Asian visits to the United States, Asian people seized the chance to 
immigrate to America by means of traders and missionaries between the late eighteenth and 
nineteenth centuries (20). Therefore, missionaries played a significant role in capturing the 
interest of Asians and inspiring them to seek opportunities in America, aiming to raise funds and 
support their purposes (20). In another case, some theories suggested that the California Gold 
Rush was the period that drew in numerous individuals who were from all backgrounds seeking 
opportunities to make money, including Asians. In the late 1840’s and early 1850’s, 20,000 
people from China left their country and immigrated to California (Terrell). However, 
transitioning to a new country often comes with several challenges. One of the most significant 
obstacles is racism. In 1877, the Chico Massacre was known as one of the most cold-blooded 
instances of anti-Chinese violence (Lee 135). In this case, a group of white men using weapons 
broke into a cabin of Chinese men while they were sleeping, poured oil on their bodies, and 
burned their cabin (135). Therefore, racism is a fact that Asian Americans and foreign people 
must confront. In addition, Asian people who left their homeland to move to America also were 
affected by culture shock. Leaving their country to start a new life overseas is inspirational, but it 
can also be intimidating. A study conducted in 2000 showed that 12.2% of Korean Americans 
suffered severe depression, while the percentage among Vietnamese and Chinese Americans was 
lower, at less than 10% (Lee et al.). While 13.7% of Vietnamese and 24.4% of Koreans 
experienced mild depressive symptoms, there were more than 50% of Chinese Americans who 
were affected by mild depression (Lee et al.). Even though Asian Americans experienced these 
obstacles, they also participated in politics. There are five acts of political participation: voting, 
donation, contacting the government, community activism, and protest (Wong 20). Among these 
five ways, collaborative community problem-solving is a widely practiced form of political 
participation among Asian Americans, even before gaining the right to vote (24). Lee also noted 
that higher education and income levels correlate with increased political participation for some 
ethnicities (26). However, this correlation is reversed for Asian Americans, which means higher 
education levels do not necessarily result in increased political participation (27). Therefore, 
despite their significant presence in the population, Asian Americans are more likely not to 
participate in politics for various reasons. All these factors, the ways they came to the United 
States, the obstacles they faced, and their involvement in politics before gaining voting rights 
shaped their long historical journey in this country to become Asian Americans. 
Second, Asian Americans' endeavor to gain voting rights has been profound and 
significant. The 1790 Naturalization Act restricted naturalization by only allowing immigrants 
considered to be [free white persons] to become naturalized citizens, thereby excluding Asians 
from the naturalization process (Minnis). Therefore, Asian Americans had very little voice in 
politics. However, Asian Americans' engagement in politics was influenced by black political 
activism in the 1900’s (Lee 292). To forbid racial discrimination, in 1965, the Voting Rights Act 
was signed (Minnis). Later, in 1969, a series of protests and uprisings by Asian Americans aimed 
to reclaim fundamental rights, such as the fight for the International Hotel. In the 1960’s and 
1970’s, the hotel faced the threat of destruction because of urbanization (Sobredo). The fight for 
the International Hotel contributed to protecting the rights of its residents. Congress also 
amended Section 203 in 1975 to include protections for voters with limited English proficiency 
(Minnis). However, Asian Americans still faced some hardships that came from their identity. In 
an interview published in 2012 by NPR News, host Michel Martin and guest Glenn Magpantay 
discussed a legal battle regarding voter ID laws in Pennsylvania. The guest mentioned the 
problem of having an Asian American inverted name on her naturalization certificates. 
According to Magpantay, Asian Americans encounter more significant challenges in 
participating in politics because of their inverted names, where first names become surnames 
("Unique Obstacles"). These unfamiliar names could confuse poll workers, so Asian Americans' 
names were often not included in a list of voters’ names ("Unique Obstacles"). Therefore, their 
identity is also an obstacle that Asian Americans face when they participate in politics. Since 
then, Asian Americans have worked towards gaining voting rights by becoming more visible and 
politically aware and advocating for their fundamental rights. As a result, Asian Americans have 
become increasingly visible in elections and political engagements. In the 2018 presidential 
election, Asian American received significant attention (Wong 1). This was due to the surge in 
voter turnout, rising from 26.9% in 2014 to 40.2% in 2018, and can be attributed to a significant 
increase in the number of eligible voters (Krogstad). The increasing visibility of Asian 
Americans in elections and political engagements suggests a growing recognition of their 
significance in shaping political outcomes and policies.  In summary, active participation in 
politics provides Asian Americans with valuable experiences, leading to their increased presence 
and influence within governmental structures.  
Third, the increase of Asian Americans in terms of population size and representation 
contributes to their growing participation in American politics. There are several factors that can 
affect one's participation in politics: citizenship, naturalization, socioeconomic status, income, 
and population percentage (Masuoka et al.). Interestingly, an analysis of Asian American voters 
in 2016 revealed that Filipinos and Vietnamese exhibited higher rates of voter participation; 
however, they were not the most financially advantaged Asian American group (Masuoka et al.). 
This suggests that these communities were more engaged in the electoral process despite 
potential challenges related to income or immigration background. In addition, as people reside 
in the United States longer, their likelihood of experiencing various aspects of civic life, 
including voting, tends to increase (Masuoka et al.). However, a study suggests that the second 
generation tends to show less interest in participating in elections or non-electoral political 
activities (Masuoka et al.). Conversely, the third generation tends to participate in elections but 
may engage less actively in non-electoral political activities (Masuoka et al.). This data shows 
the idea that Asian American political behavior can vary significantly across generations due to a 
variety of factors such as socioeconomic status, education level, and experiences with 
discrimination.  
Furthermore, another factor that can have an impact on people's participation is if their 
background is represented in a political position. Authors Steven Hill and Robert Richie agree 
that systems structured with full representation for individuals from all backgrounds can 
encourage people to participate in voting (Hill). For instance, Dalip Singh Saund was the 
inaugural Asian-American man to win a seat as a United States Representative in 1956 
("Saund"). Notably, he supported the 1957 Civil Rights bill, which aimed to prevent interference 
with the right to vote ("Saund"). He also utilized his personal story to reduce racism in the 
United States ("Saund"). Patsy Mink and Dalip Singh Saund strengthened the position of Asian 
Americans in politics and promoted their political participation. Additionally, Patsy Mink made 
history by becoming the initial woman of non-white ethnicity chosen for the United States House 
of Representatives in 1965, marking a significant milestone as the first Asian American woman 
in Congress ("Patsy Takemoto Mink"). Therefore, the growth of the Asian American population 
and their engagement in politics can serve as positive inspiration for others to participate in 
political activities. 
Finally, Asian Americans have experienced the most rapid growth among eligible voters 
in the United States. According to USAGov, a governmental website of the United States, voter 
eligibility necessitates U.S. citizenship and a minimum age of 18 years and meeting a residency 
standard ("Who Can and Cannot Vote"). These requirements apply to all citizens from all 
backgrounds equally. However, there are still numerous obstacles that affect Asian American 
voter participation: language barriers, lack of education, and citizenship status. In the 2018 
Georgia gubernatorial election, there was a risk that Mr. and Mrs. Kim and other Limited English 
Proficiency (LEP) voters might be denied access to an interpreter (Cho et al.). Restrictive laws in 
Georgia limited access to interpreters who were required to be either close family members or 
registered voters in the same precinct (Cho et al.). This may have discouraged some Asian 
Americans, whose English is not their native language, from civic engagement. The other barrier 
Asian Americans suffered when it comes to their civic participation is that they were seldom 
recognized as a substantial voting group (Cho et al.). The Asian American community 
represented a vast diversity, encompassing individuals from various ethnicities, cultures, 
languages, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Therefore, it led to different political leanings, 
which can lead politicians to overlook them.  
Moreover, even though the civic test must be passed as a part of naturalization, Asian 
immigrants may not have full access to comprehensive education about the importance of voting 
and the election process (Cho et al.). Hence, Asian Americans may not view voting as a part of 
their life in a new country where they can contribute to enhancing their community. It is essential 
to address these issues to protect and ensure that all citizens have an equal right to vote. 
regardless of their background, including eliminating language barriers, giving priority to 
reaching out to Asian Americans in political activities and stopping discriminatory practices of 
removing voters from registration lists (Uprety). Nonetheless, recent advancements in Asian 
American political empowerment at state and national levels have been remarkable. Asian 
Americans have actively participated in local, state, and national politics through various means, 
including running for elected offices and joining advocacy organizations. Grace Meng made 
history by becoming the initial Asian American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives of 
New York's Sixth Congressional District ("U.S. Congresswoman"). Not only that, the emergence 
of organizations supporting the political activities of Asian Americans has also helped bolster 
their position in this field, one of which is Asian Americans Advancing Justice (“Who We 
Are.”). They focus on protecting civil and human rights issues and address barriers faced by 
Asian Americans. The increase in political participation and support from organizations and 
government insiders has contributed to the partial improvement of the political power of Asian 
Americans. 
From leaving their homelands to settling in a foreign country, Asian Americans have 
faced numerous obstacles, fought for their fundamental rights, and actively participated in the 
political process to express their voices in government. My inspiration for choosing this minority 
group is that I am Vietnamese. I also left my country and moved to the United States, hoping to 
find a different version of myself in this country that could pursue my dream successfully. The 
findings that have the most impact on me are the long journey of immigration of my chosen 
minority group, the numerous hardships they experienced, and the diversity they brought to this 
country to make it a place where people from all backgrounds are welcome. Now, my 
community has more opportunities to participate in political activities and fully partake in the 
rights and privileges afforded to all residents in our new country. 
Works Cited 
Cho, Stephanie, et al. “Strengthening the Asian American Electorate.” American Bar 
Association, 25 June 2020, 
www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/voting-in-
2020/strengthening-the-asian-american-electorate/. 
Hill, Steven, and Robert Richie. "New means for political empowerment in the Asian Pacific 
American community. (Articles)." National Civic Review, vol. 91, no. 4, winter 2002, pp. 
335+. Gale Academic OneFile, 
link.gale.com/apps/doc/A98577050/AONE?u=txshracd2497&sid=oclc&xid=9d0f472d. 
Accessed 25 Feb. 2024. 
Krogstad, Jens Manuel. “Historic Highs in 2018 Voter Turnout Extended across Racial and 
Ethnic Groups.” Pew Research Center, 1 May 2019, www.pewresearch.org/short-
reads/2019/05/01/historic-highs-in-2018-voter-turnout-extended-across-racial-and-ethnic-
groups/. 
Lai, Stephanie. “Michelle Steel Holds Her G.O.P. House Seat in California.” The New York 
Times, 15 Nov. 2022, www.nytimes.com/2022/11/14/us/politics/michelle-steel-california-
45-house-district.html.  
Lee, Minsun, et al. “Depressive Symptom Severity and Immigration-Related Characteristics in 
Asian American Immigrants.” Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, vol. 22, no. 5, 
2020, pp. 935–945, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-020-01004-7 
Lee, Shelley Sang-Hee. A New History of Asian America. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 
2014. 
Masuoka, Natalie, et al. “New Asian American Voters: Political Incorporation and Participation 
in 2016.” Political Research Quarterly, vol. 72, no. 4, 2019, pp. 991–1003. JSTOR, 
http://www.jstor.org/stable/45223016. Accessed 25 Feb. 2024. 
Minnis, Terry Ao. “50 Years of the Voting Rights Act: An Asian American Perspective.” Asian 
Americans Advancing Justice, 2015, www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/report/50-years-
voting-rights-act-asian-american-perspective.  
“Patsy Takemoto Mink.” Women of the Hall, www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/patsy-
takemoto-
mink/#:~:text=Mink%20began%20her%20political%20career,Asian%2DAmerican%20wo
man%20in%20congress. Accessed 25 Feb. 2024.  
“Saund, Dalip Singh (Judge).” US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives, 
history.house.gov/People/Detail/21228. Accessed 25 Feb. 2024.  
Sobredo, James. “The Battle for the International Hotel.” FOUNDSF, 
www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=The_Battle_for_the_International_Hotel. Accessed 23 
Mar. 2024. 
Terrell, Ellen. “Chinese Americans and the Gold Rush: Inside Adams.” The Library of Congress, 
28 Jan. 2021, blogs.loc.gov/inside_adams/2021/01/chinese-americans-gold-rush/.  
“Unique Obstacles for Asian Americans in Voting.” NPR, NPR, 19 Sept. 2012, 
www.npr.org/2012/09/19/161414284/unique-obstacles-for-asian-americans-in-voting.  
“U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng – Biography.” Congresswoman Grace Meng, 6 Mar. 2023, 
meng.house.gov/about. 
Uprety, Aastha. “5 Ways to Increase Asian American Voter Turnout.” Center for American 
Progress, 20 Mar. 2024, www.americanprogress.org/article/5-ways-increase-asian-
american-voter-turnout/. 
“Who Can and Cannot Vote.” USAGov, 20 Feb. 2024, www.usa.gov/who-can-vote. 
“Who We Are.” Asian Americans Advancing Justice, www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/who-we-
are#:~:text=Advancing%20Justice%20%7C%20AAJC%20is%20a,litigation%2C%20and
%20public%20policy%20advocacy. Accessed 25 Feb. 2024.  
Wong, Janelle. Asian American Political Participation : Emerging Constituents and Their 
Political Identities. Russell Sage Foundation, 2011. 
 
  


English

Historical Journey of Asian Americans: From Departing Homeland to Political Engagement and Voting Rights

Limburg, Lauren

Forces 
Volume 2024 Article 10 
4-15-2024 
An Ode to the End of the Line 
Lauren Limburg 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.collin.edu/forces 
Recommended Citation 
Limburg, Lauren (2024) "An Ode to the End of the Line," Forces: Vol. 2024, Article 10. 
Available at: https://digitalcommons.collin.edu/forces/vol2024/iss1/10 
This Poem is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@Collin. It has been accepted for 
inclusion in Forces by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@Collin. For more information, please contact 
mtomlin@collin.edu. 
F O R C E S
2 0
2 4
6 3
An Ode to the End of the Line
Lauren Limburg
To the last stop on the green line,
You were home to some 
A sign of relief at the door opening
As they scrambled out and away into the night.
But the rest of us didn’t move from our seat.
From us weary travelers, 
Thank you
Thank you for that moment of rest
The moment for us to catch our breath 
Before heading back the way we came.
As the door closed,
Those remaining shared a single glance of solidarity.
As the doors closed, so did a few eyes.
The rest waved goodbye to you,
With the promise to see you tomorrow.
Big Boy
Javier Garcia


An Ode to the End of the Line

Dorman, Lisa K.

Forces 
Volume 2024 Article 27 
4-15-2024 
H Town Life 
Lisa K. Dorman 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.collin.edu/forces 
Recommended Citation 
Dorman, Lisa K. (2024) "H Town Life," Forces: Vol. 2024, Article 27. 
Available at: https://digitalcommons.collin.edu/forces/vol2024/iss1/27 
This Photograph is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@Collin. It has been accepted for 
inclusion in Forces by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@Collin. For more information, please contact 
mtomlin@collin.edu. 
1 5
F O R C E S
2 0
2 4
H Town Life
Lisa K. Dorman
Promised Land
Brian Cummings
They arrive on grey ribbons of 
looping, circling, twisting
highways, runways
blending, merging, bringing
pilgrims, supplicants
gripping diplomas, green cards, visas.
Résumés and recommendations rise
through the hot dry air.
They circle the Kaaba, 
begging for entry 
to chrome and glass chapels 
raised to Plutus.
Once a desert, now an endless carpet of 
McMansions for the chosen people,
dotted with megachurches, 
ornate mosques, synagogues and temples
welcoming all (like us) in friendship.
Winners blame their wins on their god.
Losers find in prayer and worship
the hope denied them in commerce. 
All find a place on the ladder,
even the ones on the lower rungs 
who blame their fate on those even lower.
Don’t Push Me
A.J. Sanchez


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