By Karun Yee
It has been Doug and my pleasure to judge these special historical projects since it’s conception (over 20 years). CACS Foundation awarded $100 each to the following students for their outstanding Senior Group Projects.
Title: Taiping Rebellion: Blood that Revolutionized China produced by Leo Luo and Sikai Lin.
These students were from Elk Grove – Cosumnes Oaks High School. They outlined the history and important people who influenced this revolution in which several million people perished. It was a major turning point in Chinese history. Although this war failed, it focused on major changes in human rights. Misunderstandings and corruption entered the picture and this movement failed against the established Qing dynasty.
Title: At the Crossroads: The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 produced by Nandika Tiwari
and Nora Yariagadda.
These students were from Folsom Vista del Lago High School. This senior group project tells the history of immigration laws leading up to this Nationality Act of 1965. How inconsistent and unfair the US government has treated this issue. The criteria for entering the US was based on political and economical whims of Congress. The constitution stated all men were created equal but the laws for getting into the country set a quota of discrimination.The Chinese Exclusion Act 1882-1942) was quoted as unfair to a particular nationality. President Johnson signed this act.
CACS is presenting a colorful and educational 2024 calendar created by our talented board members. For each month, a traditional holiday is featured with intriguing history and stories behind the custom and unique food. In addition to the major US holidays, this calendar also marks each day with the Chinese calendar date. The 24 Solar Terms and many traditional holidays are also noted.
Our intent is to provide a small taste of the Chinese traditional holidays and the foods associated with them. We hope it will inspire your interest to explore more of the rich heritage and experiment with new recipes.
Chinese American Council of Sacramento and CACS Foundation trust this calendar will bring you enrichment throughout the year. Thank you for choosing to support us with the purchase of this wonderful calendar. We wish you a happy and prosperous year of the dragon in 2024.
Questions or to order by phone, call Anita (916) 208-2849, or email [email protected]
2023 Yosemite Trip Group Photo By Karun Yee Historical Chair
After extensive preparation over a year in the making, our intrepid group of Adventurers were on their way to Yosemite National Park on May 15 through May 18 2023.
Prior to this event, the weather produced massive snow and increased flooding in Yosemite Valley as well as road closures due to sink holes. Our trip was on the verge of canceling. However, Mother Nature smiled on us and gave us a small window of perfect weather in which to visit Wawona and the Valley.
Thanks to Ranger Yenyen Chan and the amazing people of the surrounding Yosemite area, we were able to plan and overcome all challenges prior to the trip.
Lux Bus picked us on time and we were traveling HWY 99 towards our first stop – Merced for lunch at Black Bear Diner. From there we headed to the Mariposa Museum/History Center to examine the area’s history. (Remember Gorden Morgan) Our arrival at the Wawona Hotel gave us a chance to relax and explore the grounds.
Early next morning our bus drove us to Yosemite Valley Lodge to meet Rangers Sharon Miyako (supervisor) and Yenyen (who gave us an interesting lecture and walk to the Chinese quarters). The afternoon, we took a 2 hours tram ride to view and photograph all the wonderful waterfalls as seen from the Valley.
Day three our bus took us to the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad where we met John Riddiough, curator of the Thornberry Museum and a ride on the diesel train through the woods. A delicious box lunch picked up at the Fish Camp Deli (TJ) was distributed on the bus ride on the way back to Wawona.
Some people ate on the nice Wawona hotel veranda. We walked to the Chinese Laundry Museum where Rangers Yenyen, Connie Lau and Jill gave us a splendid tour of the restored building. This was the focal point of our trip where the many contributions of the early Chinese workers were disclosed. Large poster story board photos were displayed with laundry artifacts. All this re-enforced the facts the Chinese played an integral part in infrastructure of the park.
Our last day we checked out of our hotel and drove to the Mariposa Grove just inside the southern Yosemite gate. After dropping us off in front of the visitor’s center, our bus driver was told we couldn’t drive there with our large bus because the shuttle service was not operating. Therefore picking up the group at the center was not possible. The bus left. I walked to the ranger gate to find out a way to get us picked up. Fortunately the transportation ranger and Ranger Connie were there to help out (my phone – no cell service) A very rare exception was made for our group and the bus was able to get us in the bus parking lot after a short walk.
Ranger Connie met our group and as a farewell, she did her fun Chinese history song with us participating.
We stopped in Oakhurst for sandwich lunch (Deli Delicious – Jordon) on our way to the Fresno Underground Gardens. Mr. Ballassare dug 10 acres underground gardens and his home there. Bizarre and fascinating history. We were ready to head home after the tour.
On the way back, CACS gave all guests the book, “Mountain Chef”. The momento of the trip describing the story of Tie Sing, a famous chef that accompanied Steven Mather in 1915 on his expedition into Yosemite to establish it as a National Park.
Tie Sing is the only Chinese to have a peak named after him by the National Geological survey team in the Park. In the back of the book, it describes the conditions and people wrote praises of this chef. He had to feed 19 people on the trail; many of these important people were well connected wealthy men, who could influence the government.
Happily, we arrived back in Sacramento around 6:30pm due to the great driving ability of our bus driver Ericka. The memories of our trip with spectacular waterfalls, wonderful new friendships made, and gaining the knowledge that the Chinese played an important part in the building of beautiful Yosemite National Park.
CACS is proud to have made this field trip possible for cultural education and thank everyone who participated. Additionaly as a token of our appreciation, every attendee received a free 1 year Membership to CACS.
This year’s theme was “Frontiers in History.” This committee is using more online reporting and allowing the judges more time to view and assess the projects. This is a real learning experience for students to produce a project from research to actual presentation steps that will be an invaluable tool in their futures. This year’s projects were outstanding in their inspiration and focus to bring the information to fruition.
I am delighted to report on the three projects I selected for scholarships this year.
Senior documentary group
#31102 was titled; “The Moving Pictures of Us; Asian American Representation in Film.” This group’s documentary viewed many old movies depicting sterotypes of Asians that influenced the American audience. Also there was a glass ceiling that was hard to break into. Actors like Anna May Wong, Sessue Hayakawa and Bruce Lee were mentioned. Today things have changed and movies like “Everything, Everywhere – All at Once”, and “Crazy Rich Asians”, are slowly changing attitudes.
Senior papers
#33005 was titled;” Vincent Chin, How A Hate Crime Unified Asian American Activists Across the Nation”. Emily Phan gave a stunning account of the events leading up to, during and after the incident where Vincent Chin was brutally killed in Detroit. The after shock of the consequences and injustice led to the formulation of nation wide protests and the coming together of various Asian organizations to have a unified voice.
Junior History paper
#23002 was titled; “God Worshipping Communists – Frontier Against the Last Dynasty.” Noah Tsai wrote about the Taiping Rebellion that forever changed China’s history. The founder of the rebels first based his leadership on civil rights and religious concepts, drawing a massive following, during a time when the government was in chaos and trying to deal with foreign intervention. Millions of people lost their lives fighting for either side. The rebellion had it’s own internal corruption and the ineffective dynasty fell.
Honorable mention:
#35004 Xenophobia and it’s history in the US
#33001 Madame Chien-Shiung Wu – 1st Lady of Physis
#31006 Korean Student Protests
#31005 Hawaii – American Frontier
The Chinese American Council of Sacramento Foundation has always supported the Sacramento Country History Day at Indercum High School in Natomas. Focused on awarding scholarships to talented students who make a real effort to improve their skills in research and development. This learning experience will serve them well into the future.
Donate to Make the Sacramento ‘Right On!’ Social Justice Art Walk Happen in March 2023
‘Right On!’ is a social justice art event with activist volunteers walking and standing as human billboards.
They will be wearing t-shirts with dates from Supreme court cases for the last 150 years targeting Asians living in America. Each shirt will have QR codes sending observers to information regarding the cases.
Drummers from different AAPI traditional cultures will set the tone for each of the groups participating in the procession.
As the moving billboard walks, history flows and shows how racism written into our system can also be written out.
‘Right On!’ Sacramento is a grassroots project and has, thus far, relied on individual donations and a matching grant from the City of Sacramento of Office of Arts and Culture until the end of this year. For every dollar donated, they will double the amount you give. To show your support for solidarity and to promote more creative educational actions to stop systemic discrimination, please consider making a donation. Any size counts, $10, $20, $50, $100, makes a big impact and shows you care.
In addition to the CACS, sponsors of the art walk include JACL, Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento, Asian Resources Inc., Council of Asian Pacific Islanders Together for Advocacy & Leadership, Sacramento Asian Pacific Cultural Village, Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture, Stop the Hate California, and IOBY.
Dear Friends of CACS: Since 2019, CACS Foundation has not had a field trip because of COVID-19. This is your opportunity to sign up for an exciting trip to Yosemite for 4 days & 3 nights! Limited space available – 40 guest only!
CACS looks forward to sharing this unique adventure about the contributions of the Chinese in Yosemite National Park. The Chinese played a vital role in the formation, and infrastructure of America’s most beautiful National Park. This information was lost or forgotten until Park Ranger YenYen Chan did extensive research on uncovering what an important role the Chinese played in building this magnificent landmark.
