The Chinese in Latin America, A Preliminary Geographical Survey with Special Reference to Cuba and Jamaica
The Chinese in Latin America, A Preliminary Geographical Survey with Special Reference to Cuba and Jamaica
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Date
1956
Authors
Chang, Ching Chieh
Advisor
McBryde, F. Webster
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DRUM DOI
Abstract
The present study concerns itself with the geographical
origin, distribution, routes of migration and ports of embarkation
of the Chinese in Latin America. It also purports to
bring out the similarities and dissimilarities in their
demographic composition, economic activities and some other
aspects in different Latin American countries. The term
"Latin America" is used to include all the European possessions
in the area, and the term "Chinese" is used to
include all those of Chinese parentage, but not those born to
Chinese who intermarried with individuals of other races.
Chinese immigration to Latin America on a large scale
did not begin until the eighteen forties. Between 1847 and
1874, known as the coolie trade period, about one quarter of
a million Chinese migrated to Latin America as "contract
laborers". The great majority of them were "forced" immigrants,
because they were kidnapped or decoyed by the coolie recruiters and did not migrate voluntarily. After 1874,
Chinese immigration entered a new era. All the immigrants
came voluntarily. But the good time of free Chinese immigration
did not last very long. In or before the first
quarter of the 20th century, most of the Latin American
countries adopted laws to prohibit the entrance of Chinese.
The Chinese immigrants were primarily from nine
hsiens (or counties) in Kwangtung province immediately
behind the port of Macao. Only those in Jamaica were not
from this area, but exclusively from three hsiens in the
same province north of Hongkong. At the present time, there
are about 77 thousand Chinese in Latin America, and their
distribution is highly localized. The localization of the
geographical origin and the geographical distribution can
be explained only in terms of the special type of Chinese
emigration in general and the early history of the Chinese
migration to Latin America in particular. Moreover, the
Chinese are mainly concentrated in large cities. This is
the result of their occupation. Almost all of them are
engaged in commerce, and particularly in the grocery trade.
Therefore, in places where their number is large, they are
very influential in the grocery business.
The Chinese population in almost all Latin American
countries is characterized by two demographical anomalies:
the great excess of males and the abnormally large number
of old and middle-aged people. This is owing to the fact
that, within the past one hundred years, the number of females among the immigrants has always been extremely
small, and a large portion of the population still consists
of immigrants who came in or before the nineteen twenties.
Generally speaking, there has been no segregation against
the Chinese along racial lines. Nevertheless, social
contacts between Chinese and natives remain on a business
basis and are purely ·functional. Racial consciousness still
plays an important role among the Chinese, native-born as
well as immigrants. Among the immigrants, it is also
because most of them retain their Chinese nationality and
want to go back to China eventually. Thus, in Latin
America, the Chinese are not only racial minorities but
also groups of aliens.