Project 2, Week 11

In the Land of The Free

The story In the Land of the Free by Edith Maude Eaton uses the experience of a family immigrating to the United States to show a glimpse of history and bring awareness to immigration issues and policies in place that ends up tearing apart and separating families. Eaton also discusses and defends the Chinese American culture who have and still do face issues with discrimination and immigration. Edith Maud Eaton is writing and bringing light to a part of history through this story which shows us the more emotional side to what people experience during immigration and how each person's experience, whether good or bad can become an artifact of history.

The text was written by Edith Maude Eaton;  In The Land of the Free can be considered an artifact of history because it tells a story of a families immigration experience at the turn of the twentieth century. Eaton is writing in defense of the Chinese in America who have experienced an alike situation of the toll they have experienced due to the exclusion practices against Chinese immigrants. The story In The Land of the Free is an artifact of history because it discusses a huge part of United States history, discussing how immigration and detention of people are morally wrong as well as how physically and emotionally draining it can be for everyone involved. Immigration ends up going not as planned for many families due to inaccurate documentation, etc. This story by Edith Maud Eaton has shown up close a family going through immigration and experiencing the hardships along the way. Eaton writes on account for this family and the instance they have had of their family being torn apart “ Nevertheless, we take your son” ( Eaton 323) these parents fought until they could not anymore and the officers would not comply, they fought for their son until they no longer could. There are thousands of people get detained and separated from their family when trying to cross borders while coming into the United States just like this family, counting this story as an artifact of history and one of the many stories people will think of when they hear the word immigration. Immigration will always be a part of United States history and this particular story; In the Land of the Free will only add to the number of countless artifacts we have of people and families who have been through similar situations.

This story teaches us how relevant and common discrimination is among races as well as how often the separation of families occurs when crossing different borders. Through Eaton's story she brings light to the restrictive immigration policies that were and still are common in the United States. Within the first few minutes of Hom Hing and Lao Choo bringing their little one to the United States their son was taken right from their hands for not having proper documentation of him. “Seeing that the boy has no certificate entitling him to admission to this country you will have to leave him with us” (Eaton, 322). Due to The Little One's parents not having legal papers with them for their son, which was because he was not yet born when they got the papers they would, therefore, have to surrender their child to the government. We have seen through the experience that Lao Choo and Hom Hing went through that there are strict immigration policies put in place by the government for not having proper documentation when crossing the border. All this family wanted was to provide a good life for their son but that plan was interrupted when things didn't go as planned and their son was taken from them for over 5 months. In the Land of the Free will continue to be a good resource and teaching tool to show the effects and occurrence of immigration policies and discrimination among races.

A story is able to give us insight and a deeper look into different elements of history being able to connect and show the more emotional side of what people go through when making and experiencing different events in history unlike a history book can achieve. The reader is able to connect on a more personal level with these characters with the emotions and feelings they have associated with how they feel at a given moment “ The Little One protested lustily against the transfer, but his mother covered her face with her sleeve and the father slightly led her away. This was the law of the land complied with”  (Eaton 323). To think for a moment of what this family went through is unimaginable and awful, they wanted the best for their son but that was taken from them, this is just one of the many examples how a story is able to reveal and teach history differently than a textbook can. Often times immigration policies result in many families being separated and no longer able to become a family again emotionally even if they are together physically. The statement before would be presented in a textbook differently than it has in this insightful story of the family. Often times a history book focuses on facts and recounts parts in history as a whole and usually does not single down to a personal story. The story In the Land of The Free by Edith Maud Eaton and other stories which are counted as artifacts of history focus more so on the emotional and personal accounts of what someone may experience when involved in a hard time of history while also getting the message and facts across of why that story can be considered an artifact of history.

History is being revealed, criticized and talked about throughout the experience of Lao Choo, Hom Hing and the Little One throughout the story In the Land of the Free by Edith Maud Eaton. These three characters immigrate to the U.S and because of policies put in place their son is taken from them for over 5 months, tearing the family apart physically and emotionally. The author uses this personal story of the family to defend the Chinese Americans who have experienced something similar and be a voice for them when they may feel like they do not have one through a time of immigration and discrimination.

Edith Maud Eaton, In the Land of the Free. The literatire of California, Jack Hick.2000