Chinese Exclusion Act (2017)

China | 130 min | NR | DCP | Dir. Ric Burns, Li-Shin YuThe film guides viewers through the hardships and racial animosities that Chinese Americans faced throughout the duration of the law, including educational segregation, forced registration, and lynchings. THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT also reveals a forgotten history of Chinese American resilience and resistance to the 15 laws enacted by the federal government, as well as those passed at the state and local levels. By challenging the constitutionality of these laws and the affronts to their civil rights through community organizing, civil disobedience, and the courts system, Chinese Americans brought 10,000 cases to federal courts and set a number of legal precedents that remain intact today. Through the lens of the Chinese Exclusion Act, a wider, deeply American story comes to life, one that embodies the issues of globalization, immigration, labor, and civil rights that continue to dominate headlines today.*Screening is presented in collaboration with the Wisconsin China Initiative. There wil be pizza and discussion with the filmmakers after the movie ends. This event is intended for UW-Madison students, faculty, staff and Union members and guests.