Becoming American: Between Two Worlds
Overview
This lesson
considers the impact of group membership on identity and explores what
it means to be seen solely as a representative of a group rather than
as an individual. Students will use a model to create identity poems
that examine the tensions between identity and group membership.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- Examine the image of the Chinese in films during the 1920s and 1930s to develop an understanding of the challenges and opportunities Chinese Americans faced
- Explore the struggle of the Chinese and other immigrant groups to secure a place for themselves in American society as Americans
Duration of Activity
One class period (45 minutes)
Resources
- Video excerpt featuring actress Anna May Wong from Becoming American: The Chinese Experience Program 2.
- Becoming American Study Guide: "Laundrymen and Movies," pages 29- 31, "American Actress" (1907-1961)," page 31
- Becoming American Online Student Museum
Activity
1. Ask students to
use the identity chart created in the previous lesson to circle the
groups to which students belong OR have students create a list of the
various groups they belong to. Students should then select one of the
groups they identified, and share with a partner what it means to be a
part of that group. What are the privileges of membership? The
challenges? How does the group identity affect the way you see
yourself? How does it affect the way others see you?
2. Show the segment on actress Anna May Wong from Program 2 of Becoming American: The Chinese Experience. As they watch the segment, ask students to think about the tensions in Wong's identity. After viewing the clip, ask students to write in their journals and then discuss with a partner how Anna May Wong sees herself. Have students share their discussion with the larger group. How does her group identity affect her individual identity? What is the tension between being a member of a group and being seen as a representative of that group? How does one effectively represent a group without losing one's identity?
3. Ask students to read and discuss pages 29-31 in Becoming American: The Chinese Experience Study Guide. Focus in particular on the poem, American Actress (See Attachment 1 or page 31 in the study guide.) Have students read it silently. Then discuss how it highlights the tensions between Wong's personal identity as an American and her Chinese identity. How does the author highlight those tensions? Have students consider the tensions in their own identity and have them re-write the poem around their own identity, mimicking its structure.
2. Show the segment on actress Anna May Wong from Program 2 of Becoming American: The Chinese Experience. As they watch the segment, ask students to think about the tensions in Wong's identity. After viewing the clip, ask students to write in their journals and then discuss with a partner how Anna May Wong sees herself. Have students share their discussion with the larger group. How does her group identity affect her individual identity? What is the tension between being a member of a group and being seen as a representative of that group? How does one effectively represent a group without losing one's identity?
3. Ask students to read and discuss pages 29-31 in Becoming American: The Chinese Experience Study Guide. Focus in particular on the poem, American Actress (See Attachment 1 or page 31 in the study guide.) Have students read it silently. Then discuss how it highlights the tensions between Wong's personal identity as an American and her Chinese identity. How does the author highlight those tensions? Have students consider the tensions in their own identity and have them re-write the poem around their own identity, mimicking its structure.
Contributor
Jennifer Jones-Clark, Facing History and Ourselves 
