Cynthia Lim has been researching her family’s immigration path to the United States after a visit to China to find her ancestral villages with the “Roots Plus” program. She is working on a memoir to document her journey. She is the author of Wherever You Are: A Memoir of Love, Marriage and Brain Injury and her essays have appeared in various literary journals. She retired as a central office administrator with the Los Angeles Unified School District and holds a PhD in Social Welfare. Find out more about Cynthia at cynthialimwriting.com .
Contact Info
Address: 2108 N St., Ste 5910
Sacramento, CA 95816
My Father Was My Gateway To American Life. Then I Found Out He Lied To Get Into This Country.
June 4, 2022
“Reading their files made me uneasy. Their claim to citizenship was based on a lie. Were they ‘illegal immigrants’? Did that mean I wasn’t a true American?”
Mow Lim, in Tulare, California, in 1946.
COURTESY OF CYNTHIA LIM
The one thing I thought I knew for certain was that my Chinese father, Mow Lim, was allowed to immigrate in the 1940s because my grandfather was a U.S. citizen. I never questioned that fact or found out how Grandfather Sam, himself an immigrant, earned his citizenship. Nor could I ask my father these questions. He was killed in a plane crash in 1964, when I was 7.
I adored my father and loved the stories my mother told me. He arrived on a steamship alone when he was 12, then moved from San Francisco to Tulare in the Central Valley in his teens. Butchering in a meat market during the day, he rode a bicycle to night school to learn English. He adopted the American name “Don” and, at 19, served in the U.S. Army in World War II. On a visit to China, he was matched to my mother. After they married, they had five children and he entered the grocery business. Before his death at 36, he owned a store in Castroville, California, and had a share of a larger one in Salinas.
His photos in our albums comforted me for years after his death. He looked handsome and debonair with his arched eyebrows and easy smile. My eyes were always drawn to the picture of him in his teens, with a white T-shirt and rolled-up chinos.
He had been my gateway to American life. He bought my sister a portable record player and dozens of 45s, and we listened to Barbara Lewis’ “Hello Stranger” and Lesley Gore’s “It’s My Party” long after his death. He enrolled us in music and dance lessons. On his rare days off, he took us to the Santa Cruz boardwalk or to Pacific Grove to collect shells. As the baby in the family, I got to sit on his lap in the evening and I would try to synchronize my breathing with his.
After his death, my widowed mother was left with five children, aged 7 to 15, two grocery businesses and limited English. Cantonese became the primary language at home and Chinese instrumental music replaced the soundtrack to “Oklahoma” on the stereo. I wasn’t interested in my native culture. I wanted meatloaf with mashed potatoes or Taco Bell instead of the ground pork with salted fish and spare ribs with black bean sauce my grandmother made. I longed to go to summer camp and learn to canoe or vacation in Cape Cod and eat blueberries straight off the vines like the girls I read about in the books at the public library. Instead, my childhood and adolescence were spent working at the grocery store.
“Are you going to marry Chinese?” my grandmother used to ask me. I always said yes because I wanted a partner who saw the importance of family, of saving face and being modest. In college, I met my Jewish boyfriend who embodied those traits and valued me. We married and settled in Los Angeles, where I pursued a career in social work and education. We raised two sons who were proud of their mixed heritage. I was confident of my citizenship and place in this country.
It wasn’t until 2017 that I researched our history and realized how little I knew about my father’s life before he came to America. He’d left China during the Chinese Exclusion Act, which banned the entry of laborers from 1882 to 1943. It was the only piece of legislation that barred a specific ethnic group from entering this nation and from becoming naturalized citizens. There was an exemption for sons of native-born U.S. citizens. Was that how my father was able to come?
Some Chinese evaded the ban by claiming to be sons of native-born citizens. Men would testify that they were born in the U.S. and then provide witnesses affirming that fact. Once declared citizens by the government, they’d visit China, then report the birth of sons when they came back. Those offspring were eligible to immigrate due to birthright citizenship. Thousands of Chinese entered the U.S. during the exclusion act using false papers. They were called “paper sons.”
Mow Lim, in San Francisco, California, 1941.
COURTESY OF CYNTHIA LIM
In 1906, all birth records in San Francisco burned in fires after the earthquake, leading to a flood of false papers. Chinese already in the U.S. declared under oath that they were born here and had sons in China. We knew of families with “paper” names and real clan names and brothers with different last names because of assumed identities. But I didn’t think that was the case with my father or grandfather.
What I found at the National Archives in San Bruno proved otherwise. My father’s case file contained transcripts and photos that documented his arrival. He was detained for 43 days before being interviewed by three inspectors. Barely 14 at the time, with cheeks still chubby with baby fat, they asked him 155 questions about his kinship and village life, trying to catch him in a lie.
“Were your paternal grandmother’s feet ever bound?”
“Has your village a fish pond?”
“Were the tables and chairs the property of the school or individuals?”
The interrogation took two days, each question and answer translated through an interpreter. There were some lies in his testimony. He said that his grandfather, my great-grandfather, was born in the United States, but I knew that wasn’t true. The grandfather was really his great-uncle Ock Jit, born in the Guangdong province, according to relatives.
I requested files for Grandfather Sam, as well as Ock Jit, from the National Archives, where I discovered our clan’s path to the United States. In 1894, Ock Jit arrived in San Francisco via steamship. Wearing a black skull cap and black shirt, he told authorities he’d been born in Chinatown but went back to Guangdong for a visit and was now re-entering.
He was detained but filed a writ of habeas corpus with the federal courts. His testimony, and that of two witnesses, convinced the judge he was from San Francisco and he was declared a native-born citizen. In subsequent visits to China, he returned to San Francisco and declared the birth of sons (one was my grandfather though he was really a nephew). Ock Jit had one son but said he had four. In total, seven men were let into America as his sons and grandsons.
The author’s great-great-uncle, Ock Jit, in 1894.
COURTESY OF CYNTHIA LIM
Reading their files made me uneasy. Their claim to citizenship was based on a lie. Were they “illegal immigrants”? Did that mean I wasn’t a true American? After the 2016 presidential election, the new administration railed against foreigners, documented and undocumented. There was talk of a Muslim ban. Would Chinese be singled out again? Would our status as citizens undergo scrutiny after the fact?
But as I studied the story Ock Jit’s descendants told when they arrived, I couldn’t fault them for lying. Like all immigrants, they were seeking a better life for themselves and future generations. I was impressed by how they educated themselves on the exemptions in the exclusion act and used the government’s legal processes in their favor. They retained white attorneys knowledgeable of the judicial system to file the necessary paperwork for hearings. They took their cases to federal courts.
I wondered if my father had any qualms about the deception. For many that entered during the exclusion era, there were fears of deportation if real relationships or names were revealed. My brother remembered my parents hiding the Chinese writing on a framed picture in case there was a surprise inspection from immigration.
Fears of intimidation lurked in my mind with the rise of anti-Asian sentiment during the onset of COVID. Nearly a third of Asian-Americans in the San Gabriel Valley experienced hate during the pandemic, according to the LA Times. I thought back to what my ancestors did in the face of harsher times when they were clearly not welcomed here. I felt renewed gratitude for their efforts and reminded myself that this was my home. This was where I was born. And I am a true American.
More stories
To quote a wise and renowned Chinese American genealogist, Tony King, genealogy … “It’s about hearts, not charts.” The data—names, dates, places, etc—and charting are the solid groundings of genealogy, but are just the ‘skeleton’ that stories provide the ‘flesh’ to and for in family history. As we close out 2023, we’re taking a closer look at what to do with all that data and how to package it all up. Please, join us for an engaging and insightful webinar, “The Journey to Publishing ‘Mott Street’: a casual conversation,” where Patrick Chew, current President of the CFHG, will lead a candid discussion with Ava Chin. This webinar will delve into the fascinating journey of Ava Chin’s recent publication, “Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Story of Exclusion and Homecoming,” which was released in April of this year. As we dip into some of this poignant family history, we will explore the intricacies of the journey: from conception to research to publication, offering a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse into the writing process and the challenges and triumphs of bringing this compelling story to the public. Don’t miss this opportunity to join a casual and enlightening conversation, as the author shares insights into the rich tapestry of “Mott Street” and the intricate layers of Chinese American heritage it unveils. Like our last webinar, we’ll not only have a Q&A session, where the audience can send in questions, but we will also again have a book raffle! (Though you’ll have to be registered and present to win.)
An estimated 18,000 – 20,000 Chinese Americans served during WW2, but researching their wartime and veteran stories presents some unique challenges. In a continuing segment, KB Barcomb’s presentation discusses strategies to leverage the ever-increasing availability of WW2 records and resources to further your research. Last year, KB Barcomb, a military researcher and social historian, took us through the lives of some our loved ones, from the formation of a unit through their travels before deployment from the United States to the final destination of the China-Burma-India theater. Her examination focused on the 14th Air Service Group, a Chinese-American unit, but also shared the experience of any person of color who served in World War II and the challenges they faced in serving our country. She will expand on resources for other branches of the armed forces – taking into consideration that many of the U.S. Army records were lost in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. She will provide mini-case study examples of Chinese-American WW2 service across the military branches, walking us through scenarios that any researcher might encounter. KB Barcomb specializes in conducting WWI and WWII research through the lens of family history. She is a retired US Army officer with over twenty years of active-duty service, and is the daughter of WWII veterans. She is passionate about sharing the many nuances and details discoverable in military and war-era records.
Prompt: Write about the person that raised you. Write about the things he/she did that annoyed you or things that you are grateful for. Write about the things you realized as an adult but didn’t understand as a child.
A Screening and Conversation with the Director
What do you do with all the research you have amassed about your family’s history? How do you organize, document and preserve your story and your ancestor’s stories? The Chinese Family History Group offered a writi ng workshop for members in 2022, led by Cynthia Lim. Using writing prompts, participants started with scenes or short pieces about their family and shared with the group. The goal was to get participants to start writing and provide the stimulus to record their family history. A year later, the group is still meeting monthly and sharing stories. We share Linda Louie’s story about her experience in the writing workshop. Prompt: Write about an activity or ritual that grounds you or comforts you. Write about what makes you feel certain about your identity or sense of self or makes you feel “normal.”
Ever wonder what to do with all the research you have gathered on your family history? How do you begin to document your ancestor’s stories? Join us for this workshop of three 90 minute sessions via Zoom to start writing. The sessions will have short, five-minute prompts to get participants writing, which will help writers focus on specific scenes or memories to develop into longer stories. We will also discuss tone and point of view in the writing, as well as use of sensory details and dialogue. Participants will share their writing in a safe setting (note: sessions will NOT be recorded). In addition, writing prompts will also be given as homework for the following session. Enrollment is limited to 15 participants. You must be a member in good standing and commit to attend all three sessions. (If you’re not already a member and would like to become one in order to participate, join now !) Who is this workshop for? It’s intended to be: An Introduction/Primer for completely new (not-started/inexperienced)/unfamiliar writers who did not participate in the previous Writing Group Workshop Inspiration for experienced writers, who are not in the writing group, and not did not participate in the previous Writing Group Workshop At the conclusion of this introductory workshop, writers will be invited to join the monthly (members-only) writing group, where prompts are given and writing is shared with the larger group.
The Chinese Family History Group (CFHG) is proud to announce its collaboration with the Library of Congress to bring the Veterans History Project to Santa Monica and Alhambra. Andrew Huber ( liaison specialist at the Library of Congress), who has presented to the CFHG before, will be actualizing his talk in-person at these interview events! The Library of Congress Veterans History Project is celebrating Asian-American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month by collecting stories of AAPI veterans so that future generations can learn from their selfless service. This is a unique opportunity for our community’s veterans in Southern California to share their memories and stories, and to contribute to the preservation of our nation’s history. There is no cost to participate , and all veterans who tell their story will receive a copy to share with their family and friends. AAPI veterans are especially encouraged to participate, however the event is open to all US vets regardless of race or ethnicity.
Military researcher and social historian KB Barcomb will take you through the 14th Service Group, a Chinese American unit. KB Barcomb’s analysis focused on the unit’s lives and formation through their travels before deploying from the United States to the final destination of the China Burma India theater. As you research your family’s stories in the context of history, you will find this study informative with detailed unit records and get a feel of those who served in World War II.
Celebrating Chinese Family History Group’s10th Anniversary
We hope you enjoyed Doug Joe’s very informative presentation on the webtrees tool on July 9th. (Login to view the recording) As announced at the webinar, Doug generously offered two Chinese Family History Group members exclusive follow-up events. The first is a one-on-one sessions with users to begin exploring webtrees capabilities. Many of our members have already taken advantage of this opportunity. If you haven’t already done so, you can still contact Doug at doug.joe@chinesefamilyhistory.org to help you get started. As a reminder, your family tree can be hosted on the Chinese Family History Group’s secure server for free! The second is an interactive hands-on meeting which will be held on Tuesday, August 23rd at 7:00p.m. PDT hosted by Doug and previous CFHG Treasurer, Chuck Woo. Doug will share his 20+ years of experience on the webtrees tool and Chuck will share his recent experience with the tool in building his family tree with 300+ individuals. They will answer your questions and give valuable tips and tricks to assist you in building this part of your genealogy journey.
RECENT ARTICLES
To quote a wise and renowned Chinese American genealogist, Tony King, genealogy … “It’s about hearts, not charts.” The data—names, dates, places, etc—and charting are the solid groundings of genealogy, but are just the ‘skeleton’ that stories provide the ‘flesh’ to and for in family history. As we close out 2023, we’re taking a closer look at what to do with all that data and how to package it all up. Please, join us for an engaging and insightful webinar, “The Journey to Publishing ‘Mott Street’: a casual conversation,” where Patrick Chew, current President of the CFHG, will lead a candid discussion with Ava Chin. This webinar will delve into the fascinating journey of Ava Chin’s recent publication, “Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Story of Exclusion and Homecoming,” which was released in April of this year. As we dip into some of this poignant family history, we will explore the intricacies of the journey: from conception to research to publication, offering a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse into the writing process and the challenges and triumphs of bringing this compelling story to the public. Don’t miss this opportunity to join a casual and enlightening conversation, as the author shares insights into the rich tapestry of “Mott Street” and the intricate layers of Chinese American heritage it unveils. Like our last webinar, we’ll not only have a Q&A session, where the audience can send in questions, but we will also again have a book raffle! (Though you’ll have to be registered and present to win.)
An estimated 18,000 – 20,000 Chinese Americans served during WW2, but researching their wartime and veteran stories presents some unique challenges. In a continuing segment, KB Barcomb’s presentation discusses strategies to leverage the ever-increasing availability of WW2 records and resources to further your research. Last year, KB Barcomb, a military researcher and social historian, took us through the lives of some our loved ones, from the formation of a unit through their travels before deployment from the United States to the final destination of the China-Burma-India theater. Her examination focused on the 14th Air Service Group, a Chinese-American unit, but also shared the experience of any person of color who served in World War II and the challenges they faced in serving our country. She will expand on resources for other branches of the armed forces – taking into consideration that many of the U.S. Army records were lost in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. She will provide mini-case study examples of Chinese-American WW2 service across the military branches, walking us through scenarios that any researcher might encounter. KB Barcomb specializes in conducting WWI and WWII research through the lens of family history. She is a retired US Army officer with over twenty years of active-duty service, and is the daughter of WWII veterans. She is passionate about sharing the many nuances and details discoverable in military and war-era records.
Prompt: Write about the person that raised you. Write about the things he/she did that annoyed you or things that you are grateful for. Write about the things you realized as an adult but didn’t understand as a child.