Summary
In the essay, “Legend of the Division Street” written by professor Anderst, the life of Chinese immigrants has been portrayed very well. The author explained that the United States is generally referred to as the country of immigrants because people from different countries and ethnicity have come to fulfill their dream of successful life i.e. considered as the American dream. There is a place named Division street where immigrants from china have been living for years. The fantasy of immigration depicts a wonderful and successful life while the reality is that life was not a bed of roses for them and they struggled very hard to achieve this life. The author wrote about the history of Chinese migration in America and stated that the Chinese began to immigrate to America in the early 1800 and formed a Chinatown in the US. The Chinese immigrants started different businesses and jobs in America while after the immigration and nationality act of 1965, a huge population of Chinese got settled in Chinatown.
He shared his experience of a visit to Division Street, where he saw many Chinese food restaurants and Chinese vendors and observed that all the Chinese immigrants speak Mandarin and Fuzhounese. He interviewed a grocery store owner named “Chen Lijin” and asked him about his life experiences in America. Chen Lijin explained that his life is full of hardships and he has to work very hard to make a living while his fellows in China assume that his life is effortless and full of ease. He explained that he doesn’t regret his decision of moving to America because he wants to furnish standard education for his children. During his visit, the author concluded that the life of Chinese immigrants is neither a heaven nor a hell in America while it’s a place for brave and determined people like Chen Lijin.
