Asians in Colorado
William Wei
Providing the most comprehensive examination to date of Asians in the Centennial State, William Wei addresses a wide range of experiences, from anti-Chinese riots in late nineteenth-century Denver to the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans at the Amache concentration camp to the more recent influx of Southeast Asian refugees and South Asian tech professionals. Drawing on a wealth of historical sources, Wei reconstructs what life was like for the early Chinese and Japanese pioneers, and he pays special attention to the different challenges faced by those in urban versus rural areas. The result is a groundbreaking approach that helps us better understand how Asians survived—and thrived—in an often hostile environment.
Offering a fresh perspective on how cycles of persecution are repeated, Wei reveals how the treatment of Asian Americans resonates with the experiences of other marginalized groups in American society. His study sheds light not only on the Asian American experience but also on the development of Colorado and the greater American West.
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About William Wei
Reviews for Asians in Colorado
Lily Wong
8Asians.com
"A compelling history of Asians in the state."
Sandra Dallas
Denver Post
"For all Asians in Colorado, this is a must-read book."
Jules Nadeau
Asian Avenue Magazine
"Asians remained largely invisible in the history of Colorado until William Wei successfully put pen to paper to complete this scholarly narrative. It is much needed, as the sources available on the subject have been limited to a few publications. . . The greatest strength of Wei’s book is how he narrates the personal histories of Asians in Colorado."
Marie von Haas
Colorado Book Review
"Asians in Colorado offers compelling arguments and innovative analysis, tidily packaged for general readers and undergraduate students."
David Torres Rouff
Western Historical Quarterly