The following was forwarded to me recently. Unfortunately, it looks like the latest example of Asian Americans being ignored as “real” Americans.

Asian Media Watch

There are no Asian/Pacific Islander Americans among the 64 key American innovators in the book, “They Made America,” by Harold Evans, the basis of the PBS documentary of the same name. 92% of the individuals featured in the book and documentary are white Americans. The 4-part documentary film, produced by WGBH Boston and promoted as a teaching aid, premiered on PBS November 8 at 9:00 p. m. ET/PT.

Asian Media Watch is concerned that PBS and WGBH are encouraging educators to use the book, website, and documentary film “They Made America” as resources for teaching students about American History. “They Made America” does not adequately acknowledge the contributions and perspectives of Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino, and Native Americans, and presents a Euro-centric presentation of American History. Asian Media Watch wants you to express your opinion to PBS and WGBH Boston.

The demographics by ethnicity of the 64 innovators profiled in the book and website are:

59 White
3 Black
2 Middle Eastern
0 South Asian
0 East Asian/Pacific Islander
0 Native American

The book also contains an appendix of 101 other innovators “who also made a difference.” None of the people on this list are identifiable by name as being of Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino, or Native American descent.

The author of the book credits the building of the Transcontinental Railroad to the “engineering and managerial feats” of Theodore Dehone Judah, and to Charles Crocker, foreman of the Central Pacific Railroad. Crocker is hailed for his “managerial skill” and innovation as a “motivator” by making “railway builders [out] of thousands of Chinese laundrymen, chefs, errand boys, gardeners …”

Omitted are important accounts of the treatment of Chinese railroad workers including a labor strike in which the Chinese demanded more wages and shorter hours in return for their life-threatening, dawn-til-dusk work hand-chiseling, blasting, and clearing tunnels through the granite of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Crocker responded by stopping the supply of food and provisions to Chinese laborers. Threatened with starvation and violence at the hands of a well-armed posse of white men led by Crocker, the Chinese were forced back to work.

Yet, the author describes Crocker as the “choreographer” of a “ballet.” If the author credits Judah and Crocker for their innovativeness as engineers and managers, should he not similarly hold them accountable for the exploitation of Chinese labor, and mention the bias and discrimination that Chinese immigrants experienced after the railroad’s completion e. g. The Chinese Exclusion Act.

Contact the producers of “They Made America” to express your opinion. An online feedback form and contact information are available at: http://www.asianmediawatch.net/theymadeamerica/

Tell PBS, WGBH, and the producers of “They Made America” to:

1. Include the contributions and perspectives of Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Americans in their educational materials for “They Made America.”
2. Add Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American innovators to the “They Made America” PBS/WGBH website.
3. Supplement the PBS/WGBH documentary with discussions and segments about Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American contributions to American History.
4. Ensure that future educational programming include a diversity of materials and perspectives.