Chop Suey: Chinese in United States: Social Sciences Research Paper

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Chop Suey: Chinese in the United States
Chinese immigrants slowly became assimilated into the American culture over the years and are now a part of the diverse American society. However, there has been one key factor that has not only kept them closer to their roots but also connected them with non-Chinese Americans; Chinese food. Chinese food is an integral part of American society to date, and according to Chen (Chop Suey, USA, p.100), Chinese food has developed over the years across the United States (US) to accommodate the palate and food taste of many Americans. Chinese food and cuisines have become a widespread delicacy among many Americans, regardless of their cultural origins. But where did it all start? The point of origin can be traced back to the first generation of Chinese immigrants and the establishment of the Chop Suey dish in Chinese restaurants. The first generation of Chinese migrated to the US in the 1850s in pursuit of better opportunities, and most of them provided labor in gold mines and factories (US Office of the Historian). They, however, faced many challenges along the way, including racism and exclusion policies, although they prevailed. This paper will explore the origin of Chinese food in the US and how Chinese food contributed to the survival and development of Chinese immigrants in the US despite the challenges they encountered. Although the Chinese developed in American society through critical contributions to the American economy as laborers, their survival and development can be attributed to Chinese food.
Origin and Development of Chop Suey in the United States
When the first wave of Chinese immigrants hit the US, there were many opportunities for Chinese people, especially during the California Gold Rush. According to Ye (p.8), the Chinese were among the many people who migrated to California after the news that gold had been discovered in the area spread beyond the US. With them came the transplantation of Chinese food in the US. Food is an instrumental part of Chinese culture and has significant value. The Chinese immigrants used Chinese food to establish a community and an identity in a foreign country (Chen, The Rise of Chinese Food in the United States, p.5). Chinese food gave them a sense of familiarity with where they came from and their people. At the time that this first wave of Chinese immigrants settled in the US, Chinese restaurants were established to provide immigrants with affordable food that reminded them of their home and gave them an identity (Adhiaman, p.2). The cultural and historical value of Chinese food in American society can be appreciated for its role in the development of Chinese culture for over 160 years in the US.
One of the most common Chinese dishes is what is known as a Chop Suey, which is a popular delicacy in many Chinese restaurants to date. There are different versions of how the dish was established in the US. One version indicates that Chinese cooks did not have sufficient ingredients and know-how to make an authentic Chinese dish, and as such, they mixed vegetables, rice, and some meat to make a simple dish known as Chop Suey (Liu, p.4). Another version indicates that in an attempt to avoid a confrontation with American miners, a Chinese restaurant owner used leftovers to make them a dish, and that's where Chop Suey dish originated from. Regardless of the version or accuracy of the story, Chop Suey can be termed as a humble dish that originated from a place of need, trying to make do with the available resources and cooking skills. Goffe (p.5) describes Chop Suey as an adaptation by Chinese immigrants who tried to customize their food to match the palates of the American society as well as the available ingredients in their new country. People have been able to survive and even prosper in a new environment by adapting, and this exactly what Chop Suey did for the Chinese in the US.
The invention of Chop Suey soon received attention across the country as more non-Chinese Americans accepted the dish. Part of the acceptance stemmed from the fact that most of the ingredients in Chop Suey were familiar to Americans. As such, more non-Chinese Americans were willing to consume the food because, by their standards, it was safe and familiar to them (Zhang, p.3). Another reason why the dish became accepted is that it had a Chinese name, and amid the anti-Chinese attitude displayed by many Americans, some Americans were curious about the food. According to Zhang (p.3), the Chinese name "Chop Suey" gave the dish an exotic aura, and Americans wanted to satisfy their curiosity by indulging in the dish. The acceptance of Chop Suey become even deeper as the second generation Chinese immigrants opened up new restaurants that offered this dish beyond Chinatown, where the initial dish was served in Chinese restaurants (Zhang, p.3). This generation transformed the dish from a Chinese dish to an American-Chinese dish. They even added more ingredients that are valued by Americans to date, such as Cheese. Soon enough, Chop Suey was not only being served in restaurants but also in many American households. Zhang (p.3) indicates that many American women tried out Chop Suey recipes in their homes. The recipes were easy to make and gained popularity across the country quite fast. In fact, by serving Chop Suey, Chinese restaurants gained prominence quickly and started to outshine American fast-food restaurants such as McDonald's in terms of numbers (Chen, Chop Suey, USA, p.101; Ye, p.7). As the number of restaurants increased, more people were dining out, and Chinese restaurants became less of an exotic experience and more of an affordable way of eating out. Unlike the dishes offered in other restaurants, which were reserved for the wealthy, Chinese dishes were affordable, and as such, they were accessible to more people (Chen, Chop Suey, USA, p.101). This is how Chinese immigrants were able to establish their presence in American society. They established their roots in the US through their Chinese food, which has since become a household name.
Chinese Immigrants' Survival under the Conditions of Exclusion Policies
Even though the first generation of Chinese immigrants came to the US as laborers in gold mines and factories, their place and contribution in American society came under heavy scrutiny. According to the US Office of the Historian, non-Chinese American workers were concerned that the high number of Chinese workers threatened their livelihood, and they developed anti-Chinese attitudes. As a result, the Chinese Exclusion Act was established to control Chinese immigration in 1882. Also, the Chinese immigrants faced challenges as gold mining, which had first brought them to the US, was declining (Ye, p.8). This implied that they had to look for other alternatives to sustain their livelihood and that of their families back in China. The depre...