When did Chinese migration to Boston begin? How did Boston’s Chinatown take shape, and what is its current status? This talk traces the origins of the Chinese presence in the region and examines their experiences from the early years of the United States, through the Chinese Exclusion Era (1882–1943), to the recent decades that have witnessed the community’s significant growth across Greater Boston, as well as the many challenges it continues to face.
About the speaker: Lisong Liu is professor of history at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. His teaching and research interests focus on Chinese migration, Asian American history, U.S.-China relations, and world history. His monograph on Chinese student and professional migration was published in 2015 as part of Routledge’s “Chinese Worlds” series. His current book project is about the history of Chinese immigrants in Boston. He is an associate in research at the Harvard Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies and also a member of the International Advisory Committee at the Chinese Heritage Center at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
This program is part of the Newton History Series, co-sponsored by Historic Newton and the Newton Free Library.
Registration is encouraged, and you’ll get a reminder if you sign up. Walk-ins are also welcome.
