 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Prologue
“Ginny’s journey from the ironing board of a Chinese hand laundry to corporate boards and public service is a story of transformations ... She is the embodiment of the American dream come real.” “I recommend this book not only to the young readers who are interested in learning about the experiences of immigrants but also to those who study the history of immigration ... It deserves a place in every library and personal reading list.” “Ginny’s journey isn’t just a simple affirmation of the traditional values of growing up in a Chinese laundry, but a perceptive account of American life with all its opportunities, complexities, and injustices yet to be corrected. An immigrant child, a beauty queen, a teacher, a corporate board member, a talk show host, and a national president of one of the oldest civil rights advocacy group in Washington D.C. are just some of the roles Ginny has played while pursuing her Asian American dreams.” “This modest memoir is a gem of an introduction to the lives of Chinese Americans, including hard-working immigrant parents and their children. Ginny describes her experiences as a young girl, growing up in a Chinese laundry, negotiating the intricate paths towards independence within a traditional family and the difficulties and joys of engaging the outside world.” “In this wonderful autobiography, Ginny demonstrates how she came to be the person that she is – confident and strong, warm and personable, proud of Chinese and Asian heritage, and committed to social justice for all. Going back to her childhood and her subsequent years growing up as a young Chinese American, Ginny integrates personal biography and social history seamlessly through delightful storytelling and personal reflection. I highly recommend the book to young Asian Americans who wish to compare their experiences ‘growing up Asian American’ with their family experiences.” “Ginny’s story is my story. I can relate very well to it because we, like thousands of other Chinese immigrant families, grew up in laundries where we experienced hard work and long hours. From those humble roots we experienced the disparity of merging two cultures and being accepted by the dominant society. This book is a beacon to all immigrant youngsters confronting the same problems that we experienced growing up and adjusting to two societies.” “This is a delightful story of a Chinese American girl of the ‘1.5 generation.’ She is the thread that holds together the diverse patchwork of America. Born in the Old World and arriving in the New at an early age, she is adept at navigating around the shoals of cultural anomalies. Because of her, the Chinese laundry shop immigrants, who are her parents, are able to make this alien land their home.” “As a child of the Chinese hand laundry, I applaud Ginny’s success going from ironing board to the corporate board, making community service a major part of her life work, and keeping in touch with the heart and soul of her life. Her story has brought back memories of my past, growing up behind a hand laundry in Brooklyn, New York. The future always looks and feels strong when it is filled with warm memories.” “I truly enjoyed reading Ginny’s narrative of her coming into her own. I was struck by its clear, simple flow and yet complexity of the choices she made and the challenges she finessed, one at a time, to become the leader and multi-talented individual and model she is. In a time when many seem to have forgotten the fundamental steps of life that lead to lasting success, and it doesn’t matter whether your origins are Asian, African, White, Hispanic, or Native American, Ginny has provided an excellent resource for secondary students – a modern ‘Pilgrims’ Progress’ of how to arise from humble origins to pinnacles of success within the American promise and dream of the right to the pursuit of happiness. She does so concisely, illustratively, and effectively. If you care for your children, you must read this book and make sure they read it too … perhaps together.” “As one of Ginny’s closest friends and just when I thought I knew everything about her and her family, she had taught and delighted me with new stories and wisdom with this wonderful work. It is a must read for young adults, family historians and Asian Americans to learn about our heritage.” “This book is more than just a story about a young girl’s journey into adulthood. It is a powerful and honest account of an American heroine’s negotiations through life as a perpetual foreigner; the lessons learned about character and nobility, respect and traditions.”
|
|
Copyright
© 2002 Homa & Sekey Books |
