Takaki explains the main Asian national groups which began moving to the US in the 19th century, making clear that these groups came from diverse backgrounds and had diverse reasons for immigrating. What common factors in the US begin to unite their experiences into a single story?

Asian laborers were initially welcomed in California. What factors contributed to a shift toward exclusion and harassment? How did those in power seek to exploit racial tensions for their own advantage?

Takaki explains how some Asian immigrants in the US created their own communities and social networks. How did these networks arise as a response to discriminatory practices, and how did they shape the development of Asian American histories and cultures?