The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 with Professor Jack Tchen
Tue, Nov 14
|St. Petersburg
The Boxser Diversity Initiative, in partnership with WEDU-TV, co-sponsored the first session of a three-part discussion series at the James Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Time & Location
Nov 14, 2023, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
St. Petersburg, 150 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
About the event
On November 14, 2023, the Boxser Diversity Initiative (BDI), in partnership with WEDU-TV, co-sponsored the first session of a three-part discussion series at the James Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. The event focused on the history and enduring impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, exploring the anti-Chinese sentiment that preceded the legislation and its continuing significance today.
Dr. Jack Tchen, Professor of History and Director of the Clement A. Price Institute on Ethnicity, Culture, and the Modern Experience at Rutgers University, led the conversation. The program featured excerpts from Ric Burns’ PBS documentary The Chinese Exclusion Act, providing historical context and vivid storytelling.
This thoughtful discussion attracted community members eager to understand this critical chapter in American history and its lessons for contemporary issues of race, immigration, and xenophobia. The James Museum’s Adult Lecture Series, generously sponsored by Todd and Karen Wanek, hosted the event, which required advance reservations due to limited seating.