The Strand Theatre in downtown Vicksburg will host a screening of Far East Deep South and one of its filmmakers on Saturday, October 15 at 7 PM. The film tells the story of a
Chinese-American family’s search for their roots which leads them to the
Mississippi Delta, where they discover surprising family revelations and
uncover the racially complex history of Chinese immigrants in the segregated South.
Through
encounters with local residents and historians, this Chinese American
family not only discovers their family’s important role in the
Mississippi Delta but they also learn about the symbiotic relationship
between the Black and Chinese communities during the Jim Crow era.
The
film provides a window into the struggles of Chinese immigrants in the
American South during the late 1800s to mid-1900s and the discrimination
they faced. The Chiu family’s history demonstrates how exclusionary
immigration laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 separated their
family for generations. This deeply moving and unforgettable story
offers a poignant and important perspective on race relations, immigration and American identity.
"Growing
up here in Vicksburg, we were very aware of the dozens of Chinese
American families who lived here, said Daniel Boone, film programmer for
the Strand "They often owned and operated small neighborhood grocery
stores throughout the city. We shopped in the stores, because they were
convenient, and the owner's kids were our classmates. This film tells
the larger story of how all that came to be and what happened in later
years. Being able to be present another Mississippi story which helps us
understand the fabric of this place we call home is part of what we see
as our mission as a community theater."
Baldwin
Chiu, producer of the film (and one of its subjects) will be presenting
the screening and leading a discussion at the Strand.
This screening is being underwritten by the US Heartland China Association and will be free of charge.
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