Overview: This video lesson can be used to teach the experiences of Chinese immigrants to Angel Island.
Tyrus Wong created some of the most memorable images in the history of animation and American cinema when he worked at Disney and later Warner Brothers. Among the highlights of his long and accomplished film career was his role as the lead animator for the film Bambi. Before that, however, he was an immigrant to the United States during the period of Chinese Exclusion. After arriving in the U.S., Wong was detained at Angel Island where he studied false papers to prepare him for integration. The Angel Island Conservancy explains:
Below is a short profile in which Wong shares his memories of Angel Island and its impact on his life.
Reflection Questions
- You might begin discussion by allowing time for an open reflection on Wong’s story. Share the words and images that stick with youafter hearing his reflection and ask them to share why they made the selections that they did.
- To go deeper into his story, consider using the see-feel-think-wonder thinking routine. This allows for listeners to move from the text to the connections that they are making and the questions/wonderings they may have.
- You might also think about how his story connects to viewers as individuals and other stories they know. One simple protocol to structure that reflection is called “text to text, text to self, text to world,” follow the link for an explanation of the structure.
Related Resources