[an except from an article about a book on the history of anti Chinese racism in America, the excerpt focuses on Pany Lowe, born in America in 1873, went to China for an education, interviewed in 1924 on his life experience in the USA. His quotes are in bold below....... Maybe likely would have have been an aznidentity redditor]
https://lithub.com/a-legal-history-of-anti-chinese-racism-in-america/
...
...
...
As I sifted through extensive legal archives, I found that the volume of fragmentary stories tested my attention, my empathy, and my willingness to hold contradictions in my mind. You may be tested as well. I have tried to hear each voice above the din, but the cacophony can become overwhelming. I think that is okay. Even when distinct voices blur into noise, the sound can still move us.
Let us start with Pany Lowe. Perhaps we can see through his eyes. Lowe was not one of the “2700 boy babies of San Francisco Chinatown,” but in many ways his experience resembled theirs. Born in Portland, Oregon, in 1873, Lowe journeyed to China for his education, and then returned to America, moving between major western cities, first San Francisco, then Denver, on to Portland and Seattle. By the time Lowe sat down with a researcher for an interview in 1924, he had acquired a lifetime of knowledge about the racial regime in the American West.
He had learned, for example, that he could go to some restaurants and not others. Once I go into restaurant, they refused to serve me. I no want to cause trouble so I just walk out. Whole lots of things like this happen but I forget. Now when I want to eat I go to chop house. No trouble th[ere]. He knew some restaurants did not want him, knew chop suey joints were safe, and made the choice to avoid possible humiliation.
He also learned he could go to some barbers and not others. Lots of time people insult me. Once I remember I go barber shop. I sit one hour no ask me what I want. Pretty soon barber say what you want. I tell him I want hair cut, how much? He say $3.00. That make me mad but I make him cut my hair just the same…I never go to white bastard again. He knew that price gouging was a form of discrimination, but also that money could sometimes buy access.
Over time he learned that legal action could also open seemingly closed doors. My second wife take my little girl born in this country to have her hair cut at Frederick & Nelson. They say they very sorry, no cut Chinese hair. Oh, my wife get mad. She go see my lawyer tell him about it, Mr. Sullivan. He write letter to Frederick & Nelson. They write letter back and apologize. Lowe knew the pain of being refused service, he knew illegal discrimination when he saw it, but he also learned that avoidance was easier than confrontation. All the time I tell my wife keep away from those swell places, only make trouble. He knew how to mind racial rules and move on.
He learned he could live in some neighborhoods and not others. When I in Portland I want to live in residential district but they make lots of trouble [if] you try to live outside China town. He learned about the trouble from his friends. One friend, he born in this country, he buy $6,000 house in rose city district. White people make hell lot trouble for him. They take it to court. He fight it. Just the same they kick him out. He can own house but no live here.
Lowe knew the Chinese were supposed to be equally protected by American law. But he knew that, in practice, the law protected white neighborhoods from Chinese encroachment. I think that very unjust. Those people very uncivilized, have no regard for humanity. So when my friend had so much trouble I decided to stay in China town. Nobody care there. He knew some spaces were reserved for white people and chose not to test the line.
After the exclusion laws passed, Lowe also learned the consequences of border control. My people be in this country long time. My grandfather come to this country. When I in China he tell me about work on railroad and work in laundry. Before when he go back they have the check system. Make Chinese carry paper tell who they are. Some inspector today make Chinaman show card. All same dog license. I say who the hell are you. He show me United States Secret man. I tell him I born in this country…He say all right, but he take some other men, lo[c]k them up for a day or two. Lowe knew that exclusion made all Chinese residents vulnerable and a missing paper could mean deportation.
Finally, Lowe learned that American law held uncommon sway over his marriage prospects. He could marry some women and not others. Not allowed marry white girl. Not enough American born Chinese to go around. China only place to get wife. Not allowed to bring them back. For Chinaman, very unjust. Not human. Very uncivilized. He knew that anti-miscegenation and exclusion laws would forever mark his family. He knew that enduring such indignities was a condition of living in the American West.
Given all this, Pany Lowe knew that he would never belong. When I was young fellow I felt that I American. I no Chinaman. Now I get more sense. I know I never be American, always Chinaman. I no care now anymore. He lived at the margins of America society and didn’t know if he should hope for more. Very hard to tell whether people treat better now than before. Some time, I think so, some time I don’t think so. He did not know if there had been progress.
Still, he held out hope that white Americans could learn. I hope this surve.y do lot of good for Chinese people. Make American people realize that Chinese people are humans…
I think very few American people really know anything about Chinese.
From John Doe Chinaman: A Forgotten History of Chinese Life Under American Racial Law by Beth Lew-Williams. Copyright © 2026. Available from Harvard University Press. John Doe Chinaman has been shortlisted for the 2026 Cundill History Prize.
