In the Land of the Free by Sui Sin Far
"In the Land of the Free" by Sui Sin Far explores the challenges faced by Lae Choo, a Chinese immigrant mother in early 20th-century America. After discovering she is pregnant, Lae Choo returns to China to give birth, adhering to cultural expectations to care for her husband's aging parents. Upon returning to San Francisco with her son, she encounters immigration barriers due to bureaucratic complications concerning her child's documentation. Despite her and her husband Hom Hing's confidence that their child will be allowed to enter the country, they are met with resistance from immigration authorities, leading them to seek legal assistance. Lae Choo's sacrifices, including offering her jewelry for legal fees, highlight her desperation and determination. However, after a prolonged separation, the reunion with her son is bittersweet, as he does not recognize her and runs back to the white missionaries who cared for him. This narrative delves into themes of motherhood, cultural identity, and the impact of immigration policies on families.
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In the Land of the Free by Sui Sin Far
First published: 1909
Type of plot: Sketch
Time of work: The early twentieth century
Locale: San Francisco, California
Principal Characters:
Hom Hing , a Chinese merchant in San FranciscoLae Choo , his wifeJames Clancey , a young lawyer
The Story
After discovering that she is pregnant, Lae Choo, the dutiful, obedient wife of Hom Hing, returns from California to China so that her child will be born in her homeland. While she awaits the birth of their first son, her husband's aged parents fall ill. A good Confucian wife, Lae Choo remains to care for them. After the death of both parents, she returns to San Francisco with her young son. At the immigration desk, Lae Choo and Hom Hing have a problem. They filed their immigration papers before the birth of their child, so their baby does not have proper certification. The first customs officer says that he cannot allow the boy to go ashore. "There is nothing in the papers that you have shown us—your wife's papers and your own—having any bearing on the child." Because of bureaucratic red tape, the immigration authorities keep the infant, telling Lae Choo and Hom Hing to return the next day to learn the disposition of his case.
The parents are confident that the authorities will return their child, but after five months the child is still in the care of the missionaries with whom the immigration authorities have placed him. In desperation, Hom Hing hires a lawyer, James Clancey, to petition the immigration service for the release of their son. Unsuccessful in this attempt, the lawyer asks for five hundred dollars to go to Washington, D.C., to petition the government personally. Hom Hing does not have the money, but Lae Choo offers her jewelry instead. "See my jade earrings—my gold buttons—my hair pins—my comb of pearl and my rings—one, two, three, four, five rings; very good—all same much money. . . . You take and bring me paper for my Little One."
Another five months pass before Clancey succeeds. At last able to regain her son, the joyful mother goes directly to the mission to bring him home. After so much time away from her, however, the child runs back to the white missionaries. "Go 'way, go 'way!" he says to his mother.