"Chinese Argument" Figural Group

Who is allowed into the American eagle’s nest? Although this figural group incorporates nineteenth-century racial stereotypes, it was a cry against discrimination. A white child wearing the cap of liberty shares the eagle’s nest with a Black child, who is nevertheless pressed down. The Chinese man’s attempt to join them is clearly doomed.

This sculpture reflects the debate surrounding the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which curtailed Chinese immigration. The influx of Chinese workers began in earnest with the California Gold Rush of 1848. With an economic downturn in the 1870s, many Americans saw Chinese immigrants as competition for scarce jobs.