Journal for Chinese Poetry

The journal reading for today is from Carved on the Walls: Poetry by Early Chinese Immigrants.
To give context on these poems, they were all written on the walls of the holding centers at Angel Island. Angel Island was called during its time "the Easter Island of the West" and many Chinese immigrants would wait here during the process to come into America.
While reading these poems I notice the varying views towards America, but all of them observe some sort of idea of working hard in order to achieve stability and a better life in America. It shows how far the idea of the American dream has reached throughout the world. On the other hand, while many poems show approval towards America and excitement to come into the countries other poems show contempt and anger towards Americans for putting the immigrants through this process. I think these poems are great views into history and the ideas of the people at the time. They are also great explanations towards determining why people would continually willingly come to America despite the dangers and hostility.