Qian Julie Wang's Memoir 'Beautiful Country'

Qian Julie Wang’s memoir, “Beautiful Country” portrays her experiences immigrating from China to the United States at a young age. She discusses her challenges in adapting to a new culture and school system, changes in her family’s financial situation, and the constant fear of deportation as an undocumented immigrant. Through her personal story, the author sheds light on the struggles faced by immigrants in the United States, particularly those who are undocumented, and the emotional toll these experiences can have on individuals and families. In her memoir, Wang describes several biographical disruptions she experienced as an immigrant to the United States. These include the sudden switch in the family’s economic status, Julie’s transition

This legal disruption created significant legal challenges and fear of deportation. Throughout the memoir, there are various incidents where the family is scared of running into government authority and being questioned. For example, when Julie is starving and sees people lining up for food, she runs away after seeing the uniformed people. She writes ”They were uniformed, I saw. Were they asking for IDs? I didn’t think so, but I couldn’t tell for sure. Should I risk it? What would I give them if they did ask? (...) Always walk the other way when you see the police, Qian Qian. Ba Ba’s voice guided me wherever I went. If anyone asks you for docu­ments, say you don't know, say that your baba has them. Say that you were born here, that you’ve always lived in America” (82). In order to avoid questioning, Julie is also told to tell people she is born in America. Furthermore, when Julie’s mother gets sick, they are wary of the hospital’s security guards and her father is especially cautious of being around them. She describes, “Walking past the cops at the hospital never seemed to get easier for Ba Ba. His hand always squeezed mine harder at the sight, as if he needed to remind himself that we were still there, together and safe. Even after we passed a cop, Ba Ba never resumed talking, instead keeping his eyes

She grew up in a privileged family in China but faced a significant cultural disruption when her family moved to New York City. They struggled to adapt to a new culture, learn a new language, and navigate the challenges of living in a new country. Throughout the memoir, Julie describes several instances of racism and discrimination that she experienced as a result of her Chinese heritage and immigration status. One of the earliest examples of racism Julie encountered was when she was bullied in school for her appearance and Chinese culture. Her classmates would tease her about her name, her food, and her family's accent. Julie also faced discrimination from some of her teachers, who would overlook her academic achievements and favor white students. Her family faced discrimination from the broader community and Wang further describes how they are perceived differently as a minority. When describing their neighborhood, Julie says, “It reminded me of the area where we first lived when we arrived in America, the place that taught me that we were chinks who would be attacked by dogs as their owner stood by, laughing.” (226). They struggled to find housing and jobs and were often subjected to racist remarks and harassment. In one instance, a group of teenagers threw rocks at Julie's family's car while they were driving, shouting racial slurs at them. Overall, Julie’s experiences of cultural