What is Yin and Yang Press and How Did It Begin?
My parents immigrated from China in the 1920s to Macon, Georgia. Our family, the only Chinese in town while we lived there until the early 1950s, operated a laundry. As everyone else in Macon was either black or white, I did not form a firm Chinese identity in those days before the civil rights era started.
My Chinese identity continued to be weak partly because I lived and worked in a mostly white world, and only began to emerge when I was about to retire from a long career as a Professor of Psychology. At that time, I was thinking about writing a memoir about the experiences we had living in Georgia. There were few written accounts of the lives of Chinese outside of places where there were many Chinese. It was as if isolated Chinese in regions like the Deep South didn’t exist or were assumed to be just like Chinese in urban Chinatowns. That gap inspired me to write about how such cultural isolation affected us and I developed a website to test ideas that I could incorporate later into a memoir. However, neither of the two established publishers I later contacted felt, perhaps correctly, they could make a profit with the book based on their market research.
Undaunted, I created Yin and Yang Press, my own “publishing company” out of thin air using print-on-demand (POD) technology, which levels the playing field for writers who are willing to do-it-yourself: writing, marketing, distributing, etc. Not having a big publishing company to pay for marketing and advertising, I devised creative ways to give talks and hold book signings to promote my books all over the U.S. (see list near end of this page) with very positive and encouraging reactions. I then determined to go it alone.
A Small Request for Your Help
If you agree with the goals of my books, and find my work of value, you can help publicize it by FORWARDING THIS LINK in an e-mail to anyone in your network that you think would benefit from it. Thanks in advance,
Southern Fried Rice: Life in A Chinese Laundry in the Deep South
Southern Fried Rice: Life in A Chinese Laundry in the Deep South is a memoir that describes our family's isolated existence running a laundry in the American South in a town where we were the only Chinese during a time when Jim Crow segregation prevailed, enduring loneliness as well as racial prejudice for over 20 years, why and how we moved across the continent to live in a Chinese community, and how each family member adjusted to the challenges and opportunities of their new lives.The story holds valuable lessons not just for Chinese Americans, but peoples of any group who are cut off from their ethnocultural roots.
Chinese Laundries: Tickets to Survival on Gold Mountain
Writing Southern Fried Rice, I learned much about the history of Chinese in North America that I was never taught in school such as the critical role of the laundry business for Chinese during much of the past century. Although I grew up in a laundry, I had not previously known that the vast majority of the early Chinese had few work options other than laundries. I gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of the hard lives of laundrymen that led me to write, Chinese Laundries: Tickets to Survival on Gold Mountain, in tribute. Several Chinese who also grew up in their family laundries contributed accounts of their experiences, which greatly enriched the book.
Chopsticks in the Land of Cotton:
Lives of Mississippi Delta Chinese Grocers
After writing CHINESE LAUNDRIES, I had no plans to write any other book on Chinese American history. However, at a talk I gave in Los Angeles on Southern Fried Rice, Roland Chow, a local Chinese from the Mississippi Delta in the audience urged me to consider writing about the Delta Chinese who almost all ran grocery stores to mostly serve blacks who worked in the cotton fields during much of the early part of the last century. At first, I was unsure if I could do justice to this topic, but after background research and interviews with many helpful Chinese in or from the Delta, I decided that it was important to help record the story of a unique Chinese community and how it managed to survive and wrote:
Chopsticks in the Land of Cotton: Lives of Mississippi Delta Chinese Grocers.
Sweet and Sour: Life in Chinese Family Restaurants
Another Chance Encounter Led
to A Fourth Book
Once again, just when I thought I had nothing else to write about Chinese American history I met William Lee at a 2008 talk I gave at a Chinese church in Northridge, CA. He suggested that I do a book on the history of Chinese restaurants. Limiting the scope to family-run restaurants, I persuaded myself I could do it. It also fit the goal of my other books to record the life experiences of self-employed Chinese immigrants.
Sweet and Sour: Life in Chinese Family Restaurants, 2010.
Sweet and Sour examines the history of Chinese family restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. Why did many Chinese immigrants enter this business around the end of the 19th century? What conditions made it possible for Chinese to open and succeed in operating restaurants after they emigrated to North America? How did Chinese restaurants manage to attract non-Chinese customers, given that they had little or no acquaintance with the Chinese style of food preparation and many had vicious hostility toward Chinese immigrants?
The goal of Sweet and Sour is to understand how the small Chinese family restaurants functioned. Narratives provided by 10 Chinese who grew up in their family restaurants in all parts of the North America provide valuable insights on the role that this ethnic business had on their lives. Is there any future for this type of immigrant enterprise in the modern world of franchised and corporate owned eateries or will it soon, like the Chinese laundry, be a relic of history.
to A Fourth Book
Once again, just when I thought I had nothing else to write about Chinese American history I met William Lee at a 2008 talk I gave at a Chinese church in Northridge, CA. He suggested that I do a book on the history of Chinese restaurants. Limiting the scope to family-run restaurants, I persuaded myself I could do it. It also fit the goal of my other books to record the life experiences of self-employed Chinese immigrants.
Sweet and Sour: Life in Chinese Family Restaurants, 2010.
Sweet and Sour examines the history of Chinese family restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. Why did many Chinese immigrants enter this business around the end of the 19th century? What conditions made it possible for Chinese to open and succeed in operating restaurants after they emigrated to North America? How did Chinese restaurants manage to attract non-Chinese customers, given that they had little or no acquaintance with the Chinese style of food preparation and many had vicious hostility toward Chinese immigrants?
The goal of Sweet and Sour is to understand how the small Chinese family restaurants functioned. Narratives provided by 10 Chinese who grew up in their family restaurants in all parts of the North America provide valuable insights on the role that this ethnic business had on their lives. Is there any future for this type of immigrant enterprise in the modern world of franchised and corporate owned eateries or will it soon, like the Chinese laundry, be a relic of history.
A Chinese American Odyssey How a Retired Psychologist Makes a Hit as an Historian is a writing memoir that describes the discoveries, many unexpected, about Chinese American history that I had after I retired from a 40+ year career as psychology professor and reinvented myself as a public historian of Chinese in America. The memoir serves as a behind-the- scenes look at the processes involved in researching, writing, publishing, and promoting books.
Yin & Yang Press Book Events (video in red)
Chinese Historical Society of America, San Francisco, 2006, 2014
Museum of Chinese in America, New York, 2006, 2015
San Diego Chinese History Museum, San Diego 2007 (Southern Fried Rice)
San Diego Chinese History Museum, San Diego 2009 (Chinese Laundries)
San Diego Chinese History Museum, San Diego 2010 (Sweet and Sour)
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (2007, So Fried Rice)
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (2010, Sweet and Sour)
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (2015, Odyssey)
Chinese American Museum of Chicago (2008, Chinese Laundries)
Chinese American Museum of Chicago (2011, Sweet and Sour)
Chinese American Museum of Chicago (2015, Odyssey)
Northern Calif. Chinese History Museum, Marysville, CA.
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Society, Augusta, Ga. 2006
Organization of Chinese Americans, Atlanta, 2006
Asian Pacific American Historical Society, Atlanta, Georgia, 2010, 2014
Chinese American Citizen’s Alliance, Salinas, CA.
Chinese American Citizen’s Alliance, Leland, MS.
Chinese American Citizen’s Alliance, Chinatown, LA
National Assn of Asian American Professionals, Atlanta 2006
U. S.-China Peoples' Friendship Association, Long Beach, 2010, 2014
U. S.-China Peoples' Friendship Association, Washington, D. C. 2012
Organization of Chinese Americans and National Assn Chinese Americans,
Washington, D. C. 2012
Chinese American Citizen’s Alliance, Orange County, 2016
Chinese Professional Club, Houston, TX, (2008, Southern Fried Rice)
Chinese Professional Club, Houston, TX, (2009, Chopsticks)
Chinese Professional Club, Houston, TX 2016, Odyssey
Chinese Cultural Society of Stockton (Calif).
Sacramento Chinese Cultural Foundation (Calif.)
Marin Chinese Cultural Association, San Rafael, Ca.
Who’s Who in Asian American Communities in Georgia, Atlanta
Georgia Literary Festival, Macon, Georgia
Lake Havasu City Writers Group, Arizona
Locke Historical Dedication Event, Locke, CA.
Crossroads Writers and Literary Conference, Macon, GA. 2012
Foo's Ho Ho Restaurant Fundraiser, Vancouver, Canada, 2010
Chinese American Historical Societies Conference, Seattle, Washington, 2013
Festival of Authors, Duarte, California, 2013
Eastwind Books, Berkeley, California, 2014
Occidental College, Los Angeles
California State University, Long Beach Asian American Studies Classes
California State University, Long Beach Psychology
California State University, Long Beach Emeriti
California State University, Fullerton Asian American Studies
Mercer University, Macon, Ga. Educational Psychology
Arizona State University, Tempe Asian American Studies
Delta State University, Cleveland, Ms. 2008. 2011
Jackson State University, Jackson, MS.
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS. 2011
Memphis State University, 2011
Emory University, 2011
Downtown, City College of San Francisco 2014
Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts, 2013
Lake Forest College, 2015
Williams College, Massachusetts, 2016
Carnegie Library, Clarksdale, MS.
Hanford Public Library, Hanford, CA. (2007, Southern Fried Rice_
Foster City Public Library, Foster City, CA. 2008, 2011.2012, 2015
Cerritos Public Library, Cerritos Ca. ( 2009) (2010) (2015)
Long Beach Library Foundation, 2012
Signal Hill Library, 2011
Alhambra Public Library, Alhambra, Ca. (March, 2010)
Torrance, Ca. Library, Feb. 2012, 2013
San Francisco Main Library, Jan. 2011
San Francisco Chinatown Library, Jan. 2011
Sunnyvale, CA. Library, 2015
Rosemead Library, CA, May,2013, October, 2013, 2015
Saddleback College, Emeritus Speakers Series, 2017
Desert Jade Women’s Club, Phoenix, AZ.
Chi-Am Circle Club, Cupertino, CA.
Berkeley Chinese Community Church (Southern Fried Rice)
Berkeley Chinese Community Church (Chinese Laundries)
Berkeley Chinese Community Church (Chopsticks, 2009)
Berkeley Chinese Community Church (Sweet and Sour) 2012
Berkeley Chinese Community Church (Odyssey, 2015)
Community Christian Alliance Church, Northridge, CA. 2008
Unitarian Church, Macon, GA. 2006.
Crossroads Writers and Literary Conference, Macon, GA. 2011.
Portland Chinese Scholarship Foundation, Portland, OR, 2012, 2013, 2016
Portland Chinese Scientists, Engineers, and Professionals, 2016
Interview, Bay Area People Rosy Chu KTVU-TV, Oakland, Ca.
Interview with Mississippi Public Radio, Sept. 2011.
Interview with WABE Radio, Sept. 2011.
Interview Xinhua TV with Mona Tu, Feb. 4. 2012.
Interview with Andrew Yeh, KBOO-FM, Portland, OR, 2012
RTHK Hong Kong Television Documentary, 2012
Who's Talking, Interview with D. G. Martin on WCHL-FM, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 2012.
Chewing the Fat. Interview with Monica Eng and Louisa Chu, WBEZ, Chicago, 2014.
Asian Pacific American Historical Society Google Hangout Book discussion, 2014.
Coca Cola National Headquarters, Atlanta, 2014
Museum of Chinese in America, New York, 2006, 2015
San Diego Chinese History Museum, San Diego 2007 (Southern Fried Rice)
San Diego Chinese History Museum, San Diego 2009 (Chinese Laundries)
San Diego Chinese History Museum, San Diego 2010 (Sweet and Sour)
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (2007, So Fried Rice)
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (2010, Sweet and Sour)
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (2015, Odyssey)
Chinese American Museum of Chicago (2008, Chinese Laundries)
Chinese American Museum of Chicago (2011, Sweet and Sour)
Chinese American Museum of Chicago (2015, Odyssey)
Northern Calif. Chinese History Museum, Marysville, CA.
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Society, Augusta, Ga. 2006
Organization of Chinese Americans, Atlanta, 2006
Asian Pacific American Historical Society, Atlanta, Georgia, 2010, 2014
Chinese American Citizen’s Alliance, Salinas, CA.
Chinese American Citizen’s Alliance, Leland, MS.
Chinese American Citizen’s Alliance, Chinatown, LA
National Assn of Asian American Professionals, Atlanta 2006
U. S.-China Peoples' Friendship Association, Long Beach, 2010, 2014
U. S.-China Peoples' Friendship Association, Washington, D. C. 2012
Organization of Chinese Americans and National Assn Chinese Americans,
Washington, D. C. 2012
Chinese American Citizen’s Alliance, Orange County, 2016
Chinese Professional Club, Houston, TX, (2008, Southern Fried Rice)
Chinese Professional Club, Houston, TX, (2009, Chopsticks)
Chinese Professional Club, Houston, TX 2016, Odyssey
Chinese Cultural Society of Stockton (Calif).
Sacramento Chinese Cultural Foundation (Calif.)
Marin Chinese Cultural Association, San Rafael, Ca.
Who’s Who in Asian American Communities in Georgia, Atlanta
Georgia Literary Festival, Macon, Georgia
Lake Havasu City Writers Group, Arizona
Locke Historical Dedication Event, Locke, CA.
Crossroads Writers and Literary Conference, Macon, GA. 2012
Foo's Ho Ho Restaurant Fundraiser, Vancouver, Canada, 2010
Chinese American Historical Societies Conference, Seattle, Washington, 2013
Festival of Authors, Duarte, California, 2013
Eastwind Books, Berkeley, California, 2014
Occidental College, Los Angeles
California State University, Long Beach Asian American Studies Classes
California State University, Long Beach Psychology
California State University, Long Beach Emeriti
California State University, Fullerton Asian American Studies
Mercer University, Macon, Ga. Educational Psychology
Arizona State University, Tempe Asian American Studies
Delta State University, Cleveland, Ms. 2008. 2011
Jackson State University, Jackson, MS.
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS. 2011
Memphis State University, 2011
Emory University, 2011
Downtown, City College of San Francisco 2014
Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts, 2013
Lake Forest College, 2015
Williams College, Massachusetts, 2016
Carnegie Library, Clarksdale, MS.
Hanford Public Library, Hanford, CA. (2007, Southern Fried Rice_
Foster City Public Library, Foster City, CA. 2008, 2011.2012, 2015
Cerritos Public Library, Cerritos Ca. ( 2009) (2010) (2015)
Long Beach Library Foundation, 2012
Signal Hill Library, 2011
Alhambra Public Library, Alhambra, Ca. (March, 2010)
Torrance, Ca. Library, Feb. 2012, 2013
San Francisco Main Library, Jan. 2011
San Francisco Chinatown Library, Jan. 2011
Sunnyvale, CA. Library, 2015
Rosemead Library, CA, May,2013, October, 2013, 2015
Saddleback College, Emeritus Speakers Series, 2017
Desert Jade Women’s Club, Phoenix, AZ.
Chi-Am Circle Club, Cupertino, CA.
Berkeley Chinese Community Church (Southern Fried Rice)
Berkeley Chinese Community Church (Chinese Laundries)
Berkeley Chinese Community Church (Chopsticks, 2009)
Berkeley Chinese Community Church (Sweet and Sour) 2012
Berkeley Chinese Community Church (Odyssey, 2015)
Community Christian Alliance Church, Northridge, CA. 2008
Unitarian Church, Macon, GA. 2006.
Crossroads Writers and Literary Conference, Macon, GA. 2011.
Portland Chinese Scholarship Foundation, Portland, OR, 2012, 2013, 2016
Portland Chinese Scientists, Engineers, and Professionals, 2016
Interview, Bay Area People Rosy Chu KTVU-TV, Oakland, Ca.
Interview with Mississippi Public Radio, Sept. 2011.
Interview with WABE Radio, Sept. 2011.
Interview Xinhua TV with Mona Tu, Feb. 4. 2012.
Interview with Andrew Yeh, KBOO-FM, Portland, OR, 2012
RTHK Hong Kong Television Documentary, 2012
Who's Talking, Interview with D. G. Martin on WCHL-FM, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 2012.
Chewing the Fat. Interview with Monica Eng and Louisa Chu, WBEZ, Chicago, 2014.
Asian Pacific American Historical Society Google Hangout Book discussion, 2014.
Coca Cola National Headquarters, Atlanta, 2014
Some Lessons I've Learned From Giving Talks
First, as I get older I have “become more Chinese,” and proud of it, just by learning what earlier generations of Chinese went through. Society has long made fun at the expense of Chinese, making some of us uncomfortable at being whom we are. By writing and talking about these aspects of our history, I hope other Chinese, and their children, will have greater awareness and appreciation of their heritage.
Second, during my talks around the country, I have met many remarkable Chinese. I found many of their family stories are much more ‘interesting’ and complex than mine. I have also been able to ‘reconnect’ many Chinese with their past friends and family through meeting and talking with them. I soon realized that I wasn’t telling my audiences much that most of them didn’t already know. So why did they come? Long overlooked, I think they valued the recognition someone was giving them in telling stories similar to their own. I hope my example will encourage some of them to write and publish their own experiences.
Third, Chinese, young and old, whether from mainland, Taiwan, or Guangdong, all need to know the history of Chinese in North America because to non-Chinese, we all ‘look alike.’ Even if your roots are not from Guangdong, if you are Chinese, or just look Chinese, you will be treated as Chinese, for better or for worse. Some Chinese today, ignorant of the past, bask in the current acceptance of Chinese. They think we have it made. History, however, tells us that any future negative U.S. attitudes toward China will adversely impact all Chinese irrespective of which part of China they came from or if they were born here.
Second, during my talks around the country, I have met many remarkable Chinese. I found many of their family stories are much more ‘interesting’ and complex than mine. I have also been able to ‘reconnect’ many Chinese with their past friends and family through meeting and talking with them. I soon realized that I wasn’t telling my audiences much that most of them didn’t already know. So why did they come? Long overlooked, I think they valued the recognition someone was giving them in telling stories similar to their own. I hope my example will encourage some of them to write and publish their own experiences.
Third, Chinese, young and old, whether from mainland, Taiwan, or Guangdong, all need to know the history of Chinese in North America because to non-Chinese, we all ‘look alike.’ Even if your roots are not from Guangdong, if you are Chinese, or just look Chinese, you will be treated as Chinese, for better or for worse. Some Chinese today, ignorant of the past, bask in the current acceptance of Chinese. They think we have it made. History, however, tells us that any future negative U.S. attitudes toward China will adversely impact all Chinese irrespective of which part of China they came from or if they were born here.