Even as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders rise in numbers and political power, too often we are viewed as "perpetual foreigners"--from racist news segments to being asked "Where are you really from?" This stereotype has been deeply embedded in our nation's psyche: the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act was the first law to ban a group of people from immigrating to the United States based on their ethnicity and nationality, and the impact of this landmark, but little-known, law continues to be felt today.

The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) and the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) invite you to an exclusive preview of a portion of the upcoming PBS documentary, "THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT," followed by a panel discussion with the film's directors. We hope you can join us for this special preview and important conversation about how this law shapes immigration policy and informs our views of inclusion and exclusion--who is American and who can achieve the American Dream.

About the film:
THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT documents the causes, consequences, and continuing impact of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which reshaped American law, foreign policy, and civic life. The Chinese Exclusion Act is the first law in U.S. history that prohibited a group of people from immigrationing based on ethnicity and nationality—essentially banning most immigrants from Asia—from 1882 until the Act was repealed in 1943.

Panelists and Speakers:

• Brenda Abdelall, Muslim Advocates
• Ric Burns, Director
• Susan Chinsen, CAAM
• Christopher Kang, NCAPA
• Lakshmi Sridaran, South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)
• Lishin Yu, Director

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016

Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. 

Location: Verizon Technology & Policy Center, 1300 I Street N.W., 5th Floor, Washington, DC

RSVP: Please fill out this form by Oct. 25:  http://bit.ly/1026NCAPARSVP

Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be provided.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].