The Tears of Chinese Immigrants

Tony Barclay is a retired juvenile corrections probation officer and a
former public-health research associate at the University of Toronto.

Originally published in Chinese in Hong Kong, this book describes the
life of a Chinese man and his wife in Lethbridge, Alberta, in the 1950s.
While basically concerned with the struggle between the conservative and
progressive forces within the immigrant community, the book has power
and a moving quality, derived from its authenticity. It also has a
didactic aim: to expose the evils of gambling and of the old ways of
dominating children’s lives. At the same time, it asserts the virtue
of traditional Chinese values such as thrift, hard work, and education.
It evokes great sympathy for the hero, a gentle, hard-working man who
makes friends with his white neighbors, turning their prejudice to love
and admiration by his patience and humor.

The introduction, by Shen-Tai Chang, is most helpful and puts the book
into the context of classical Chinese writing and modern history. While
the book is about the special problems of Chinese immigrants, it also
relates to the whole immigrant experience in Canada. The author clearly
believes in the possibility of establishing a truly multiracial society
based on equality and mutual respect.