The historical woman that I have selected to write about is Mary Tape, a Chinese immigrant and mother who demonstrated great strength and courage when questioning the educational system of California. Mary Tape can be characterized by her willingness to stand up against the racist and unjust practices of California and her commitment to her children. Originally, I was unaware of the significance of Mary Tape as my previous knowledge did not include the teaching of the landmark case of Tape v. Hurley. Until Women in US II, I was only aware of the predecessor case of Plessy v. Ferguson, mandating legal segregation and establishing “separate but equal” facilities, such as schools, restaurants, water fountains, and public restrooms. Although the ending of Plessy v. Ferguson was influential in promoting justice for…show more content… During the late 1800’s, there was a rise in immigration from Japan, China, Italy, Poland, and Russia as a means to escape poverty, crop failures, raising taxes, political instability, and based on promises of economic security through employment and prosperity. Following the emergence of the Opium War and political instability in China, many Chinese immigrants, including Mary Tape, decided to immigrate to the United States for greater political, economic, and social opportunities and the promise of the “American Dream.” Upon immigrating to the United States in the 1860’s, Mary Tape “married Chinese immigrant Joseph Tape in 1875” and became a resident of San Francisco where she, her husband, and her three children, Frank, Emily, and Mamie resided (Dubois 291). Through the establishment of their home in San Francisco, Mary Tape and her husband were under the expectation that local public schools would be accepting toward their daughter, Mamie Tape, regardless of her
