The Family Chao

The first sections of the chapter are blog posts written by Lynn Chin for her journalism class covering Dagou’s trial. Lynn reports that a large audience attends the trial, including at least two dozen members of the Chinese American community, several nuns from the Spiritual House, and around 120 other people. Several are wearing buttons that read “Justice for Alf.” Fang predicts that if Dagou is found guilty, it will impact Haven’s attitude toward all Asians.

The prosecuting attorney claims the case is a “story of familial resentment and the violent end of an American dream” (205). Cecilia Chang testifies that her grandfather was coming to visit them, though she admits she has no proof there was money in his bag. A white night nurse at the hospital testifies that she heard Dagou threatening to kill Leo, but under cross-examination she can’t identify Dagou and admits all Asians look alike to her. The prosecuting attorney emphasizes that the Chinese community is “insular” and an “enclave” (209). Lynn detects that he is trying to play up their “Chineseness,” and once or twice he uses the word “inhuman” (214).

When O-Lan testifies, the court brings in a Mandarin interpreter from Chicago.