African Entrepreneurship Record

”The Chinese have numerous vices and prejudices, making it impossible for them to assimilate into American life, much less accept the Christian-based ethical standards of America; moreover, the influx of Chinese laborers has created a tense situation by competing with American workers for jobs, leading to reduced wages.” —Labor Knights.

”Today, America officially passed the ’Act to Execute Certain Treaty Stipulations Relating to Chinese,’ marking a significant step forward in American societal progress, representing the preservation of traditional order and culture, while also safeguarding the interests of the broader San Francisco citizenry.” —San Francisco Workers’ Association.

Anti-Chinese sentiments in America have a long history, particularly centered in California in the western region. However, starting in May 1882, their political stance was officially supported by law for the first time in American history.

San Francisco quickly established a Chinese immigration processing station to deport Chinese immigrants, and the East African Immigration Bureau soon reached an agreement with San Francisco city officials to help America save on deportation expenses.

Angel Island Immigration Processing Station.

An ironic name, as now all illegal Chinese in San Francisco are sent here, where the cramped space is teeming with people, even filthier and more chaotic than San Francisco’s slums.

Most of the Chinese here still keep their queues, akin to the Far Eastern Empire, their faces are sallow with hunger, their clothing tattered, and their health visibly poor, as they do menial, laborious jobs not much better than in the Far Eastern Empire.

Even Wilson, an immigration officer accustomed to various scenes, feels some disdain for this environment, but thinking about last year’s work frustrations, now an opportunity has come, he has no choice but to accept this job here.

Wilson, as usual, takes the key to open the small house of the immigration processing station, then his assistant brings out the table and chairs.

A crowd is already packed in front of the house, with newcomers sent here daily who learn of Wilson’s presence through word of mouth from the elders.

Since not everyone is willing to go to Africa, having stayed in America, they know some news about Africa. America’s dealings with East Africa have not been frequent, so their impression of Africa remains as it was a decade ago. Of course, some people just want to return to the Far East or hope to escape and remain illegal in America.

Those unwilling to work in Africa or distrustful of Wilson naturally stay longer in the immigration processing station.

However, many are driven to desperation, and these are mostly undocumented individuals. Naturally, many Chinese in America are undocumented, as the Far Eastern Empire’s government does not encourage emigration, especially from the Southern China Region, coinciding with the time of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

Wilson starts his day’s work, observing the first person standing in front of the table. After ensuring he is physically sound, he asks directly, ”What work do you do in America?”

”Dock worker.”

”Where did you work before?”

”New York.”

”Why come to San Francisco? New York is far from San Francisco.”

”Sir, recently all over America people like me are being caught and sent here.”

”Do you have a willingness to work in Africa?”

”Is there food provided?”

”Of course, but Africa is very far, and the journey might be tough.”

”Then I’ll go. I’m not afraid of hardship.”

”You’ve passed!” With that, Wilson hands him a small ticket.

Without even registering information, as long as you have this small ticket, you can board the ship to Africa. This rough selection process is very different from the usual practices of the East African Immigration Bureau.

Wilson is also too lazy to educate them about Africa, since this East African recruitment drive for immigrants does not have strict requirements, these people are all being sent to the Sigmaringen royal estate.

If East Africa were selecting immigrants, they would definitely be carefully selected, but for other regions and countries, there are no strict requirements.

Of course, if a rare talent is encountered, East Africa will certainly intercept for itself, but this is unlikely to happen. The Chinese who come to America are basically at the lowest level of society.

Hundreds of people daily are sent to Africa by Wilson, and the ships bringing these people back to Africa are the same ones coming from East Africa to America to transport slaves.

After all, America has anti-Chinese legislation, but no anti-Black legislation, so with East Africa’s help, the population numbers are not affected by ins and outs.

Many of these Chinese have been ”educated” by the industrial society in America, and once they go to the Sigmaringen royal estate, they can better contribute to the construction of the Sigmaringen royal estate.

”These Chinese are adventurers from the Far Eastern Empire, many are gold miners, or were lured to participate in American railroad construction. Now we conveniently send them to the Sigmaringen royal estate to solve the population problem there,” said Captain Viss of the Delores slave ship speaking to Wilson after work.

”Mr. Viss, the treatment at the Sigmaringen royal estate should be good. Staying in America provides no prospects, so they might as well try their luck in Africa, that’s how I initially went to East Africa.”

If it weren’t for East Africa’s intervention, most of these immigrants, even if they stayed, might only last a generation in America, given their status lower than that of Black people, having no value in America’s marriage market.

On the other hand, those who have long gone to East Africa may have already had several children, but this batch of Chinese immigrants clearly doesn’t have such luck.

It’s still the period of the Great Depression in America, and long before the 1873 economic crisis, East Africa was already recruiting people in America, which was the last window of opportunity.

In fact, the anti-Chinese legislation was a result of economic decline at the time, and American society needed a scapegoat. The low status, different values, and weak Chinese community were the easiest targets for bullying.

Now going to Africa, without skills, East Africa would not want them, including railway workers, who can only be sent to the Belgian Congo and the Sigmaringen royal estate.

After all, East Africa had given them an opportunity before, even before the economic crisis, and for Chinese who managed to reach America, it indicated some degree of courage, which East Africa didn’t need.

Initially, if it weren’t for the draining of German immigration potential, East Africa wouldn’t have wanted to take in German immigrants from America.

This recruitment of immigrants mainly serves to fill the gaps in the Sigmaringen royal estate and the Belgian Congo, as for the specific treatment, it depends on the conscience of the Belgians and the governance methods of the Sigmaringen royal family.

Overall, going to Africa is still quite okay, especially to the Sigmaringen royal estate. The Sigmaringen royal estate is modeled after East Africa, so the possibility of Chinese immigrants facing discrimination is relatively low.

In fact, the anti-Chinese legislation is not an isolated case; the East African government also has similar measures targeting East African Blacks. However, Ernst wants to save face and won’t directly write it into the code like America.

In California, where the anti-Chinese sentiment is most severe, initially, the California government did not support anti-Chinese laws because Chinese taxes filled the government’s deficit. Later, when the government became financially stable, they no longer opposed anti-Chinese laws.

This is very similar to East Africa; after the development of East Africa’s eastern part, they also began the ”anti-Black” campaign, with the first execution areas being the two provinces in the Somali region.

Everyone is adept at burning bridges after crossing, so East Africa can’t stand on the moral high ground to criticize America’s actions, unless America targets East Africa, revealing each other’s dirty secrets and scandals in return.