Interview with Changzheng Wang, October 31, 2022

Partial Transcript: Hello, today is October 31st, 2022.

Segment Synopsis: Changzheng Wang states he is a professor at the College of Agriculture at Kentucky State University, describing Kentucky as his home for the past two years. Wang also describes his family, referencing his two children, wife, and two-year old granddaughter. Prior to living in Kentucky, he says he attended the University of Florida.

Keywords: Asian Americans.; Asian-Americans in Kentucky; College of Agriculture; Kentucky; Kentucky State University; Older Asian Americans; University of Florida

Partial Transcript: So will you tell us a little bit about your life before Kentucky.

Segment Synopsis: Wang describes growing up in rural China and living through the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Wang also states that he took China's college admissions exam and was part of the very small population that passed. He explains that he also passed an admission exam to study in the west and then attended graduate school in Canada. Wang describes his attempts and eventual acceptance to study at the University of Florida for his doctorate degree. He also recalls meeting his wife will in college in Canada. Wang and the interviewer also discuss the lack of heating and air conditioning at a Chinese Agricultural University, a school they both attended at different times.

Keywords: Agriculture education; Asian American students; Asian Americans.; China; China, 1962-; China, 1978-; China--History--Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976; College--China; Cultural Revolution; Education--China.; Gaokao (Educational test); Rural China; Universities and colleges--Admission.; University--China

Partial Transcript: Um, what was it like to be international student in, uh, basi--late eighties and the early n--w--late e-eighties, yeah, from China in particular?

Segment Synopsis: Wang describes being an international student in Canada and in the United States, stating that though his world language skills was limited in college, attending graduate school in Canada helped him become more fluent for when he moved to Florida. Wang also discusses a international student center that created connections between him and other families. Wang states that he was close with the family, even spending time with them on holidays. Wang also describes his close relationship with a Chinese-American couple. Wang also states that he had planned to return to China after receiving his doctorate, but the Tiananmen Square massacre shook his decision to return. Wang describes looking for jobs in the U.S., finding a job in women's health and nutrition.

Keywords: Agriculture education; Asian American students; Asian Americans.; China; China--History--Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976; China--History--Tiananmen Square Incident, 1989.; Chinese students--Foreign countries.; Education--China.; International student centers; International students; Language barriers; Students, Foreign.

Partial Transcript: Um, but, I want to, I want to, stay, stay with that little bit--want to ask you about--so, right before you started college, you just went through ten years of cultural revolution which was, in many ways, very traumatizing for young generations.

Segment Synopsis: Wang discusses moving from China's cultural revolution to Canada, explaining that because he was very young, he did not experience many of the adverse effects of the revolution. Wang describes his excitement in moving to Canada, explaining that he remembers China being rural and relatively underdeveloped compared to Canada. Wang recalls his first time flying to Canada, stating that the stewardess and captain allowed him into the plane's cockpit. He describes some of the various challenges with corresponding with his family in China, stating that he had to write a postage label in English for his family and that there were no telephones in his home village. Wang explains that because of this, he had little contact with his family.

Keywords: Asian American students; Asian Americans.; Canada.; China; China--History--Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976; Chinese foreign students -- Canada; Chinese students--Foreign countries.; Communication barriers; International students; Language barriers; Students, Foreign.

Partial Transcript: So, um, now let's move forward to the KSU.

Segment Synopsis: Wang discusses his family's move to Frankfort and later Lexington for more job opportunities. Wang also discusses his religion, stating that religion was banned in China when he grew up. Wang recounts his first interactions with Christianity from his connections with Christian families through Florida's international student center.

Keywords: Asian Americans--Religion.; Asian Americans--Study and teaching.; Asian Americans.; China--Religion.; China--Religious life and customs.; Chinese American families; Chinese Americans; Christian churches; Christianity.; Churches; Frankfort (Ky.); God (Christianity); Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Can you tell me a little bit about how you got involved in, in church and then you maintained that, uh, uh, your, you know, commitment and participation to the church?

Segment Synopsis: Wang discusses examining his belief system from China upon moving to Lexington, treating Christianity and China's atheism as "hypotheses" Wang states that the Church plays an important role in his belief system and community.

Keywords: Asian Americans--Religion; Asian Americans.; China--Religion.; China--Religious life and customs.; Chinese American families; Chinese Americans; Christian churches; Christianity.; Churches; God (Christianity); Lexington (Ky.); Questioning religion; Religious skepticism

Partial Transcript: So, this is great, because next set of a question was about community and you already brought it up.

Segment Synopsis: Wang describes his involvement in building his current church, a place of community for many Chinese Americans living in Lexington. Wang recounts helping Chinese families with little means both move and find needed resources, like groceries. Wang states that his help resembles the help he received when first moving west. Wang also describes the church as a hub for Chinese holidays and language education (in both English and Chinese).

Keywords: Asian American experience; Asian Americans--Religion.; Asian Americans--Social conditions.; Asian Americans.; Chinese American families; Chinese Americans; Chinese Americans--Economic conditions; Chinese Americans--Religion; Chinese Americans--Societies, etc.; Christian churches; Christianity.; Churches; English as a second language; English language--Study and teaching--Foreign speakers.; Lexington (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: So, that's when--I think 2-2005.

Segment Synopsis: Wang discusses his involvement in the creation of the Kentucky Chinese American Association in 2005, an organization that promotes both cultural pride and cross-cultural interactions. Wang states that though the organization hosts Chinese holidays, like Chinese New Years and Moon festivals. Wang discusses some of the organizations beginning challenges with holding festivals, eventually getting support from the city council and various businesses. Wang describes inviting city leaders in Kentucky to the KYCAA's events, as well as fundraising coordination.

Keywords: Asian Americans.; Chinese American families; Chinese Americans; Chinese Americans--Societies, etc.; Chinese New Year Festival; Chinese New Year.; Cross cultural communication; Intercultural communication.; KYCAA; Kentucky Chinese American Association; Mid-autumn Festival; Moon festival

Partial Transcript: So, let's now shift to the talking about Pandemic.

Segment Synopsis: Wang recounts collecting donations from the Lexington community to send to families in China when COVID-19 began to rise. Wang also describes COVID-19's movement into the U.S. and the anti-Chinese sentiment his community experienced. Wang discusses working with UKY's healthcare in order to raise the proper donations, like PPE equipment, to help various community organizations, ultimately raising $30,000.

Keywords: Asian Americans.; COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 -- Asian communities; COVID-19 -- Chinese communities; COVID-19 -- Chinese-American communities; COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Chinese American families; Chinese Americans; KYCAA; Kentucky Chinese American Association; Lexington (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: What did anybody from your church or organization that experienced some unfortune, um, you know, circumstances, events after the COVID started?

Segment Synopsis: Wang discusses some of the anti-Asian-American sentiment members of his and neighboring communities experienced, referencing one family that had trash thrown at them while driving and a Korean family told to "go back to China." Worried that the anti-Asian sentiment would continue, Wang states that the Chinese communities partnered with other Asian, African-American, and Israeli communities to meet with the police and hold a rally against ethnic and racial hate. Wang states that any kind of hate crime is a crime against everybody. Wang also states that the "haters" often don't know the differences between Asian groups, so its important for everyone to come together.

Keywords: Anti-Asian racism; Asian Americans.; COVID-19 -- Asian communities; COVID-19 -- Chinese communities; COVID-19 -- Chinese-American communities; COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Chinese American families; Chinese Americans; Cross cultural communication; Hate crimes.; Intercultural communication.; Racism against Asians.; Victims of hate crimes