Chinese Americans, like pretty much every other American, were horrified at the events of Pearl Harbor. Well, no shit, they considered America to be home and whatnot. Many Chinese Americans would go on to serve in the armed forces during World War II, work in war-time factories, and sell war bonds for the effort.

Here's an image of a Chinese American store owner speaking with Mrs. Joanne A. Tee, price specialist of the Office of Price Administration (OPA); the two are discussing how price ceilings would help the cause against the Axis powers. These two images depict Chinese workers making steel ramp boats to be used in the Pacific theater. Further images of Chinese Americans contributing to the war effort on the home front can be found in Chinatown in Los Angeles (among other images of LA Chinatown's history).

However, Chinese Americans were well aware of the racism being perpetuated against the Japanese. This image is of Chinese people in Los Angeles Chinatown passing out buttons saying "China", specifically so that they would be identified as Chinese, and not Japanese.

Nevertheless, as allies against Japan, the Chinese did not suffer as much discrimination as the Japanese did.

Chinese Americans were well aware of the virulent racism made worse by war with Japan. As the photograph illustrates, some wore buttons that read “I am Chinese” to distinguish themselves from Japanese. Given China’s ally status, Chinese Americans suffered less discrimination than Japanese. Many Chinese joined the military. A photograph of Chinatown’s American Legion post shows veterans of World Wars I and II. Like other American women during the war-based labor shortage, Chinese American women worked on the home front — illustrated here by a woman on a construction site.

In 1943, Congress passed the Magnuson Act, which repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act. The reasons were twofold: the United States sought out China as an ally during WWII, and also sought to deflect Japanese propaganda in Asia that called the United States a racist country for its exclusionary and segregationist practices. Due to provisions of the Magnuson Act and a later War Brides Act, Chinese Americans were able to bring wives to America, beginning a new generation.

Approximately 250,000 Filipino men joined the US armed forces to fight in World War II. Anacieto Soriano, Sr. (at right) and his friend are shown wearing their 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment uniforms. But after the war, President Truman signed the Recission Act of 1946, effectively erasing their service records and denying them military benefits. Many of these California veterans live in near poverty today. As of mid-2007, S. 57, The Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007, has not been voted on.

- source

##War Relief for China

Horrified at reports coming out of China about starvation, orphaned children, and the rape of women, Chinese American women helped raise money to defend China and alleviate the suffering of its people. They encouraged all women to wear cotton stockings instead of Japanese silk. They raised money for food and medical supplies by organizing bazaars, fashion shows and theatrical productions. Chinese Americans raised funds for war bonds, the New Life Movement, Rice Bowl Campaign and Seven-Seven Campaign. More money was raised to support war relief in Los Angeles than in any other Chinese American community.

##The Home Front in Chinatown

The Sino-Japanese War energized the Chinese American community. After Pearl Harbor, new opportunities opened up as non-Chinese workers shipped out. Chinese Americans now found work in craft industries, as well as professional and technical occupations. Concerned about being confused with Japanese Americans who were being forcibly interned in desert camps, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association printed up insignias, registration certificates, pins and armbands promoting Chinese-American allegiance. A 1939 Chinatown survey showed that (Chinese American) teenagers were increasingly enamored with popular culture. On the radio, they listened to Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor, George Burns, Gracie Allen and Al Jolsen. The girls adored Bing Crosby, while the boys preferred the Hit Parade Orchestra.

-source