Exploring the Racial Discrimination against Chinese American Immigrants: Analysis of Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere in the Backdrop of Critical Race Theory

Abstract

This article aims at the exploration of the novel Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng as a reproduction of the racial discrimination and marginalization experienced by a Chinese immigrant woman, Bebe Chow who is unable to get the custody of her biological daughter May Ling Chow from a White American family of McCulloughs through a legal battle. Drawing insight from the certain concepts of Critical Race Theory inferred from the work of Delgado and Stefancic, the study ascertains that Bebe Chow offers a strong resistance against the injustice by kidnapping her daughter and leaving America for China. The findings of this study reveal that the Asian immigrants in America often face various oppressions embedded in the societal structure and legal system due to their marginalized status in the society. The study also encourages the immigrant women to offer resistance against their persecution on the basis of colour and race.