This letter represents the opinion of ethnic studies junior Julia Eng Godburn, business administration junior Janet Leung, ethnic studies junior Jewelea Rivas, biological sciences junior Derek Wampler, ethnic studies junior Kou Xiong, College of Science and Mathematics Dean Phil Bailey, campus curator Catherine Trujillo and associate professor Grace Yeh.
This letter is intended to inform the campus about a recent finding in the periodic table located in the Warren J. Baker Center for Science and Mathematics (building 180). Displayed in the case for the element 81, thallium, is a trade card for rat poison (which contains thallium) that was sold in the late 19th century. The trade card, which was a popular way to advertise products in this time period, features a Chinese man about to eat a rat with a slogan that reads “They Must Go,” referring to both the vermin and Chinese immigrants in the United States.
To understand the significance of the image, we must understand the historical and political context of America in 1885, when the ad was published. Like many trade cards of the time, the “Rough on Rats” ad reflects the contemporary social and political attitudes, which included racist sentiments towards Chinese immigrants and their supposed “threat” to the country. This attitude had led to the United States Congress passing an act in 1882 to end Chinese immigration. The Chinese man is depicted in “yellowface,” a set of stereotyped features that include slanted eyes, an overbite, mustard-yellow skin and “oriental” clothing and hairstyle. In addition to his appearance, the act of eating a rat reinforces the belief that Chinese are out of place, scary and disturbing. This caricature of Chinese immigrants in the United States created a culture of exclusion and discrimination.
No one at Cal Poly involved with the installation of the periodic table had known about this anti-Chinese “element.” The image was first noticed by a former student of Dr. Grace Yeh as one that she has students analyze in her Asian American Cultural Images course (ES 322). Dr. Yeh, who was teaching that same course last quarter and had a number of students who had just written a critical analysis of the image, brought her class to view the periodic table and the display. There was a brief discussion about the inappropriateness of the display and she asked if there was interest in creating a constructive resolution. Five students volunteered. Dr. Yeh contacted Phil Bailey, the Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, and Catherine Trujillo, curator for campus art, to help advise the students, and both agreed.
Collectively, we decided it was necessary to remove this image. Not only are students and faculty exposed to this image without having any historical context, but school children and members of the wider community visit our campus regularly and also have access to this image. Introducing images like this to youth can greatly affect the way they see and interact with people who are different from them. Moreover, there is a potential to create an environment on our campus where certain people do not feel welcomed.
In an academic setting like ours, we find it necessary not only to remove the image but also to teach others about this image that found its way into this otherwise invaluable educational tool. We have already notified RGB Research Ltd, the company that created the periodic table for Cal Poly, and explained the significance of the image. They responded quickly, apologized for their “unintended offence” and stated that they will not include the image in future displays.
We also invite the campus community to view and learn from this image before its removal after April. An informational poster has been created and is now displayed next to the periodic table. We thank the College of Science and Mathematics for delaying removal of the image and for collaborating with us to create a positive educational experience for the Cal Poly community.
Images like these are not exclusive to the 19th century. There continues to be a presence of distorted racial representations in popular culture. It is for these reasons that we have decided to make it our goal to use the discovery of this image as a learning opportunity for our campus. When we address these forms of discrimination as a community, we let our peers and the following generations know that as an educational institution we can make positive changes to create an inclusive environment.