How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #1
[…] my father the paperson
in the late 1950s (9-10)
In describing her dad as a "paperson," the speaker refers to Chinese men who entered the U.S. using fake papers. They were referred to as "paper sons." This description of her father points to all the trouble that immigrants go through to enter America, all in the search for a better life in the U.S.
Quote #2
a gambler, a petty thug,
who bought a chain of chopsuey joints
in Piss River, Oregon,
with bootlegged Gucci cash (27-30)
The speaker depicts her dad as a hustler: he bought his food joint using money he made selling fake Gucci stuff. Here, again, the speaker's words point to how hard immigrants have to hustle in order to establish themselves in America.
Quote #3
We're not very creative but not adverse to rote-learning.
Indeed, they can use us.
But the "Model Minority" is a tease" (40-42)
In referring to the "Model Minority" stereotype here, the speaker points to how foreigners and immigrants are often the victims of stereotypes. As a Chinese-American, the speaker is (mis)labeled by mainstream American culture.