Those lesser races included Irish and most Catholics as well, blacks were literally a whipping boy used both as cheap labor and way to keep lesser white races in line. End of the day people are assholes.
Many of these things can be read in different ways. The modern interpretation is to read everything through a racial lens, but I don't think that captures the essence of the issue. The initial minimum wage laws really targeted sweatshops and child labor. It was viewed then that these employers had way too much power over labor and were depressing wages overall.
Where to draw the line between anti-Chinese antagonism and pushing out predatory business is subjective. But I think if you look at the circumstances surrounding the issue and the laws, you'll find more of the latter.
Many of these things can be read in different ways. The modern interpretation is to read everything through a racial lens, but I don't think that captures the essence of the issue. The initial minimum wage laws really targeted sweatshops and child labor. It was viewed then that these employers had way too much power over labor and were depressing wages overall.
Where to draw the line between anti-Chinese antagonism and pushing out predatory business is subjective. But I think if you look at the circumstances surrounding the issue and the laws, you'll find more of the latter.