Chinatown In America

Waxman, Sarah. "The History of New York City's Chinatown." The History of New York City's

Located within manhattan’s lower east side, exists the unique world known as Chinatown. This tight knit community attracts both native residents, an estimated population of 70,000-150,000 citizens, and tourists from across the globe. Within its radius of two square miles are shops, homes, and restaurants. Whether you are on the hunt for cheap exotic meals or desserts, Chinatown is the place to be.

Frequently exploited by American capitalists, Chinese laborers were whipped to dig in gold mines, build railroads, and plant crops. Industry boomed in Western America as the Chinese toiled ceaselessly. Free immigration was suggested by the United States in the 1868 Burlingame Treaty because of the need for labor in America and the potential benefits of trading with the Chinese. Labor was cheap, and many forms of fraud and propaganda were employed to bring Chinese laborers to the United States. The discovery of gold was also very beneficial in enticing the Chinese (Tsai, China overseas 13).

Gentrification threatens millions of families around the world and is separating people from their ethnic background. A relatable topic to this controversy is the the removal of chinatowns across the country. Three out of fifthteen are still progressing while others are either being torn down or replaced with much more expensive high priced apartments or restaurants which the people who live there cannot afford. As you have the poor leave their was once was home, they flee to cities with cheaper houses or apartments for rent. Some of theses people even become homeless and always wonder where their next meal will come from. The most important issue here are the kids who live in these communities. Where will they get their education since they won’t be able to go to school? This will lead to violence and the percentage of homeless people will increase.

In the essay Chinatown: A Contested Urban Space, by Mary Ting Yi Lui, Chinatowns collectively occupy a special place in the collective imagination of American ethnic history and the nation’s contemporary multicultural identity, as evidenced by their serving as the settings for various motion pictures. From coast to coast, Chinatowns remain major tourist draws, and continued immigration from the Chinese diaspora ensures that Chinatown will retain their social and cultural significance for many years to come. Chinese Americans are the oldest and largest Asian ethnic group in the United States, consisting of fourth and fifth-generation Americans of Chinese descent and recent immigrants of languages spoken and points of origin. Chinese immigration

Blue plastic gloves on, overworked brooms in hand, youth walked through the streets of Chinatown towards the narrow alleys between buildings. These alleys were littered with cigarette butts, some still burning with the stench of smoke, urban liquid flowing along the gaps of concrete, and accumulations of debris blocking the way. Along with this “beautiful” sight was spray paint doodles on the walls. We fought through the terrifying landscape with our brooms, pickers and trash bags. With our hands sweaty and gravity against our bodies, we looked back at our work. This gave us satisfaction. These alleys are the paths to the lives of the community. Each alley is an entrance to a part of Chinatown's’ history.

In conclusion, we were successful for figuring out the assumptions and reality of DC Chinatown. Yes, the area is a lot safer and has more attractions. However, in order to create a safer environment in Chinatown, the DC government has bought off most of the Asian American neighborhoods and small businesses. The people we interviewed assumed that the Asian American population is large or of the majority based on the Asian themed restaurants and businesses. We figured out the Asian American population is not only small, but is decreasing at an exponential rate. The Wizards stadium today used to be houses 20 years ago. Through government spending and politics of the city, Washington, DC is using gentrification to push minorities away, and our

However, in 1981, the US Census noticed that Chinatown in decreasing in population size mainly because successful Chinese Americans have migrated into the suburbs and Virginia. Another reason why Chinatown is decreasing is because Chinatown is facing gentrification as new projects are ‘rolling in for downtown’ (Wang, 2015). In 2010, there was a report that Chinatown only has around 300 residents. Today, the enclave contains 21% Asian Americans where as in the 1990’s, the population was 66% Asian. To see whether it was true, we went down to Washington DC to observe and figure out what was it like to live in Chinatown. For the past few weeks, we discovered that Chinatown is always busy. The noises of the busses were extremely loud and the area was crowded with people from all different backgrounds. The only thing that stood out for us was the fact that

Chinese Immigration to the United States in the nineteenth century until 1870 was shaped by a combination of factors including internal political turmoil and financial instability throughout China, growing western Imperial and economic influences in South East Asia, China 's deepening trade deficit with European nations, and industrial and technological innovations. Concurrently, the rising demand for inexpensive labour during the California Gold Rush, (1848-1858) development of national railway projects, and the range of economic possibilities in America provided many Chinese Sojourners with the opportunity to support their families and villages at home. Therefore, an understanding of the international context of Chinese immigration to America is necessary to fully understand the dynamics and complexity of the period.

Whenever one hears of segregation, they tend to write it off as a relic of the past. The Emancipation Proclamation as well as Civil Rights reforms further solidify this idea for many Americans that race relations have finally abated, and blacks and whites are equal. However for most minorities, segregation is still prevalent in everyday society in areas one least expects it. This is the case in New York City. One presumes that New York City - a sanctuary city that is deeply rooted in libertarianism, is deeply intertwined with segregation. Segregation is extremely ingrained subconsciously in the citizens of this city - after all in a city that is as diverse as New York, it seems like an evolutionary instinct for racial groups to band together as it increases survival for the entire pack. Chinatown is reflective of this primal instinct after larger numbers of Chinese immigrants came into New York during the 1800’s (New York Chinatown, 1). Most came in search of work and opportunities, and often worked in textile factories and tobacco rolling. Whites were outraged at Chinese immigrants as they couldn’t compete with their power wages and longer hours, and this animosity grew and climaxed at the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 (New York Chinatown, 2). As a result, the Chinese population self-segregated in what is known today as Chinatown, and founded their own businesses that satisfied their everyday needs such as supermarkets, temples, medical buildings, and more. One can walk

In order for Philadelphia to maintain its rich culture and diversity, Chinatown must be preserved. Chinatown has become a centerpiece of Philadelphia for tourist and residents alike to experience eastern culture. The people are friendly, there are plenty of strangers on the streets, and plenty late night business and as Jane Jacobs would describe it, successful (35). Therefore as a public space that is suitable to the public it should be preserved. However, it is the target for many developers. In the past there have been numerous attempts to develop the Chinatown district, all of which would have compromised the integrity of Chinatown, which has been around since the late 1800s. The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, or the PCDC, was founded because of these threats to Chinatown and has constantly fought off development threats to Chinatown (Lechner). However, the developments that were constructed including the Vine Street Expressway and several urban renewal projects south of Chinatown have effectively stopped growth in those areas. Because of limited space and growing population further developments have been shot down rather quickly by residents including the Foxwood Casino and in 2004 the construction of the new Phillies stadium.

Like King Midas’ greed, the lure of instant wealth amid dreams of piles of gold led many Chines to America and eventually to the misery of Midas. Upon hearing of the news of Gold Mountain in 1848 in California, many Chinese immigrants came to America on ships. Most Chinese immigrants were coming to America to become wealthy and to support their families. The Chinese immigrated into the United States due to the economic hardship in China as well. Upon arriving, they worked in gold mines and on building railroads, they faced resentment from Americans, and ultimately the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed.

In contrast to the orderly state of San Francisco proper, the result of what Glazier identifies as the “better class of citizens,” making up the vigilance committees, Glazier ties Chinatown’s fame to its foreign character. “It is a locality which no stranger should fail

Chinese-Americans are a huge group in the Unite State that most of them lived in New Yoke and California. Ever since the California Gold Rush (1848-1855), enormous Chinese went to California for gold digging. After that, more and more Chinese immigrated to the U.S. for work. At first, they worked in the gold mine, and then they went on factories to seek more opportunities, especially garment factory. These Chinese need money for their families which still stay in China and waiting for them. However, this had aroused the resentful of those non-Chinese labors. At 1882, Unite State

As a person who identifies as a Chinese-Vietnamese-American, it’s a shame to grow up with only 2 sides of my culture. I’ve lost touch with the my Chinese background due to the area I grew up in. San Jose is the ultimate mecca for Vietnamese-Americans in the entire United States. From my experience, the Chinese population in my community is constantly overshadowed by the booming Vietnamese population. I feel as if it’s my duty to reintroduce the Chinese culture.