Modern Day Chinatown Essays

As the mothers immigrated to the United States, they had undergone identity changes that would separate themselves from their Chinese cultures. Some identity changes are miniscule, yet left an impact on the mother's. Adjusting to the expectations set upon them during immigration made them present their westernized side. Many were reduced to being just students, displaced immigrants, or war brides. Immigrating women were not viewed as being there

Four Chinese mothers have migrated to America. Each hope for their daughter’s success and pray that they will not experience the hardships faced in China. One mother, Suyuan, imparts her knowledge on her daughter through stories. The American culture influences her daughter, Jing Mei, to such a degree that it is hard for Jing Mei to understand her mother's culture and life lessons. Yet it is not until Jing Mei realizes that the key to understanding who her

There are many Chinatown in this world, and the Chinatown of San Francisco has much historical significance; The Chinatown of San Francisco is the largest Chinatown in the United States, the largest community of Chinese Americans outside of China. Today I want to write about the of San Francisco base on my personal experience because there are many historic things I can illustrate. Before I started traveling this field trip, I did some researches carefully in San Francisco city guide, so I eager to travel as soon as possible. Finally I attended a free tour with San Francisco city guide, also they assigned a tour guide, Marann.

The first wave of Chinese immigrants arrived during the gold rush era. These immigrants were mostly young men that found work as “ploughmen, laundrymen, placer miners, woolen spinners and weavers, domestic servants, cigar makers, shoe makers, and railroad builders” (Lee 71). Many immigrants came during this period because the United States provided economic opportunities these immigrants were seeking. For others, coming the United States meant achieving the “Gold Mountain Dream,” which was to earn money and return back home rich (Lee 66). Chinese workers also ran their own business. The two most common were laundries, and restaurants which were considered “women’s work” because these were typically tasks done by women at home (Lee 75). However, laundry owners faced harsh realities since they worked and slept in the same place and “rarely left the premises because

Once the Chang family moved into Los Angeles and had their herbalist shop and asparagus farm under way, they realized the need for more laborers. In order to support their wives and kids with groceries, clothing, and education, the Chang’s needed to find the cheapest labor possible while still establishing the farm as a business that could support their income. The cheapest laborers were relatives, and they were for the most part thankful to come and work for Yitang, even if it was not their ideal working situation. One frustration Sam expressed in the book that may correlate to the continuing poor treatment and vision of the Chinese, is that within the Chinese workforce, most hard-working laborers in the railroad, farming, mining, and

Between the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Chinese population had expanded dramatically from having only about 55 people to 151,000. Most of the population has immigrated to California as the livelihood in China had became awfully difficult for them by sacrificing most of their valuables in order to improve their lives. The majority kept the Chinese culture with them and expanded it through establishing Chinatown, a community full of Chinese influence, with their presence in a new environment. In the remarkable novel, Outrun the Moon, Stacey Lee describes a teenage girl named Mercy Wong with a unique historical backdrop who chases after her dream in becoming an entrepreneur to create a better life for her own family. This book is astounding

The emergence of the second generation bloomed quickly and by 1930, 41% of the Chinese population in America was naturalized born citizens. The birth of a child in America was symbolization of an elite status in an Asian American’s family (Lee 177). First generation immigrant parents feared the worst for their children who were second generation Asian Americans. The parents of the children feared that their children will grow up learning the American culture and language that they would become too “Americanized” and forget

Often, these store owners provided rice, noodles, and vegetables not available in Euro-American stores and supplemented the workers’ diet with vegetables grown by local Chinese truck gardeners and meat from pigs, ducks, and chickens raised by Chinese farmers (Chan 1991). While such an association between early store owners and the Chinese laborers can hardly be called a community, their relationship filled a vital social and economic niche that was often lacking for most early non-white immigrants.

The gentrification of Chinatowns across the United States represent an environmental racism, because it forces people of of their homes on the streets. Most of the Chinatowns are located in the centers of the majors cities, surrounded by financial districts, and other rich neighborhoods. With current economy trends we can see an increase of new companies moving and opening new offices around different towns. With limited space available for new companies to open their business, landlords sell their building for big sum of money resulting in evictions. Such injustice is hard to stop because its not illegal, and all of the stakeholders besides the Asian Americans living in Chinatowns are happy with development. The possible winnable solutions to the problem of gentrification would be to strengthen the community so that the city representative could hear their voice and opinions when it comes the their problem. Asian Americans should try to be involved as United States citizens more as well, they should learn how to speak and understand english language and local laws better. Based on the book by Bindi Shah, Laotian Daughters, we can learn that organizing community and getting involved politically can help in reducing the environmental injustice, as well as reducing the negative stereotypes regarding Asian American minorities. Racial solidarity, critical incorporation and ethnic reconstruction that were used by APEN and the young Laotian girls could definitely help in reaching

     The focus of our group project is on Chinese Americans. We studied various aspects of their lives and the preservation of their culture in America. The Chinese American population is continually growing. In fact, in 1990, they were the largest group of Asians in the United States (Min 58). But living in America and adjusting to a new way of life is not easy. Many Chinese Americans have faced and continue to face much conflict between their Chinese and American identities. But many times, as they adapt to this new life, they are also able to preserve their Chinese culture and identity through various ways. We studied these things through the viewing of a movie called Joy Luck Club,

     Money. A word that captures all peoples attention was scarce among the Asian - American community. The low wages drove both parents into the work force and changed the roles of women in the family. The Asian way of the wife being submissive in all activities and only working at home with the children changed with the move to America. The wife’s working made a more equal standing in the household but also deprived the children of a quality home life. The importance of women in Asia is non-existent. For example: women had to walk behind their husbands in Asian culture but in American culture they rose to equal standing because of their work status.

On November 6, I went to Chinatown and I had my dinner at there. All the way down to the South, after I passed lakeshore drive and downtown, I arrived Chinatown. Usually I go to Chinatown once a week because I am from China and thus I really like Chinese food. First, I went to Little Lamb Hot Pot to have my dinner. After the dinner, I went to the food market to buy some food supplies and cooking materials. In my opinion, the impact of globalization in Chicago’s Chinatown can be reflected in food, commodity, and culture.

Chinese families are highly misunderstood and stereotyped in the United States. It is important to understand a different culture before one makes the assumptions produced by these stereotypes. In order to find a better understanding about Chinese immigrants and Chinese Americans, one must do research on that countries heritage, traditions, and other customs before submerging one-self into a Chinese families home. I chose to experience and observe a Chinese family who was kind enough to let me be a guest in their home to share dinner.

Amy Tan’s short story “Two Kinds” describes a Chinese immigrant family who hope of finding success and an overall betterment of life in America. After losing everything in China, Jing-mei’s mother, Mrs. Woo, tries as a minority house maid in the 1960s to provide all the opportunities she can for her last daughter. This short story revolves around the interactions between the Jing-mei, who desires a ordinary life, and Mrs. Woo, who seeks only the best from her daughter. The values of these two characters are in constant conflict of which creates a lasting segregation between parent and child. Through Mrs. Woo’s death, Jing-mei questions her childhood upbringing and her mother’s true intentions that were masked by pure immigrant ambition.

China has about five thousand years history which is a very long period of time. Also, the Chinese civilization was growing with these periods of time and it will continues greater than ever. Many wars and unhappinesses were happening during this period. Although, the time has passed, the histories and the civilizations have not passed. These family virtues, serious, working attitudes, sense of justice and the great Confucian tradition have been deeply assimilated into the Chinese people. Some Chinese traditions are different from North American’s. The Chinese culture has many special characteristics which are very interesting for people to learn.