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Rise of the At-Risk Chinatown
(photos: police officer; Goddess of Democracy statue; Comfort Women statues)
In the 1970s, non-profits were empowering Chinatown residents to speak up. It was a crucial time. Self-Help for the Elderly, On Lok senior services, the Youth Services Center, and the Chinatown Community Development Center, still thriving today, mobilized and educated its citizens. The ensuing decades saw the end of the Chinese gangs as law enforcement stepped up with the Gang Task Force. When the gangs dissipated, thieves (not of Asian descent) from adjacent neighborhoods started attacking elderly grandmothers also referred to as “walking ATMS.” Thugs would follow an old woman exiting from a bank and demand the cash from her purse. The San Francisco Police Department intervened and wisely added a few bilingual Chinese officers on the force. Over time, the SFPD built relationships and trust with the locals so they would not feel hesitant to report such crimes.
In the 1980s and until the close of the 20th century, this historic enclave would weather more trials. Newer and trendier Asian shopping centers around the Bay Area gave local Chinese fewer reasons to visit. The Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 collapsed the Embarcadero freeway artery that spilled into the community. The loss of this central route made it horribly inconvenient for customers to drive into the neighborhood, so they went elsewhere. Various merchants reported plummeting sales of 30 to 50 percent and higher. To make matters worse, the popularity of the Internet meant that anything offered in a Chinatown souvenir shop could be purchased online.
Newspapers labelled the area no longer relevant, but Chinatown soldiered on. Restaurants changed hands. Children of elderly shop owners took the reins out of paternal obligation. Landlords, retirement-ready, sold Chinatown’s commercial and residential interests to the highest bidder. Although family associations, politicians, and non-profits chimed in with different plans on what to do next, one thing was certain: Chinatown had to change to survive.
In the next decade, Chinatown boldly asserted itself. Chinatown sculptures would take social-political stands. At Portsmouth Square, the torch-wielding Goddess of Democracy looks oddly familiar. Dedicated in 1994, the bronze replica is based on the statue created during the 1989 Tiananmen Square student protest in China. At St. Mary’s Square, the Comfort Women memorial shows three young women, representing the Philippines, Korea, and China, holding hands as an elderly Asian woman helplessly looks on. The statue honors the tens of thousands of women forced into sex slavery to serve the Japanese soldiers before and during WWII.
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Rise of the At-Risk Chinatown
(photos: police officer; Goddess of Democracy statue; Comfort Women statues)
In the 1970s, non-profits were empowering Chinatown residents to speak up. It was a crucial time. Self-Help for the Elderly, On Lok senior services, the Youth Services Center, and the Chinatown Community Development Center, still thriving today, mobilized and educated its citizens. The ensuing decades saw the end of the Chinese gangs as law enforcement stepped up with the Gang Task Force. When the gangs dissipated, thieves (not of Asian descent) from adjacent neighborhoods started attacking elderly grandmothers also referred to as “walking ATMS.” Thugs would follow an old woman exiting from a bank and demand the cash from her purse. The San Francisco Police Department intervened and wisely added a few bilingual Chinese officers on the force. Over time, the SFPD built relationships and trust with the locals so they would not feel hesitant to report such crimes.
In the 1980s and until the close of the 20th century, this historic enclave would weather more trials. Newer and trendier Asian shopping centers around the Bay Area gave local Chinese fewer reasons to visit. The Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 collapsed the Embarcadero freeway artery that spilled into the community. The loss of this central route made it horribly inconvenient for customers to drive into the neighborhood, so they went elsewhere. Various merchants reported plummeting sales of 30 to 50 percent and higher. To make matters worse, the popularity of the Internet meant that anything offered in a Chinatown souvenir shop could be purchased online.
Newspapers labelled the area no longer relevant, but Chinatown soldiered on. Restaurants changed hands. Children of elderly shop owners took the reins out of paternal obligation. Landlords, retirement-ready, sold Chinatown’s commercial and residential interests to the highest bidder. Although family associations, politicians, and non-profits chimed in with different plans on what to do next, one thing was certain: Chinatown had to change to survive.
In the next decade, Chinatown boldly asserted itself. Chinatown sculptures would take social-political stands. At Portsmouth Square, the torch-wielding Goddess of Democracy looks oddly familiar. Dedicated in 1994, the bronze replica is based on the statue created during the 1989 Tiananmen Square student protest in China. At St. Mary’s Square, the Comfort Women memorial shows three young women, representing the Philippines, Korea, and China, holding hands as an elderly Asian woman helplessly looks on. The statue honors the tens of thousands of women forced into sex slavery to serve the Japanese soldiers before and during WWII.
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Rise of the American Born Chinese
(photos: Grant Avenue follies dancers; Sun Yat-sen statue)
Freely embracing American culture, Chinese entered the entertainment business. Chinese American nightclubs sprang up in Chinatown and on the outskirts with Chinese crooners whose voices reminded guests of Frank Sinatra. The most illustrious, the Forbidden City, boasted dancing and variety shows until the wee hours. Hollywood’s top stars, including comedian Bob Hope and movie star Ronald Reagan, flocked to see tuxedo-ed singers, costumed dancers, female impersonators, and comics who entertained in perfect English.
Shows mirrored the American stage and Silver Screen -- Larry Chan was billed as the Chinese Bing Crosby; dance team Dorothy Toy and Paul Wing were the equivalent of an Asian Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers; Colleen Li Tei Ming sang Irish ballads. The Forbidden City was so popular that non-Chinese clamored to showcase their talents by taking on Chinese stage names. The glory days, from the 1930s to 1960s, delivered four decades of rare memories for artists and patrons.
Meanwhile, Chinese immigrants were keeping close tabs on their beloved homeland. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, founder of the Kuomintang political party with a pro-democracy platform, won supporters in Chinatown. He was so revered that the Chinese in San Francisco and many other U.S. cities freely gave funds to his cause to overthrow ancient dynastic rule. In honor of the first president of the Republic of China and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s visit to San Francisco, businesses commissioned a statue of him in 1938, which still stands today in St. Mary’s Square on California Street.
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Rise of the American Born Chinese
(photos: Grant Avenue follies dancers; Sun Yat-sen statue)
Freely embracing American culture, Chinese entered the entertainment business. Chinese American nightclubs sprang up in Chinatown and on the outskirts with Chinese crooners whose voices reminded guests of Frank Sinatra. The most illustrious, the Forbidden City, boasted dancing and variety shows until the wee hours. Hollywood’s top stars, including comedian Bob Hope and movie star Ronald Reagan, flocked to see tuxedo-ed singers, costumed dancers, female impersonators, and comics who entertained in perfect English.
Shows mirrored the American stage and Silver Screen -- Larry Chan was billed as the Chinese Bing Crosby; dance team Dorothy Toy and Paul Wing were the equivalent of an Asian Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers; Colleen Li Tei Ming sang Irish ballads. The Forbidden City was so popular that non-Chinese clamored to showcase their talents by taking on Chinese stage names. The glory days, from the 1930s to 1960s, delivered four decades of rare memories for artists and patrons.
Meanwhile, Chinese immigrants were keeping close tabs on their beloved homeland. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, founder of the Kuomintang political party with a pro-democracy platform, won supporters in Chinatown. He was so revered that the Chinese in San Francisco and many other U.S. cities freely gave funds to his cause to overthrow ancient dynastic rule. In honor of the first president of the Republic of China and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s visit to San Francisco, businesses commissioned a statue of him in 1938, which still stands today in St. Mary’s Square on California Street.
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Chinese New Year for Everyone
February 12th 2021 - February 26th 2021
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Gung Hay Fat Choy!
This is the standard Happy New Year greeting in the Cantonese dialect. While western and European countries celebrate Christmas for one day, Lunar New Year lasts 15 days with gifts and meals and special decorations and parties. Without a doubt, It is hailed as the most elaborate and meaningful holiday of them all in Asia. Other Asian countries also celebrate the new year based on the lunar calendar. Vietnam calls its new year Tet Nguyen Dan. Tibet’s is Losan. Korea dubs its new year Seollal.
Chinese New Year sweeps in every winter, taking on a life form of its own. In San Francisco, everyone celebrates with the famous Chinese New Year parade (cancelled this year due to Covid-19), organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. The parade features more than 100 organizations and is considered the largest night parade in North America. The route is a little more than a mile long, but the event lasts at least three hours. It is a time to honor the Chinese in America, local politicians, and the Chinese schools and organizations throughout the Bay Area.
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Chinese New Year purists keep track and adhere to the traditional dos and don’ts, what to eat and not eat, what to wear and not wear. In days of old, it was a holiday that catered around the schedule of farmers, and the season lasted 15 days so people had enough time to travel long distances to pay homage to relatives. It is a time of reflection, family unity, and joyous, unlimited hope. The date moves around every year, for the tradition follows the lunar calendar. It falls between Feb 12 and Feb. 26th when the new moon appears which is one or two months after China’s winter solstice.
In 2021, the holiday begins on Chinese New Year’s Eve, Feb. 12, and concludes on February 26. For many Chinese in the San Francisco Bay Area, keeping the traditions associated with the season is important in passing on the values to the next generation and vital in honoring the older generation.
Laurene Chan, Cameron House director of youth ministries, continues to honor the holiday with her clan. To prepare for the first day of the new year, she fills a box with Chinese and Western treats that are symbolic. For example, she will include nuts like the pistachio which translates to a happy nut since the half-opened shell appears to be smiling. Says Laurene, “The first thing each of us in the family is supposed to do as soon as we wake up is to get a sweet from the box and then wish each other a new year blessing. The belief is that all year long, then, only sweet things will come from our mouths!”
During this time, Chinatown hosts a flower festival the weekend before Chinese New Year in order for families to purchase lucky blooms. Chinese supermarkets in the suburbs with large Asian populations load up on the significant ingredients to promote business success, health, well-being, and prosperity.
And if you want to join in the festivities of the Chinese New Year season, here are a few traditions detailing Dos and Don’ts.
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Decorate your home with Chinese couplets and characters on red paper which speak of blessings and prosperity. Add symbolic plants such as a lucky bamboo tree, kumquat tree, money tree, orchids, and potted flowers, never cut flowers. Peach blossom branches and pussy willows are also considered good luck.
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Gather your family together for a feast on Chinese New Year’s Eve, Jan. 24., and serve the following seven items at your dinner table: a steamed fish with the head and tail, dumplings, glutinous rice cake or niangao, longevity noodles, spring rolls, oranges with the stems and branches, and sweet rice balls. Other families also add a steamed chicken with head and tail for unity and strong foundation.
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Wear new clothes from top to toe, from underwear to coat, on New Year’s Day to represent newness and hope for the upcoming year.
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Give red envelopes called hung baos in pairs if given by a couple. The enclosed bills must be new, never used. Never give any amount associated with the number four, as the word sounds like death in Chinese. Banned gifts include: shoes, sharp items, clocks, pears, umbrellas, handkerchiefs, mirrors, and cut flowers.
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Remember to greet one another with Gung Hay Fat Choy!
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In the busy Bay Area, not everyone has time or desire to adhere to all the ancient rituals. In Campbell, California travel agent Lin Low says she still gives hung bao to her grown children, but prefers eating out for the holiday rather than cooking. In Los Gatos, Becky Wong will prepare a Chinese meal but refuses to put Chinese couplets all over the house because the papers only gather dust.
Calvin Yan, aide for San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin, was the first generation from his family to move to the U.S. in the 1970s. He recalls not doing much during the holiday since “we didn’t have too many family and friends to celebrate Chinese New Year with. All of them were still in Hong Kong. “
Over the course of time, however, as he has become more involved with Chinatown affairs, he has created his own rituals. He works annually with a team of volunteers to organize emcees along the Chinese New Year parade route. “Volunteering at events has become my way of celebration,” he says. “I do not participate much in the Chinese traditions – visiting family or going to temples, but I have adopted a new tradition with the community.”
In the melting pot of the United States, people borrow traditions from each culture, and the spirit of Chinese New Year can be celebrated by everyone. Whether its greeting others with Gung Hay Fat Choy or having a Chinese meal with friends, the intent of wishing others a prosperous year is good practice for all.