Day 112: Chinatown, Boston, Massachusetts
📌APIA Every Day (112) - Boston's Chinatown in Massachusetts holds a rich history of the early Chinese immigrants who arrived in the mid-19th century. Initially, Chinese immigrants came to New England as merchants and laborers seeking economic opportunities. However, the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 severely restricted Chinese immigration, resulting in a predominantly male population in Chinatown, often referred to as a "bachelor society."
Despite the challenges posed by the Exclusion Act, Chinese immigrants managed to establish a community in Boston's South Cove area, characterized by low rent and land values, providing essential services and a sense of home. Many turned to opening laundries due to exclusion from manufacturing and construction jobs, leading to the proliferation of Chinese-owned businesses along major transportation routes. Hostility towards Chinese immigrants, exemplified by speeches like Denis Kearney's in 1878, which strongly opposed Chinese laborers, resulted in discriminatory actions. Such actions were evident in the 1903 police raid, during which policemen forced Chinese Americans to produce citizenship documents during funeral ceremonies. However, nearby residents rallied a few days later in support of the Chinese community, highlighting concerns over individual liberties.
The 1906 San Francisco earthquake inadvertently aided Chinese residents in gaining citizenship, facilitating the formation of families and a gradual increase in Chinatown's population. With the rise of families, community organizations like the Denison Settlement House and the Kwong Kow Language School emerged, providing essential services and cultural education to immigrants and their children. Today, Boston's Chinatown is the third largest Chinatown behind Manhattan and San Francisco, marking the area's commitment to preserving Chinese heritage and culture. With the Chinatown’s history, the area is considered a potential National Historic Landmark in the National Park Service’s AAPI National Historic Landmark Theme Study.
LEARN MORE:
National Park Service: An Early History of Boston's Chinatown
Chinatown Main Street: Mission and History
The Vintage News: Old photos show Chinatown, Boston in the late 20th century
City of Boston: Chinatown, Exploring Boston’s Neighborhoods
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