A Study of Chinese Populations Throughout New York

Chinese immigration in the United States in general and in the New York City area in particular has been a dynamic process over the past few centuries. There have been three major “waves” of Chinese immigration into America. The first began in the 1820s, with most of the very first Chinese immigrants being merchants. This first wave mostly stuck to their traditional Chinese culture, and often faced heavy discrimination from the main population. Eventually, the demand in the United States for labor to build the transcontinental railroad drew in more immigrants. Then continuing from about 1849-1880, the California Gold Rush also drew many newcomers from China to America. Following World War II, and truly starting around 1980, the United States decided to open up its borders to the Chinese and many others. This third wave is marked by a growing divide between the educated, professional or student Chinese immigrants and those immigrants who are looking for unskilled labor. It is noted that these two groups do not communicate much with each other, and have formed their own distinct communities.

2010 Census dot-density map of Asian population in the NYC area

History of Chinatown

Although Chinatown is praised by many New Yorkers today as a great cultural center, this was not always the case. In its early years, Chinatown served as a haven for prostitution, gambling, and a black market for opium. Chinese immigrants would come to New York in the 1800s, finding themselves absorbed into this scandalous environment. Many women coming from poorer families were forced into prostitution. Although these illegal acts did happen, it is argued that the frequency and commonality of these acts has been exaggerated by white America.

Following decades of discrimination and isolation from mainstream America, the Chinese in Chinatown began to create their own governmental systems to run local neighborhoods. These governments were designed to provide jobs for documented and undocumented Chinese immigrants alike, and they often succeeded in doing so.

Today, the large, alluring tourist market that Chinatown offers helps to keep this section of Manhattan a thriving jewel of New York. Increased legal economic activity in the area has led to a downfall in crime. Chinatown is stronger now than ever before, in part because it now appeals to and affects those inside and outside of its borders.Chinese Cultural Institutions On Staten Island

A wonderful place to view Chinese culture at its finest is at Staten Island’s Snug Harbor Cultural Center. Snug Harbor is home to several theaters, parks and botanical attractions, including the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden. The garden portrays key elements synonymous with ancient China and helps guests to understand life there. There are rock formations at every turn, which resemble mountains that inspired countless works of art and poetry of Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist monks and scholars. The garden holds eight pavilions; there is a lush bamboo forest path, several waterfalls, a Koi-filled pond, examples of Chinese calligraphy, and a variety of Ghongshi scholar’s rocks. As you walk down the stoned paths, the beauty of this attraction is striking and the atmosphere is peaceful, with nothing but the sounds of trickling water and the wind through the bamboo. The Scholar’s Garden is inspired by various gardens in China from the Ming Dynasty. According to an employee at Snug Harbor, the New York Scholar’s Garden is one of two scholar’s gardens in America. Snug Harbor ‘s informational website reveals: “A team of 40 Chinese artists and craftsmen spent a year in China creating the Garden’s components and another six months in Staten Island as craftsmen-in-residence at Snug Harbor to complete the construction” (Par. 2). Their work is stunningly accurate. I had never heard of this attraction prior to receiving this assignment. Once I saw the beauty of this garden, I was shocked at how overlooked it is. Many New Yorkers are unaware that such a culturally enriching and magnificent botanical garden exists within reach.

Photograph by Courtney Sinodinos

A second institution, which many Staten Islanders are familiar with, is the Chinese restaurant Peking Taste. Located on Richmond Avenue and Arden Heights, this restaurant has been serving classic Chinese dishes for decades. Chinese cuisine is often characterized by dishes with diversified color and is typically seasoned with soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and salt. This is exactly what customers receive at Peking Taste; great tasting food with all the properties of a standard Chinese dish. Although Chinese food has managed to enter American society through Peking Taste, Chinese architecture and design has not. The exterior of the eatery is decorated with flashy neon signs to attract customers, typical of a diner. The interior is bland with neutral walls and wooden booths characteristic of a New York pizzeria. Despite its appearance, Peking Taste is a place where cultures are infused; their Chinese cuisine is enjoyed by Staten Islanders daily.