NYC Chinatown Oral History Project

 

The narratives of the Cantonese Chinese in New York City are captured in this project.  These were the early Chinese pioneers coming from the rural villages of Toisan in southern China.  From peasant farmers, most became laundry owners or restaurant workers due to discrimination and access which precluded them from the mainstream of American society. Many lived within the 1 mile radius of New York City's Mott Street of Chinatown in 1930s-1960s.  Others came from the boroughs, from greater NYC, and from New Jersey for Chinese School or social networking.  Today, their children have had successful lives as American citizens and productive careers as professionals despite the discrimination and poverty that surrounded them.  The Chinese cultural values and Chinatown community kept them strong. These were connections, bonds, and supports that have lasted a lifetime.
 
As time moves on, the project intends to capture the valuable memories and stories of survival and success for our children, ourselves, and for history.  Two volumes of these oral histories have now been published since the inception of the project in 2013. 



Website: ceoservices.wix.com/nycchinatownoralhist