A New York Chinatown Project.  Many lived within the 1 mile radius of New York City's Mott Street of Chinatown in 1940s-1960s.  Others came from the boroughs, from greater NYC, and from New Jersey for Chinese School or social networking.  Today, many have had successful lives and productive careers despite the discrimination and poverty that surrounded us, and the limited opportunities and access to the mainstream.  Our Chinese value system and Chinatown community kept us strong.
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As time moves on, we need to capture the valuable memories and stories of survival and success for our children, ourselves, and for history.  Each of us has had some life altering experience; each has had some fond memory that sustained us.  We need everyone's participation and contributions.  You have the stories.  You are the network.  Let's use this group to gather interested individuals to do it together.



• Despite many oral histories of the Chinese in America, there have been few of those from NYC Chinatown.  Our parents or ancestors were largely Toisanese farmers and Cantonese immigrants coming here to find their fortune to achieve the American dream.  They become mostly laundrymen and restaurant workers during a time of hostile anti-Chinese sentiment but welcoming of “coolie” labor.

• Often we were the lone Chinese family in our neighborhoods.  We came to Chinatown to find and affiliate with those who looked like us and shared a common heritage.  There are struggles and there are joys.  Others bring back sweet memories and were formative in our development.