{"id":37,"date":"2024-04-16T14:33:57","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T18:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/msp3196s24\/?p=37"},"modified":"2024-04-16T14:35:11","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T18:35:11","slug":"philadelphia-chinatown-a-place-of-friendship-and-discovery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/msp3196s24\/2024\/04\/16\/philadelphia-chinatown-a-place-of-friendship-and-discovery\/","title":{"rendered":"Philadelphia Chinatown: A Place of Friendship and Discovery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Economic Impact of Philly Chinatown<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Under the pseudonym of the Philadelphia \u201cTenderloin<\/a>\u201d or \u201cRed-Light District,” Philadelphia Chinatown was born by Lee Fong<\/a> in 1871 with a laundry service, the first business on 913 Race Street. Fong was subjected to anti-Chinese rhetoric, sparking the relocation to the east coast. There are various Chinatown\u2019s spread throughout the country, often in areas considered undesirable and dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Lee Fong’s 1870 laundry at 913 Race St.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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For decades, Philadelphia Chinatown was solely a concentration of Chinese businesses on the 900 block of Race Street. The Page Act of 1875,<\/a> which prohibited Chinese women from entering the United States; the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882<\/a>, which barred further immigration and declared Chinese immigrants ineligible for naturalization; and the Geary Act of 1892<\/a> required Chinese people to carry a registration certificate or face one year of hard labor or deportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to raging discrimination and racism, Chinese people relied on creating their own small businesses, such as laundries, grocery stores, restaurants, and shops selling import and export goods, resulting in the first passage of laws aimed toward an ethnic group. Chinese people faced harassment while standing outside their own neighborhood.1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, as I sat there in the restaurant with so many options, it was clear how much they valued their culture and cuisine, sharing their extensive variety of dishes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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1600 Vine Street Expressway, 1971 Credit: Philadelphia City Archive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In 1966, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation revealed plans for the Vine Street Expressway that would cut through Chinatown, preventing its expansion or relocation. The expressway, constructed from 1957 to 1991, caused destruction and division in the neighborhood, as both transportation networks brought noise and pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The community’s response led to the first Town Hall meeting organized by Cecilia Moy Yep<\/a>, supported by the Chinese Benevolent Association. Various groups and individuals gathered to discuss strategies to oppose government actions affecting Chinatown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This meeting led to the formation of the Committee for the Advancement and Preservation of the Chinatown Community, which later became the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation in 1969.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent days, the community has faced other large-scale developments that have altered the landscape of Chinatown. From the proposed construction of a federal prison in 1992 that activists fought against to a baseball stadium in 2000, a casino in 2008, and a new stadium proposal for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022.<\/a> 2<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, the community is the home of Reading Terminal Market<\/a>, the Philadelphia Convention Center<\/a>, and the Philadelphia Fashion District<\/a> on Market East, home to a combination of stores, restaurants, and rich history. The urban development is thought to diminish the culture and historic background of Chinatown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinatown today thrives as an active and lively neighborhood filled with houses, schools, and cultural institutions while serving as a cultural home for the larger Asian community within Philadelphia, creating an environment of unity and inclusion. It is critical that Chinatown be preserved and documented for future generations to carry on this message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cuisines of Philadelphia’s Chinatown<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Philadelphia\u2019s Chinatown comprises a diverse array of cuisines from the regions of Asia. This allows you to experience and explore Asian culture from the comfort of the city. These plentiful options are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chinese Cuisine<\/h4>\n\n\n\n