Essay About Chinatown

Chinatown. [pause] To Chicagoans and tourists alike, it is widely known as the epicenter of chinese culture in Chicago. With its vibrant colors, traditional architecture, and time-honored cuisine, countless Chinese residents are able to sustain their culture as well as offer others the ability to explore a new one. For decades, Chinatown has been a unique tourist attraction in Chicago. A colorful gate decorated with a Chinese inscription declaring “The world is for all” stands at the intersection of Cermak Road and Wentworth Avenue. Nearby is a landmark of Chinese architecture, the former Chinese Merchants Association Building. Adorned with red and green pagodas, flowers, and lion sculptures, the building houses a library, meeting rooms, and
Following the completion of the transcontinental railroad and an increasing number of legal discrimination and harassment cases, the Chinese ventured East from the pacific coast. They had been attracted to the U.S. in lure of gold and job opportunities so that they could provide for their families back home, but after being met with backbreaking work, restricted and squalid living conditions, and constant abuse directed at their different dress and customs, these immigrants took their chances and looked towards different places to settle down. One of those places was
This Chinatown was a vibrant community center and was home to various organizations that provided mutual support. One of the more influential organizations that was established was the Tongs, a secret society that was representative of the Chinese immigrants. Chicago's On Leong Tong was a huge help in aiding the expansion of Chinatown as internal factionalism and rising rents prompted Chinese leaders to look towards extension. Along with help from organizations such as the Tongs, a second Chinatown located near Wentworth and 22nd Street was established around 1910, and in the coming decades, the community would continue to extend its boundaries as well as attract new businesses and