Chinatown Brooklyn: What's Real

From Decoding New York

Eighth Avenue, attracting fewer tourists than Chinatown, has been able to more fully serve the needs of its own residents. Many residents speak very little English, highlighting the cultural differences between Eighth Avenue and surrounding neighborhoods. Inquiries to storekeepers about their clientele revealed a very low percentage of non-Chinese customers. As a satellite community, Eighth Avenue's authenticity can be seen in light of either China/Hong Kong or to Manhattan's Chinatown. Eighth Avenue's atmosphere recreates much of the old country, maintaining a certain cultural loyalty which the neighborhood's residents are still committed to. There is less of a sense that the neighborhood feels the need to prove its cultural authenticity, unlike Chinatown which relies on a more stereotypical Chinese image for tourism. As Eighth Avenue's residents are less interested in showcasing their culture or even assimilating, the sense of authenticity of the area is much stronger than in Chinatown, its sister neighborhood.

Vegetable stand on 8th Avenue and 57th Street. Photo by W. Leung

There is little racial tension between the Chinese and other groups in the area, perhaps due in part to the relative seclusion of the residents. However, there is a significant underlying tension between the older generation and first generation American-born Chinese. Because of the strong cultural pride many older residents have, first generation Chinese in the neighborhood are sometimes treated as non-Chinese, the older generation assuming that the first generation do not understand their Chinese culture and heritage. This sentiment may be stronger in Eighth Avenue than in Flushing or Chinatown because of the recent arrivals of immigrants who have not assimilated to American culture.