Cultural Preservation
From The Peopling of NYC
Perhaps the biggest challange that all Chinese Americans face is the process of intergrating into the American society. Due to the language barrier and the huge cultural gap between China and the US, most immigrants find the task extremely daunting, if not down right impossible.
It is because of this very problem that the first wave of Chinese immigrants created the Manhattan Chinatown, and Chinatown's lasting appeal in the 21st century is still to preserve the Chinese identity in Chinese Americans as they work their way up on the socio-economic ladder. Chinatown is also a safe harbor for the new immigrants who are not yet ready to jump whole-heartedly into the American society, or those who still needs a little push to do so. In Chinatown a Chinese person would have access to al the goods/services that he/she would receive back in China, while also have the opportunity to explore the greater American society, one step at a time.
It is immpossible to walk into Chinatown without feeling the deep-rooted Chinese Culture that the community is composed of. On one corner of the street there would be a herbal store that not only sells dry Chinese herbs but also cans of jellyfish tenticles and leechee energy drink. On the next block there will be a Chinese Opera School right next to a fashionable Chinese hair salon. And the numerous Chinese Restaurants and traditional medicine man/QiGong healers will soon confuse any first time visitor. And if one is really lucky, he/she might even walk into a holiday parade, where one could expect anything from seeing the famous Chinese lion dance to getting a great bargin on all forms of Chinese food. It is no wonder that the Manhattan Chinatown is the number one go to place for all second and even third generation Chinese families when they wish spend a good weekend tracing their heritage and strengthening the family bond.
Sources
- God in Chinatown: Religion and Survival in New York's Evolving Immigrant Community by Kenneth Guest
- A Journey Through Chinatown
- ExploreChinatown.com
