R2W 2008: Day 10 - Chinese American Families and Activists in Chinatown - so NOT the Model Minority

Today, we went on a crawl through San Francisco's Chinatown with pastor and activist Rev. Norman Fong of the Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC). Like Gaynor, Ursula, and Bro of AIGA1, Norman grew up in the community in which he now works for justice for the people. He walked us through narrow (but cleaned up!) alleyways and an SRO(single room occupancy) building purchased and refurbished by CCDC.

He instructed us to look up -- above the crowded streets, restaurants, fresh and produce stores -- where many immigrant families and elderly Chinese live in one room apartments (single room occupancy - SROs) that measure only 6 feet by 8 feet with one kitchen and two bathroom stalls per floor.

He then brought us to the Ping Yuen Public Housing Projects and pointed out that though the public housing is notorious for drug and gang violence, public housing has 2 and 3 bedroom units much more space for families than the SROs! At Ping Yuen, Norman also introduced us to Mrs. Lee, an 81-year-old Chinese woman, mother of 8, and public housing tenants' rights activist who has lived at Ping Yuen for 50 years. She organized a rent strike to get the Housing Authority to respond to tenants' demands for lighting and other safety improvements.

I was moved by Mrs. Lee's courage to stand up for what was right for herself and for her community. Growing up a 3rd generation Chinese American, I was taught to assimilate and be the model minority: "Don't rock the boat or do anything to bring unwanted attention to yourself." My grandparents are the same age as Mrs. Lee. In their day, it was dangerous for Chinese to bring attention to themselves -- racism and fear of Chinese laborers taking over the job market led White working class people to burn down a number of Chinatowns in the 1880s.

We finished our crawl at Norman's favorite Chinatown lookout: the 16th floor roof/patio of the newly rebuilt
I-Hotel. From there, we had a beautiful view of Chinatown, North Beach, and the Financial District. The message here from Norman was that, "Low income housing can be nice housing, too! It doesn't have to be dirty and dangerous."


R2W 2008 participant Ravy, who started a tutoring and afterschool program for youth in her East Oakland housing complex said, "I really admire your passion for the community!"

Eizen, an R2W 2008 participant from Hawaii, related the tourism industry and corporate big business pressures encroaching on Chinatown to the tourism industry and corporate big business takeover of mom and pop shops in his hometown in Hawaii.


- Lauren Q., R2W Program Associate