In my Eyes: Capturing Chinatown's Character

My Experience: There was something quite intimate and nostalgic about the Flushing Chinatown despite it being my first time visiting. I've been to Beijing a couple of times in my life, but it's been quite a while, so it feels as though a lot of those memories have faded. Coming back here felt rejuvenating; it was obviously quite American, but I saw a lot of very distinctly Chinese elements that just completely surrounded me. Even walking into a drink shop, the person who greeted me spoke to me in Mandarin, a shocker for someone who's so used to being greeted in English from the other shops that I've meandered before.There was a moment when I walked into a medicine shop and was immediately hit with so many medicinal smells similar to those from home, except amplified. Standing in the shop, I was probably the youngest there, as I heard the owners and other people haggling over prices and conversing with each other. It's a strange feeling to describe, but I think it was the closest I'd been to what I knew of China in years.When thinking about how to capture the spirit of the city, I wanted to be careful of my surroundings. Each shutter click made me feel a little bit guiltier each time, and I had a lot of blurry shots from hurriedly putting down my camera and just roaming the streets or the shot.You might notice the variety of window shots, and I think that's what I wanted to capture—the sense of intimacy without directly interacting with the subjects. very much a glimpse into their lives—looking in from the outside—and seeing how people go day to day in their lives. Otherwise, it would take away from the organicness of the photos, at least in my opinion.Of course, tying all of these photos together is about two things: the people and the color red. a warm, vibrant red, representing luck and carrying them throughout their lives. What we see is what these people brought with them from China, or what they learned from their Chinese families. It is this strong sense of cultural identity that makes this Chinatown so beautiful and what gives the Flushing Chinatown so much character.I had a fantastic time there, and I think there was a lot of warmth in the bustling streets. It's a hard thing to describe, but I hope the pictures show what I mean.

My Experience: This was the second Chinatown I visited, right after my interview with Qiyao and Juliette. After my initial, I couldn't get an image out of my head—a Chinatown at least twice, if not three times the size of the tiny Chinatown near Downtown Crossing. For the brief time that I spent there, I couldn't get it out of my head and knew that I had to visit it during this trip as well, at least if I wanted to get a bigger picture of Chinese people in NYC. In the back of my head, though, I kept the words of Professor Tran in mind: that this Chinatown was shrinking and has been shrinking for the past 30 or so years since the 1990s. If it was shrinking, I can only imagine how it must've been in its prime.I remember vividly hopping onto the train, twiddling my thumbs as I watched people go in and out of the train until we arrived. The city instinct in me took over, and as soon as I heard "Canal St.", I jumped up and practically skipped out the door, weaving through people to make my way directly into the bustling area. By the time I got out, though, daylight savings had fully kicked in, and around 4:45, it was quite dark outside. Perhaps this was a sign, because in the night, I got to see the most iconic parts of this Chinatown shine. The classic lanterns hanging above the streets like glowing stars, the chatter and excitement of those coming from work to enjoy a relaxing night out, and of course, the workers accommodating all the business.Going into Chinatown, I really wanted to capture the vividness of my surrounding space. With the dark sky, everything pops out more. The reds become a bit brighter- the lights harsher, and the colors can really contrast from one another. Strangely enough, I think that during the time, I also was unconsciously looking for single subjects. It sort of amplifies the loneliness- that even in the vibrant Chinatown, right in lower Manhattan (being one of the busiest and most famous boroughs in the world)- you can still be separated from the rest of the world.Despite this loneliness however, it was really beautiful, and in the measly one hour I spent, there was so much I got to capture. I can only hope that people will continue to appreciate the beauty, and continue the legacy from people before.

Brief History of Flushing's Chinatown

The Flushing Chinatown we recognize today actually began to form in the 1970s, a development comparatively recent in New York's history. This era saw a shift in the demographic of Chinese immigrants from Cantonese to Mandarin speakers. Feeling out of place in Downtown Manhattan's Chinatown, these Mandarin-speaking immigrants looked to the trains to find a new place to settle. Flushing, being both affordable and directly on the Long Island Railroad, emerged as the perfect destination. The presence of already settled Korean communities in Flushing also provided a sense of reassurance and community, encouraging more Chinese and Taiwanese immigrants to make it their home.As Downtown Manhattan's population continued to expand, the first wave of immigrants, largely from working-class families engaged in menial jobs such as hard labor, was joined by a second wave comprising middle-class families. These newer arrivals, often college-educated and with established careers, sought out locations accessible to Manhattan yet distinct enough to offer a separate living experience. Flushing, previously known as a less desirable area, gradually transformed as more Chinese immigrants moved into the area with their families, bringing about a cultural and social metamorphosis.Today, Flushing is dominated by its Chinese community, boasting one of the largest Chinatowns in the U.S. It continues to grow, unlike Manhattan's Chinatown. Despite this dominance, Flushing has become a melting pot with people from all over the world, flourishing as a diverse and dynamic neighborhood.

Brief History of Manhattan's Chinatown

Before the establishment of the general five boroughs—Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island—New York City was largely synonymous with Manhattan alone. The other boroughs, which were then considered the suburbs of New York, were initially viewed as less desirable.During the mid-19th century, particularly in the 1860s, the U.S. witnessed a significant influx of Chinese immigrants. However, this period of relatively open immigration was curtailed with the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. This act significantly restricted further immigration from China and limited the opportunities for those who had already arrived. Consequently, the Chinese immigrants who remained were often compelled to settle in the lower east side of Manhattan, an area that also became home to other immigrant communities, including Jewish and Italian populations. This convergence of diverse cultures led to the formation of what is now known as Chinatown in lower Manhattan.When the Chinese Exclusion Act was finally repealed in 1943, only a small number of Chinese immigrants were allowed into the United States. Then, in 1965, when the U.S. loosened its immigration quotas, there was a sudden influx of immigrants from the Guangdong and Hong Kong provinces of China. People from these regions, largely Cantonese speakers, jumped at the opportunity to pursue the American dream. As more immigrants arrived and settled in lower Manhattan near the ports where they first landed, Cantonese quickly became the dominant language in Manhattan's Chinatown.