http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a374/WatersurferMish/img001.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a374/WatersurferMish/img002.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a374/WatersurferMish/img003.jpg
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Jason's bullet points
-WWII presents paradox with Chinese
-Chinese Exclusion Act repealed in 1944
-Immigration remains unchanged until 1965
-White Flight & Chinatown overpopulation
-Chinese Exclusion Act repealed in 1944
-Immigration remains unchanged until 1965
-White Flight & Chinatown overpopulation
JOyce's part
Sorry for the late post, Raymond.
I know this is very bad. I write base on the interviews and fied observations.
There is still one interview from the Luthern Church I need to do today.
So I will add it on my part asap.
I know this is very bad. I write base on the interviews and fied observations.
There is still one interview from the Luthern Church I need to do today.
So I will add it on my part asap.
On Sunday, March 6th, 2011, at 10:20am, I go to Noriega Street to do field observation. The majority of people are Asians, mostly speaking Chinese, more elderly than any other age group, some are women and children. The majority of businesses are small business, many with Chinese names on the signs. From 19th street to 48th street, the street with most and almost all Chinese names on the signs is between 31st and 32nd. As I head more west, the more non-Asian businesses are there. Most often, I see restaurants, banks, grocery stores, and some medical centers, churches, and beauty and hair salons. There are a lot small café and restaurants, not many big or fancy restaurants there. The average prices of the restaurants range from 8- 12 dollars per person, it is affordable, though it is cheaper if shopping in the grocery stores, and that’s maybe the reason why most people I see on the street are going into the grocery stores and with many bags in their hands. This gives me an impression that the residents in the area are middle class people, and they dress very casual. I rarely see any white people there. And when I see some, they are usually older middle-age people and elderly. I think that’s because as more and more Asian Americans are moving into the area, fewer whites are moving in, only the elderly white are staying there. Another interesting observation is that, I see many whites are in Japanese restaurants and bars, but almost none in the Chinese food restaurants. I think that makes the Chinese restaurants more unique, for they are aiming only to serve the Chinese. This can be seen in the Chinese restaurants where there are Chinese first, then English menus. So many of the Asian Americans are Chinese who speaks Cantonese. I think that they are immigrants.
On April 21st , 2011, I interview Rosita Fong, who is a resident on 36th Street. She and her husband own the two-story house. She is living with her families and relatives including; her husband, two children, one 14, another one 16, her mother and father, younger sister’s family. In total, there are 10 people living in the same house. Before I ask her about the community she lives in, she tells me a lot about herself and how she lives. I learn that she immigrates to the U.S. from Hong Kong in 2001, years after Hong Kong returns to China. Like most people think, she thinks it is best for her children. She dislikes the education in Hong Kong, and she hears from her younger sister that who is living in the U.S. there are better opportunities for her children to have higher education. Her younger sister, who immigrates to the U.S. in early 1990’s, has been asking Mrs. Fong to come to the U.S. and live with them. I think that because Chinese have strong family value, they usually follow their families foot step to come to the U.S., and live together to help each other out. I think that is another reason why the Asian American Community is growing so fast, beside the fact that people from Chinatown and other areas are moving into the Sunset District; also people are immigrating into the U.S. When I ask Mrs. Fong about how she likes about Noriega, she says the people are nice here and she makes a lot of friends who are from different part of China, and very convenience that everything she needs for living is there. I think it is interesting when she says she likes to live around in the Sunset community, but at the same time, she feels strongly about wanting her children to go to a school that has more white people because she thinks those schools have better teachers. She even says “I wish no more Chinese people are moving in.” Afterward, I found out that, because she dislikes her children learning English too slowly because their friends and people at school and around the area all speak Chinese. Personally I think it is hard, for both the parents and children to get familiar with American culture and to use English, for they are both 1st generation of Asian Americans, and especially in today, living in an area with more and more Chinese influence. It is also funny when I ask her if she would like a bigger house, she replies “this is a big house! (comparing to the house she lives in Hong Kong)” .
I found out that Polly Ann Ice Cream was originally white owners, but starting from early 1980’s it is Chinese owners. I found out on facebook that Todd had worked in Polly Ann Ice Cream from 1975 - 1981, I wonder if he knows more about the community there. Then I found out he used to but no longer lives in the Sunset. I think he is one example of white flight.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Noriega Street Footage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2N3ZSbpvaE
Here's the video, music is on it..I just thought It needed something. When we present we can just turn the volume down and talk. If you guys feel that this is too shaky I can go back and try to get better footage. Let me know what you think.
Here's the video, music is on it..I just thought It needed something. When we present we can just turn the volume down and talk. If you guys feel that this is too shaky I can go back and try to get better footage. Let me know what you think.
Michele's Essay Portion
Noriega is located in a place called the Sunset. The Sunset received its name in
1889 from a company called Easton, Eldridge, and Co. At first the Sunset area was
covered in san dunes and barely inhabited. Around the 1900’s the Sunset area
transformed into somewhat of a suburbia. Houses ranging around 5,000 to 10,000
dollars replaced the sand dunes and many families started to migrate into the Sunset
Area. In the beginning not many lived in the Sunset area, “There were only four homes
on our end of the street when my family moved in about 1947” (The Outside Lands)
Over time more and more houses started to be built and thus the booming residential
area we know today as The Sunset was created.
Noriega, although a small neighborhood has been transforming and changing by
the decade. From what we know of it today as mostly an asian community, it was first
predominately a white community. When looking at the numbers and how this
transformation occurred the census is one of the main sources of information that can
be used. According to the 1940 census, only about 39,556 Chinese inhabited
California, and about 93,717 Japanese, any other asian race was dumped in the other
segment. In 1940 San Francisco, its total population was 634,536. Of the 634,536,
301,692 were white. So, 50% percent of its population was white, and the asian
population wasn’t even calculated, all other races besides african america were dumped
again into the other segment. The other segment being 18,288, and of this, one can
figure that that asian population was indeed a small one. With all that being said, many
of San Francisco’s new and upcoming neighborhoods had been bought out and moved
in by its wealthy class, the white community and Noriega was one of these
neighborhoods.
Although not many sources can be found specifically on Noriega dated back to
the 1940’s through the 1960s, a list of business’s and pictures were found specifically
on Noriega. Through Noriega’s listed business’s one can assume that many of these
business's were directed mostly towards the Caucasian community. These business’s
include: Nineteenth Avenue Liquors (a small business around as early as 1966),
Pioneer Investor Savings, Big Daddy Hamburgers (around in 1970s). Sunset
Restaurant (Irish owned, all american food served here), Saxe Reality, Hibernia
Bank, White Lumber Company, Seabright Market, Carriage Market, Green House
Pharmacy, Bagdad Bowl (according to my sources: “ [A] dark, smokey interior and the
unique sounds of a bowling alley. [A] hang out for teenagers who were trying to escape
from their parents, but still obeyed a stated curfew. [It later] became a savings and loan
office in the early 1980s” ), Bank of America, Safeway, Taffy’s Liquors, House of Bagels
& Gilbert’s Kosher Deli, Bino’s Restaurant, The Blanket Company, True Value
Hardware, Polly Ann Ice Cream, and Chicken Delight. Out of all the past business’s in
the early 70s and 80s only two were asian owned: Tien Fu: a Chinese Restaurant, and
Fay Cleaners: dry cleaning. Today only one of these business’s still stands: Poly Ann
Ice Cream, which is still very popular business, and withstood the rebuilding of its
original building in the late 1990’s.
Today Noriega has little white influence and only when walking towards the very
end of the street the remains of the white community can be picked out. Noriega’s
transformation can mainly be pointed to the immigration act in the 1960s (this will be
touch upon in more depth later on in this report). Noriega just like many of its other
brother and sister streets in Sunset has taken a transformation, and in its place a new
community has surfaced.
Sources:
"CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING 1940 Census." U.S. Census Beraeu . N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2011. <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/1940.html>.
and
Dunnigan , Frank . "Strettwise-Noriega Neighbors ." (2010 ): 1 . Web. 7 May 2011. <http://www.outsidelands.org/streetwise-noriega.php>.
1889 from a company called Easton, Eldridge, and Co. At first the Sunset area was
covered in san dunes and barely inhabited. Around the 1900’s the Sunset area
transformed into somewhat of a suburbia. Houses ranging around 5,000 to 10,000
dollars replaced the sand dunes and many families started to migrate into the Sunset
Area. In the beginning not many lived in the Sunset area, “There were only four homes
on our end of the street when my family moved in about 1947” (The Outside Lands)
Over time more and more houses started to be built and thus the booming residential
area we know today as The Sunset was created.
Noriega, although a small neighborhood has been transforming and changing by
the decade. From what we know of it today as mostly an asian community, it was first
predominately a white community. When looking at the numbers and how this
transformation occurred the census is one of the main sources of information that can
be used. According to the 1940 census, only about 39,556 Chinese inhabited
California, and about 93,717 Japanese, any other asian race was dumped in the other
segment. In 1940 San Francisco, its total population was 634,536. Of the 634,536,
301,692 were white. So, 50% percent of its population was white, and the asian
population wasn’t even calculated, all other races besides african america were dumped
again into the other segment. The other segment being 18,288, and of this, one can
figure that that asian population was indeed a small one. With all that being said, many
of San Francisco’s new and upcoming neighborhoods had been bought out and moved
in by its wealthy class, the white community and Noriega was one of these
neighborhoods.
Although not many sources can be found specifically on Noriega dated back to
the 1940’s through the 1960s, a list of business’s and pictures were found specifically
on Noriega. Through Noriega’s listed business’s one can assume that many of these
business's were directed mostly towards the Caucasian community. These business’s
include: Nineteenth Avenue Liquors (a small business around as early as 1966),
Pioneer Investor Savings, Big Daddy Hamburgers (around in 1970s). Sunset
Restaurant (Irish owned, all american food served here), Saxe Reality, Hibernia
Bank, White Lumber Company, Seabright Market, Carriage Market, Green House
Pharmacy, Bagdad Bowl (according to my sources: “ [A] dark, smokey interior and the
unique sounds of a bowling alley. [A] hang out for teenagers who were trying to escape
from their parents, but still obeyed a stated curfew. [It later] became a savings and loan
office in the early 1980s” ), Bank of America, Safeway, Taffy’s Liquors, House of Bagels
& Gilbert’s Kosher Deli, Bino’s Restaurant, The Blanket Company, True Value
Hardware, Polly Ann Ice Cream, and Chicken Delight. Out of all the past business’s in
the early 70s and 80s only two were asian owned: Tien Fu: a Chinese Restaurant, and
Fay Cleaners: dry cleaning. Today only one of these business’s still stands: Poly Ann
Ice Cream, which is still very popular business, and withstood the rebuilding of its
original building in the late 1990’s.
Today Noriega has little white influence and only when walking towards the very
end of the street the remains of the white community can be picked out. Noriega’s
transformation can mainly be pointed to the immigration act in the 1960s (this will be
touch upon in more depth later on in this report). Noriega just like many of its other
brother and sister streets in Sunset has taken a transformation, and in its place a new
community has surfaced.
Sources:
"CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING 1940 Census." U.S. Census Beraeu . N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2011. <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/1940.html>.
and
Dunnigan , Frank . "Strettwise-Noriega Neighbors ." (2010 ): 1 . Web. 7 May 2011. <http://www.outsidelands.org/streetwise-noriega.php>.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Jason's essay portion
The Chinese community had originally come to the United States in hopes of finding
great fortune by way of the 1849 Gold Rush. This would lead to the construction of
railroads, where many Chinese immigrants worked. Compared to the White workers,
the Chinese were willing to work not only for a fraction of the normal wage, but also
perform dangerous tasks, such as blast mining. Because of this, Chinese labor was in
high demand amongst railroad contractors, so many Chinese immigrants had little
difficulty finding a job. By 1869, the majority of the railroad construction was
complete, leaving approximately 20,000 Chinese workers looking for work.
Many of these men would settle into San Francisco, as they look for new areas
in need of labor. They would settle into an area we now identify as Chinatown.
great fortune by way of the 1849 Gold Rush. This would lead to the construction of
railroads, where many Chinese immigrants worked. Compared to the White workers,
the Chinese were willing to work not only for a fraction of the normal wage, but also
perform dangerous tasks, such as blast mining. Because of this, Chinese labor was in
high demand amongst railroad contractors, so many Chinese immigrants had little
difficulty finding a job. By 1869, the majority of the railroad construction was
complete, leaving approximately 20,000 Chinese workers looking for work.
Many of these men would settle into San Francisco, as they look for new areas
in need of labor. They would settle into an area we now identify as Chinatown.
While the demand for Chinese labor was high, there were some repercussions.
Their willingness to work for low wages would anger many White workers, and
with the national unemployment rate on the rise in the Panic of 1873, race riots
would become a frequent sight. The resentment toward Chinese workers would
lead to the passing of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Since then, the Chinese
community would face exclusion in the United States, thanks to the legalized
discrimination that the Exclusion Act brought along. As such, no immigrants of
Chinese descent would be allowed into the United States for over 60 years. For
Their willingness to work for low wages would anger many White workers, and
with the national unemployment rate on the rise in the Panic of 1873, race riots
would become a frequent sight. The resentment toward Chinese workers would
lead to the passing of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Since then, the Chinese
community would face exclusion in the United States, thanks to the legalized
discrimination that the Exclusion Act brought along. As such, no immigrants of
Chinese descent would be allowed into the United States for over 60 years. For
the Chinese workers who were already in the United States, they were barred from
court, marrying non-Chinese people, and obtaining citizenship. Those who were
already in the United States had no other choice but to remain in Chinatown.
court, marrying non-Chinese people, and obtaining citizenship. Those who were
already in the United States had no other choice but to remain in Chinatown.
Like other immigrant communities, the Chinese built their neighborhood to
bear some resemblance to their cultural background. As successful as they were,
all of their efforts would be destroyed once the 1906 earthquake hit San Francisco.
The earthquake had devastated the majority of the city, including Chinatown.
Since the city documents were also destroyed by the earthquake, many Chinese
men used this opportunity to claim themselves as citizens, citing that their
documents were destroyed by the earthquake. Through the claim of citizenship,
the Chinese workers were able to bring their families to America. However,
many of these hopeful immigrants coming into America would find themselves
detained at Angel Island, where they would be interrogated for suspicion
of fraudulence.
bear some resemblance to their cultural background. As successful as they were,
all of their efforts would be destroyed once the 1906 earthquake hit San Francisco.
The earthquake had devastated the majority of the city, including Chinatown.
Since the city documents were also destroyed by the earthquake, many Chinese
men used this opportunity to claim themselves as citizens, citing that their
documents were destroyed by the earthquake. Through the claim of citizenship,
the Chinese workers were able to bring their families to America. However,
many of these hopeful immigrants coming into America would find themselves
detained at Angel Island, where they would be interrogated for suspicion
of fraudulence.
When America entered the Second World War, it was presented with a
paradox: it fought in support of China against the Japanese yet discriminated
against its domestic Chinese population. Because America needed China as an
ally, the Chinese Exclusion Act was finally repealed in 1944. Although they were now
eligible to become citizens, the Chinese community could not bring in their relatives
en masse because of the small immigration quotas in place. This would all change as
America moved into the 1960s.
paradox: it fought in support of China against the Japanese yet discriminated
against its domestic Chinese population. Because America needed China as an
ally, the Chinese Exclusion Act was finally repealed in 1944. Although they were now
eligible to become citizens, the Chinese community could not bring in their relatives
en masse because of the small immigration quotas in place. This would all change as
America moved into the 1960s.
In 1965, Congress passed the Hart-Cellar Act, allowing for immigration to happen
on a large scale for the first time in America. Before the act was passed, immigrants
could only arrive in the hundreds. Now they were arriving in the thousands. With
these new immigrants arriving, they would need to find a place to settle in. Since San
Francisco’s Chinatown was the only established Chinese settlement, many immigrants
would go there. The influx of immigrants would help to bolster Chinatown’s presence.
However, with the Chinese immigrants arriving in large numbers, Chinatown would
soon find itself to be overpopulated.
on a large scale for the first time in America. Before the act was passed, immigrants
could only arrive in the hundreds. Now they were arriving in the thousands. With
these new immigrants arriving, they would need to find a place to settle in. Since San
Francisco’s Chinatown was the only established Chinese settlement, many immigrants
would go there. The influx of immigrants would help to bolster Chinatown’s presence.
However, with the Chinese immigrants arriving in large numbers, Chinatown would
soon find itself to be overpopulated.
While Chinatown was finding itself overpopulated, the once pre-dominantly
white neighborhoods such as the Richmond and Sunset districts would find its white
population dwindling as many of them would relocate to the suburban areas through
what is known as the White Flight. The exact cause is not clear, but what is known is
that many White Americans had benefited from the G.I. Bill, where the government
gave large sums of money to the families of its World War II servicemen. The money
gained was enough to buy a new house, which many White Americans would do. At
the same time, more Chinese-Americans were able to find better jobs(due to racial
discrimination being made illegal), which would lead to higher earnings. As a result,
many Chinese-Americans were able to afford better housing, meaning that they didn’t
have to rely on the cheap housing that Chinatown offered. This would help contribute
to the demographic changes within those neighborhoods, as many of the Chinese
immigrants would move from the overcrowded Chinatown to settle in the gap that
the White population had left behind. This movement of Chinese-Americans from
Chinatown to the Richmond and Sunset districts would help establish the ethnic
settlements we currently see in those neighborhoods today.
white neighborhoods such as the Richmond and Sunset districts would find its white
population dwindling as many of them would relocate to the suburban areas through
what is known as the White Flight. The exact cause is not clear, but what is known is
that many White Americans had benefited from the G.I. Bill, where the government
gave large sums of money to the families of its World War II servicemen. The money
gained was enough to buy a new house, which many White Americans would do. At
the same time, more Chinese-Americans were able to find better jobs(due to racial
discrimination being made illegal), which would lead to higher earnings. As a result,
many Chinese-Americans were able to afford better housing, meaning that they didn’t
have to rely on the cheap housing that Chinatown offered. This would help contribute
to the demographic changes within those neighborhoods, as many of the Chinese
immigrants would move from the overcrowded Chinatown to settle in the gap that
the White population had left behind. This movement of Chinese-Americans from
Chinatown to the Richmond and Sunset districts would help establish the ethnic
settlements we currently see in those neighborhoods today.
Northern California Coalition on Immigrant Rights. "Chinese Immigration." FoundSF. N.p., 20 Sep 1997. Web. 4 May 2011. <http://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Chinese_Immigration>.
"San Francisco's Chinatown." Chinatown of San Francisco, California. Magical Journeys, n.d. Web. 4 May 2011. <http://www.magicaljourneys.com/USA/usa-interest-california-sanfrancisco-chinatown.html>.
"The Story of Chinatown." Chinatown Resource Guide. KQED, n.d. Web. 4 May 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/kqed/chinatown/resourceguide/story.html>.
JeRevien Richeson Essay
JeRevien Richeson
May 6, 2011
Present Day Noriega Community
In succession with repeals of immigration restrictions around 1965, the Chinese population in San Francisco expanded drastically within a matter of a few years. During this time, Chinatown began to overflow with residents and could no longer support the vast populace in the area. Hence, Asian Americans began developing communities elsewhere around San Francisco, such as the previously Caucasian dominated business district of Noriega Street. As Asian Americans, primarily Chinese, began to move into the Sunset Area, Caucasians began to move away. The original community of Jewish, Americans, Irish and Europeans were slowly phased out. Soon, the business district of Noriega was monopolized by the Chinese community. A large percentage of businesses that were once run by Caucasians no longer existed; they had disappeared into thin air like the rest of the community. After over forty years of catering to a white community, Noriega Street had developed into an Asian American district around the 1980’s.
Today, Noriega Street is part of a flourishing Chinese community rich with culture. From 19th Avenue all the way down to the last business on 40th avenue, a variety of Chinese and other Asian American businesses can be found. Numerous Chinese owned restaurants, healthcare establishments, markets, and shops have been developed and remained in the area since the 1980’s. According to the Census Bureau for the year of 2010, the most dominant race in the area was Chinese at 45.9%. Since the community was last surveyed in 2010, it has seen very few changes.
After interviewing a select few businesses in the area, a pattern was able to be discerned. The majority of our information is comprised of race and ethnicity demographics as well as interviews with community members. Since the community is primarily composed of Chinese Americans, our group chose to conduct our main interview with Chinese owned business, Café Bakery & Restaurant. Kevin Tang, son to the owners of the restaurant, provided us with the answers to our questions about the community. Businesses in the area were comprised of first and second generation owners; and in addition to that, were generally managed and run by family members. The solidification of the Asian American community was made present around the early 1980’s to 1990’s when an influx of Chinese business owners began to replace the previous Caucasian ones. The greater part of the area is run by small Asian American businesses and carries a close knit feel to it. Of all the businesses in the area, only a few chains such as Walgreens, Chase, Ace Hardware, Subway and Safeway were part of the community dynamic. However, each of these chains were franchised and run by Chinese Americans that are part of the Sunset community. It is apparent that the ethnic enclave in this area is a dominant influence of the structure of the community. It creates bonds between Asian Americans and provides an outlet, outside of Chinatown, to preserve the culture and heritage of Chinese
"Chinatown of San Francisco, California." Travel the World with MagicalJourneys.com. Tours, Hotels and Travel Information for Your Holiday. Web. 06 May 2011. <http://www.magicaljourneys.com/USA/usa-interest-california-sanfrancisco-chinatown.html>.
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