Chinese St. Louis offers the first empirical study of a Midwestern Chinese American community from its nineteenth-century origins to the present. As in many cities, Chinese newcomers were soon segregated in an enclave; in St. Louis the enclave was called "Hop Alley." Huping Ling shows how, over time, the community grew and dispersed until it was no longer marked by physical boundaries. She argues that the St. Louis experience departs from the standard models of Chinese settlement in urban areas, which are based on studies of coastal cities. Developing the concept of a cultural community, Ling shows how Chinese Americans in St. Louis have formed and maintained cultural institutions and organizations for social and political purposes throughout the city, which serve as the community's infrastructures. Thus the history of Chinese Americans in St. Louis more closely parallels that of other urban ethnic groups and offers new insight into the range of adaptation and assimilation experience in the United States.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
List of Tables List of Illustrations Acknowledgments 1. Introduction Chinese Community in St. Louis from the Perspective of Migration and Assimilation Theories Chinese Community in St. Louis in the Contexts of Chinese Urban Communities and the Urban Studies Types of Chinatowns: Geographical Division, Characterizational Division Defining Cultural Community and Its Significance Scope and Methodology Period One: "Hop Alley," A Community for Survival, 1860s-1966 2. Building "Hop Alley": Myth and Reality, 1860s-1930s Early Arrivals: From Golden State to the Mound City Myth of "Hop Alley" and the Institutionalized Discrimination Reality in "Hop Alley": Businesses Chinese at the St. Louis World's Fair 3. Living in "Hop Alley," 1860s-1930s Pioneer Women and Family Lives Interracial Marriage, Sexuality, and Racial Relations Sunday Schools and Early Americanization Recreation and Social Awakening The Final Resting Places: Wesleyan and Valhalla Cemeteries 4. Governing "Hop Alley": On Leong Chinese Merchants and Laborers Association, 1906-1966 Formation and Functions of On Leong "The Mayors of Chinatown" Headquarters of On Leong War Efforts and On Leong Assessment of On Leong 5. Dwindling "Hop Alley," 1920s-1966 New Generation Great Depression and Its Impact on Chinese in St. Louis Chinese and World War II Pioneer Professionals Urban Renewal and the End of "Hop Alley" Period Two: Building a Cultural Community, 1960s-2000s 6. Emerging Suburban Chinese American Communities, 1960s-1980s Last Headquarters of On Leong and the Second Removal of Chinatown New Arrivals Transformation of Economy: From Laundry to Restaurant, Professionals, Characteristics of the Chinese Economy in St. Louis Campaign to Save the Last Chinese Hand Laundry: Sam Wah Laundry Vietnamese Chinese Community and Korean Chinese Community 7. Building a Cultural Community, 1960s-1980s Defining the Cultural Community New Community Organizations: St. Louis Chinese Society, St. Louis Chapter of Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), St. Louis Taiwanese Association, St. Louis Chinese Jaycees, Chinese Liberty Assembly, Chinese Cultural Center Chinese Churches: St. Louis Chinese Gospel Church, St. Louis Christian Church Chinese Language Schools: St. Louis Chinese Academy, St. Louis Chinese Language School Dominance of the Professionals from Taiwan Assessment of the Cultural Community 8. Development of the Cultural Community, 1990s-2000s Strengthening the Cultural Community: Chinese Students and Professionals from Mainland China Study Abroad Movement and Tiananmen Incident, Employment Patterns: Professionals and New Entrepreneurs Realigning the Cultural Community: St. Louis Chinese Association and St. Louis Modern Chinese Language School Press in the Cultural Community: St. Louis Chinese American News and St. Louis Chinese Journal Commerce in the Cultural Community: A New Ethnic Economy Dispersion of the Food Service Industry, Concentration of the Grocer-Wholesale Business, Laborers in Traditional Service Industries, Rapid Growth of the Non-Traditional Service Industries Politicizing the Cultural Community: Political Fragmentation, Political Unity, From Marginal Politics to Mainstream Politics 9. Cultural Community in Retrospect and Prospect Cultural Community in Retrospect Cultural Community in Prospect Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index
