The New Chinatown: Revised Edition

by Peter Kwong

Newspapers today are filled with stories of corruption and strife in America's Chinatowns, reversing the popular view of Chinese Americans as a model minority of law-abiding, hard-working people whose diligent children end up in high-tech jobs. In The New Chinatown , Peter Kwong goes beyond the headlines in a compelling and detailed account of the political and cultural isolation of Chinese-American communities. This new edition offers a revised and updated text as well as a new chapter on Chinatown in the 1990s.

Genres: Nonfiction, Aapi, History, Asian American

210 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1987

Reviews

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting (albeit, now outdated) look at Manhattan's Chinatown in the 1970's-1990's. I particularly enjoyed learning more about organized labor in Chinatown during that period, and unionization efforts amongst Chinese restaurant workers.

[William · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book provides an interesting hxstorical overview into Chinatown. Two fascinating insights that Kwong provides is 1) into the relations between Chinatown residents and American labor unions and 2) the emergence of left coalition and organizing in the 1970s and how they [the Chinatown left] responded in the 1980s ... with interesting hxstorical resonances to the present moment.

This book was a solid read, yet Kwong has a way of writing that seemed particularly prescriptive. And it bothered me quite a bit. He has a way of making broad, generalized claims about the Chinese, Chinatown residents, Asian Americans, minority groups, political coalitions, etc. without really providing empirical evidence. Or at least that is what I felt like as a reader.

[Qi Yin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about Chinese People in the United States. It describes the living conditions of the Chinese immigrants and their next generations in the United States. It describes the early Chinese immigrants and how they were being cheap labors because they could not communicate with the Americans. In addition to that, it talks about Chinese were forbidden to come to the United States after the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. However, during the late 20th century when Chinese people were being accepted in the United States, they were able to have better jobs available to them.
I read this book for my exhibition, I like this book because it describes the conditions of Chinese people before they were being accepted and after. I really help me to get an idea how Chinese Americans were slowly being accepted because they started to assimilate into the American culture.

[pmc · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting and really informative, but could have been organized differently (better)

[Lynn Coburn]

Only read 3/4 of book to help out Will for a class. Some of the info was interesting, but the statistics were from the 1980s, so not very relevant today

[chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great insight into the historical and social development of Chinatown and how it has evolved over the years. A great record of Chinatown's origins, especially with the influx of Fujianese and Mandarin speakers replacing the original population of Chinatown, so that its rich history is not forgotten.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I own this book and i will forever treasure it. Yay!

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I was thrown off by the word "new" in the title...