The Chinese community is vibrant and varied. The resounding repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943 ended over sixty years of legal discrimination and opened the door for more family-based immigration.
Chinatowns provided a sense of community and a place to shop for familiar foods, worship in traditional temples, and catch up on the latest news from home. They were places where women spoke out and forged change.
Origins
During the California Gold Rush of 1850, many Chinese men entered America to make their fortunes. They came to work, to gain a better understanding of the West, and to aid their families back in China.
Family associations, based on surname, language and village ties, shaped early Chinese American communities. They strove to be successful in American society, but also retained their cultural identity by using traditional foods, clothing and ceremonies.
As they settled in ethnic neighborhoods, known as Chinatowns, they learned Western knowledge about transportation, architecture and medical care. They also formed strong organizations, called tongs, which functioned as both a public voice and a protection agency against discrimination and corruption. This document examines the structural adaptations of the community to social change, and provides biographical sketches and data on a number of Chinatown members.
Languages
Chinese is an incredibly diverse language family with many dialects. Mandarin Chinese, based on the Beijing dialect, is the most common and serves as China’s official language. However, it’s not the first language for the majority of citizens. They often grow up speaking regional dialects or even entirely different Chinese languages.
Besides Standard Chinese, other significant Chinese dialects include Wu, Yue (Cantonese), Xiang and Hakka. All of them are distinct, sharing unique linguistic features such as distinctive vowel systems and initial consonant clusters.
In addition, Cantonese has a more complex grammar with verb tenses and aspects. The same goes for Teochew, a dialect spoken by the Chinese community in Indonesia. Moreover, in Singapore and Malaysia, Chinese communities have developed a creole that mixes Malay and English as their everyday language.
Customs
The Chinese community enjoys sharing language, culture and heritage through a variety of activities. Studies show that access to these resources fosters a sense of belonging and improves health outcomes.
Chinese culture values family, especially filial piety and loyalty to one’s parents. Children are expected to spend time with their families and support them in times of need.
Many Chinese families have clans, which are social groups that claim common descent from a putative apical ancestor (though the lineage may be mythical). These groupings serve as social supports and help maintain order. Customs are not static, however, and can evolve to meet changing economic or political conditions. This process allows cultural traditions to remain relevant and meaningful. Gifts are always welcomed in the Chinese community, including fruit, food and other treats. When visiting a Chinese home, it’s polite to remove your shoes.
Holidays
Many Chinese celebrate a number of holidays that are different from Western holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. They also have a number of traditional Chinese holidays including Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn festival. These holiday celebrations are centered on family, loyalty and filial piety.
The Chinese have a set of holidays that are observed across the country, however each region has its own set of customs. Since 2008, the Chinese holiday system has been revamped from two sets of holidays to a single set of three-week long Golden Weeks.
During these weeks, banks are closed and workers have the week off of their choice. Most large malls, tourist attractions and public transport stay open as usual. In Mainland China, when the actual holiday falls on a weekend, it is usually replaced by a weekday in the following week to allow for longer breaks.
Education
The most common occupation for Chinese Americans is management, business, science and arts, which reflects the high levels of education among this community. In 2023, 63% of Chinese immigrants ages 16 and older were in the labor force. This is lower than the overall immigrant population and the U.S. born.
Most early Chinese migrants established community organizations, cultural festivals and language schools to help preserve their heritage in a new country. These institutions still exist today in cities with large Chinese populations, and they are an important part of community life.
More than half of Chinese immigrants live in California and New York (22 percent each), with smaller concentrations in the Texas, Massachusetts and Washington metro areas (7 percent apiece). Compared to their pioneer counterparts, later arrivals are more likely to be highly educated.