During the 1860s as European Americans settled the west coast of North America and southern China suffered from political instability and destruction in the Taiping Rebellion, Chinese immigrants founded their own communities. These areas became known as Chinatowns.
Family and district benevolent associations provided social support, religious services, death benefits, meals and recreational activities for members. Membership was often based on a shared Chinese surname, clan, dialect, village, region or country of origin.
Chinatowns
Many cities across the United States and around the world have Chinatowns, including San Francisco, New York City, Toronto, and London. Some are more visible and well-known than others.
Immigrants founded these neighborhoods as self-reliant communities. They provided services such as restaurants, laundries and pharmacies. They also established social organizations, such as district associations and family-based benevolent groups that acted like secondary systems of government. These organizations provided social services, found jobs for the poor and sick, cared for the dead, and negotiated with government officials on behalf of their community.
For some, growing up in a Chinatown was a way to explore their Chinese heritage and find a sense of belonging. Others remember the challenges of being a Chinese American in a predominantly white community. Despite their significance, these ethnic enclaves are often threatened by public and private forces. The National Trust’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Program is addressing these issues through convening thought leaders, grantmaking, research and mapping, storytelling, and advocacy.
Chinese Culture
Chinese culture encompasses an extensive set of behaviour norms and beliefs shared to a degree by all Chinese people. It includes a mix of folk culture and dominant philosophical ideas, as well as prevailing religious traditions. Chinese are encouraged to see themselves as part of a greater community, where unity is essential for societal stability and success. They are taught to respect family, law and authority for this reason.
In addition, their concept of ‘face’ plays a key role in their daily interactions and relationships. Face is an important quality that represents one’s reputation, influence, dignity and honour. Chinese act carefully to avoid doing things that may hurt their peers’ perception of them.
They are also proud of their rich history, dating back thousands of years. This is evident in the art forms, cuisine, music and dances they continue to cherish. For example, China is the birthplace of paper and book printing, which has enabled them to become a global leader in literature and education.
Immigrants
Unlike many other immigrant groups in America, who were able to fully assimilate into society, the majority of Chinese Americans were never granted citizenship. They were also isolated from the mainstream because of restrictive racial policies that prohibited them from owning property and entering schools and jobs that were mostly white. This forced segregation created de facto neighborhoods like Chinatowns that were governed by social pressure and not by law. These communities could be dangerous places where illegal drugs, prostitution and violent gangs were common.
Today, older Chinese immigrants still feel that they have a connection to their community in these enclaves. Their homes in these neighborhoods are familiar to them as they share the same daily routines that they had back home. In addition, most of these seniors are monolingual and cannot easily integrate into the broader American culture. This can make it difficult for them to seek medical care when they are sick.
Peru
During the past 170 years, Chinese immigrants have brought a variety of skills and made tremendous contributions to the development of Peru. Hence, the Peruvians are very friendly to Chinese and give them high social status.
Besides establishing Chinese restaurants and companies, they also contribute to the community in many ways. For example, they help the elderly and children of locals. They also cooperate with local governments in building sewage treatment plants, which have greatly improved living conditions for the Peruvians.
During his state visit, Xi said that China supports Peru in following a development path suited to its national conditions and stands ready to strengthen exchanges at all levels and expand pragmatic cooperation for the two countries’ common interests and development. He stressed that both sides should enhance the synergy of their development strategies, take building high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as a guide, and expand trade and investment in traditional fields and emerging areas.