Despite pressure from suburban Asian malls catering to wealthy segments of the community, Oakland Chinatown (Photo by Dr Colleen Morgan) remains a much needed neighborhood serving the diverse needs of the Asian American community.
Former Oakland Tribune columnist William Wong grew up in Oakland Chinatown beginning in the 40’s and has seen many changes through the years.
He published a piece in Oakland Local sharing his keen observations of Chinatown’s evolution.
In the 40’s and 50’s, the streets were filled with Oakland born children whose parents immigrated from the Pearl River Delta region of southeastern China.
Many families carried paper names and, as a result, isolated themselves from white society out of protection.
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Today, Oakland Chinatown is more diverse, with various political interest sometimes clashing and always co-existing, according to Wong.
You can read more about how Chinatown has changed from the gold rush days of 1849 to today in Oakland Local.
