San Francisco's Chinatown

Chinatown is the attraction where tourists leave their hearts in the heart of San Francisco. The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire reduced Chinatown into ruins and ashes overnight. City Hall agenda of "Chinatown and Chinese Must Go" and "Confiscating Chinatown real properties" was hotly debated thereafter. Without the determination and solidarity of Chinatown businessmen, tenants and Chinese Imperial Diplomats, San Francisco Chinatown would have been moved to Hunter's Point or Telegraph Hill. A proper picture and caption would honor the diplomat elite group who organized, fought and won the respect and dignity of rebuilding Chinatown in the same site that all enjoy today. It would be helpful if the book included a time line showing the major events relating Chinese and Chinatown for quick comprehension. My recent research led to a photo, courtesy of Chinese Historical Society of America, showing Tye Leung, a renowned social worker in San Francisco, was the first Chinese-American woman to vote - eight years before 19th Amendment. It was a significant milestone. The new immigration waves of 1960s and 1980s kept Chinatown challenged. More and more Chinese-Americans participate in the mainstream especially in politics, economics, academics, medicine and Hi-Tech. New organizations for social justice, civil rights and economic equality are formed in addition to the traditional Family Associations and the Six Companies. A bilingual list of these organizations with pictures will honor their contribution and service. Besides food and gifts, Chinese culture includes Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. A section on these institutions will show the harmony of spiritual diversity. This book is an odyssey of Chinese people who came to Gold Mountain with a dream despite the odds, hardships, language barrier, bias and discrimination. It portrayed their sacrifice, determination and survival in making a new life for themselves and their family. They labored hard and long to earn the respect and honor in the great American family. This book makes this testimonial contribution an important chapter in American history.