A tale of two Chinatowns in New Orleans over a century ago
Over 100 years ago, New Orleans’ French Quarter had a visible Chinatown. It consisted of a group of Chinese who first came to New Orleans about 150 years ago. Historian Winston Ho of the Historic New Orleans Collection says that during the Civil War, Southern planters rushed to find new workers and brought in Chinese from California and China, but it didn’t work out in the long run. They asked for more money, but the planters weren’t used to bargaining with the workers and in the end all the Chinese left,” Ho said. They set out to get jobs in restaurants and laundromats around the city. In the 1870s, Chinese businesses began to appear on Tulane Avenue and his 1100 block of Rampart, giving birth to the first Chinatown. Pat Elsey’s great-grandfather was one of his owners of his Tulane Avenue business. Her family was also the first Chinese member. Presbyterian Church. It was started in 1881 by missionaries on Liberty Street to teach English to Chinese immigrants. In 1937 Chinatown was forced to move. According to some historians, merchants had lost their leases and the area was being redeveloped. By the 1940s, about ten Chinese-owned businesses lined his 500-block street on Bourbon Street. Jefferson Parish Cynthia Lishen’s grandfather owned Coin His Laundry in the early 1900s. The family then owned the restaurant. She appreciates their contribution because she knows it won’t be easy. “Certainly, the first immigrants had a hard time. Maybe they faced difficult times. Maybe they faced racism. Maybe they faced language barriers,” Shen said. said. When the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed in 1882, there was a major hurdle. The law had barred Chinese workers from immigrating to the United States for 10 years. This is due to job competition. Historians believe it was one of the reasons why Chinatown failed to grow. But their efforts are not in vain. Their children’s American Dream, which contributes to New Orleans’ uniquely rich and diverse history, lives on.
Over 100 years ago, New Orleans’ French Quarter had a visible Chinatown.
It consisted of a group of Chinese who first came to New Orleans about 150 years ago.
Winston Ho, a historian of the Historic New Orleans Collection, says that after the Civil War, planters in the South rushed to find new workers and brought in Chinese from California and China, but it didn’t work out in the long run. said.
“Fundamentally the situation is miserable, the Chinese do not think they are paid enough, they demand more money, the planters are not accustomed to bargaining with the workers, and the final Almost all the Chinese have left,” Ho said.
They set out to get jobs in restaurants and laundromats around the city. In the 1870s, the first Chinatown was born as Chinese businesses began to populate Tulane Avenue and his 1100 Rampart.
Pat Elsey’s great-grandfather was one of the Tulane Avenue business owners.
Her family was also the first member of the Chinese Presbyterian Church.
It was started in 1881 by missionaries on Liberty Street to teach English to Chinese immigrants.
“It provided a place to come together and worship God,” Elsey said.
In 1937 Chinatown was forced to move.
According to some historians, merchants had lost their leases and the area was being redeveloped.
So the business owner found a new home in Vieux Carré.
By the 1940s, about 10 Chinese-owned businesses lined the 500-block stretch of Bourbon Street.
Jefferson Parish Cynthia Lee Shen’s grandfather owned a laundromat in the early 1900s. The family then owned the restaurant. She appreciates their contribution because she knows it won’t be easy.
“Certainly, the first immigrants had a hard time. Maybe they faced difficult times. Maybe they faced racism. Maybe they faced language barriers,” Shen said. said.
When the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed in 1882, there was a major hurdle. Laws have barred Chinese workers from immigrating to the United States for 10 years, citing job competition.
Historians believe that is part of the reason Chinatown has failed to grow.
“Yeah, Chinatown slowly faded away,” Ho said.
But their efforts are not in vain. Their children’s American Dream, which contributes to New Orleans’ uniquely rich and diverse history, lives on.
https://www.wgal.com/article/east-meets-west-the-tale-of-two-chinatowns-in-new-orleans-more-than-a-century-ago/43857102 A tale of two Chinatowns in New Orleans over a century ago
