Chinatowns in New York City, Montréal, Vancouver, and Toronto are explored through interviews with residents, business owners, and experts. Despite local variations, the commonalities are striking. These communities developed as immigrant enclaves in inner-city areas, becoming tight-knit societies where Chinese immigrants lived and worked, often passing down family businesses through generations. However, as cities expanded, these neighborhoods became desirable locations, and development pressures led to the erosion of their ethnic character. The dispersion of the Chinese population and younger generations' reluctance to stay or take over family businesses exacerbated this trend. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated this situation, with many businesses unable to survive and a rise in anti-Asian sentiment.
Big Fight in Little Chinatown
The Chinatowns in New York, Montreal, and Vancouver face extinction as the pandemic and urban renewal efforts threaten their very existence, leaving them to fight for their cultural identity and heritage.
