The surprising reason behind Chinatown's aesthetic

[@Vox]

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[@Dc20007]

First!

[@Eeee-nt4nm]

Second?

[@doingbettereveryday]

Third.

[@Neyobe]

I don’t know why numbers matter but.... fifth?

[@samuraijosh1595]

And, vox, thanks for this video. Was really educational.

[@Mojabi_ghost]

“They were exploited for cheap labor... then during the Great Depression they were accused of stealing jobs from Americans” As a Hispanic man this sounds oddly too familiar, and I feel for my Asian friends and families:(

[@crispychaos6768]

@@ASS_ault You are a disgusting excuse for a human being. So what? A country can’t learn or evolve from it’s racist history? It’s doomed to be forever racist? People, immigrants, come to this country for a better life, they also come to make it a better place for everyone. If all people thought like you there would never be progress.

[@crispychaos6768]

@@ASS_ault I just did, I had to edit my comment.

[@crispychaos6768]

@@ASS_ault Also I’m from the US, Chinese American, 2nd generation, when you say, “Why don’t you go back then?” that’s racist.

[@crispychaos6768]

@@ASS_ault Not because you are Asian, but because you told someone to “Go back to their country of origin”. In the US it’s akin to “You are not welcome here.”

[@truehappiness4U]

@@ASS_ault you have to realize that people don’t ‘go back’ to their country because of reasons. Example: bad government(injustice), no money to make, war, etc. Do you think it is easy for people to migrate? To leave their homes? Educate yourself better about immigration. There is a reason for everything. If you still don’t understand this and you still wanna be racist and wish that immigrants go ‘back to their country’, I sincerely hope you become an immigrant yourself because of reasons so that you can finally understand it and have empathy.

[@--Paws--]

They were like, "I don't like you but please don't go. We need money". What a weird relationship.

[@sor3999]

Money is the great equalizer.

[@steemlenn8797]

Weird? That is basically what capitalism is lol. Many rich (and even more want-to-be-rich) hate the poor, but without them they wouldn't be rich.

[@thomaswhite3059]

@@sor3999? Really? They needed the money. It enables abuse and inequity.

[@MissyxAkunai]

It's still like this today, especially in areas with universities that allow international students.

[@TheGrifhinx]

Whites be like that sometimes

[@karalee6522]

The blatant racism in the newspaper articles is horrific. I can’t imagine what other disgusting things are hidden in plain sight from from our past. I hope they continue to be exposed so people can understand the historical and conceptual details that shape our world today.

[@samuraijosh1595]

Just pay close attention to US and Europe history and you've pretty much learnt about all sorts of racism that ever happened.

[@gidd]

Agreed ,most communities around the world have suffered and it all comes down to the white man

[@karalee6522]

@@samuraijosh1595 I’m aware of the overt racist actions of these countries, the ones we skim over in school. I’m talking about all the racism that can be found in newspaper articles and stories like told here that have been largely forgotten, covered up, or not known by this generation. To say say the US was racist towards Chinese during these times is one thing, but to actually read these newspaper articles and see the consequences of them really puts things in perspective.

[@gidd]

@@Vii905 did I state that they didn't? get out of your feelings vanessa

[@steemlenn8797]

If you look at articles today often it is not different. It just is not so blatant for you because you live in that time.

[@danielwang2956]

"We don't like you, but we like your money". So basically nothing has changed in the past 150 years

[@arnehurnik]

Well their deaths in an earthquake were celebrated in news papers. A passive genocide basically. So it's not that modern culture is so progressive, it's just that it used to be cartoonishly racist. That's the case for most countries.

[@artdecotimes2942]

@@arnehurnik oh and you were there to see them celebrate Hurnik?

[@arnehurnik]

I'm just repeating what was shown in the video.

[@artdecotimes2942]

@@arnehurnik ah, so an idiotic second hand experience you use as your first hand experience.

[@arnehurnik]

No, I repeated facts I just learned about a few minutes earlier, what are you even talking about.

[@louspowels7120]

"Today, Chinatown is still a community whose foreign-ness is embraced. Until, it's not." Such deep.

[@汤圆-y7f]

Hey Chinese people, just remember, the only place you would feel safe is home - China, no one will hurt you because you are Chinese, remember that !

[@easarsalad]

+汤圆 what about Chinese Muslims??

[@MARCBEA1]

Save Hong kong, Taiwan and the Wegers.

[@mehwishmanha9250]

@@汤圆-y7f That's a lie

[@godlovesyou1995]

Sounds dramatic but a bit silly. When has it not been valued recently?

[@AdwinLauYuTan]

As a Chinese person who has not lost their culture at all, I can tell you this: the gates at the entrances of Chinatown are kind of fitting. Gates, as religious symbols, tend to be the entrance to sacred holy places or exotic places, like the Forbidden Palace, or the symbolic entrance to the underworld. Therefore, it just makes Chinatown a lot more exotic, with a sacred feeling.

[@AdwinLauYuTan]

They can also be a gate to Heaven; take Tian Nan Men, which literally means ‘Heaven’s Gate’. Usually, there would be labelling on the gate, to tell people where it is, but I only see such characters in Japanese and Korean Chinatowns, though Japan uses native Japanese and Korea uses hanja.

[@AdwinLauYuTan]

Gates were labelled from left to right, or up to down.

[@adroitws1367]

yeah the part that confuse me about the video is why they say the is not how chinese architecture look... because to me its really how chinese architecture look.

[@2468whodoweappreciate]

it's not exotic or sacred at all it's just a historical idea of how it was "back then" in supposed "china"

[@garrytejada3125]

The chinatown in manila philippines is over 400 yrs old

[@RamiresHelena]

This became an example not only for Chinese communities in North America, but in many other places around the world. I have seen the same architectural style in Buenos Aires and Moscow. I remember having lunch in a Chinese restaurant in San Francisco’s Chinatown and being so well treated by an older man who spoke little English. It breaks my heart that he and his community are now being threatened by pure ignorance and hate

[@dragonskunkstudio7582]

I was wondering after watching the video if the SF chinatown was the inspiration to so many other chinatowns all over the world. You're not a significant city if you don't have a chinatown it would seem.

[@AbsolutelyRandomUsername]

I am from Moscow and there is no Chinatown here, or even Chinatown-style structures for that matter. We don't really have a big and thriving Chinese community here, so not sure what you are referring to.

[@Godploitt]

yes exactly it is sad to see african americans show so much hate towards them these days, shame on them.

[@bri1085]

@@Godploitt 'Why have you singled out African Americans for anti-asian sentiments?

[@rd3k3k3k3]

It’s such a shame that people are hating on asians, people don’t realize how much asians have been through to live in America. I hope that people will stop blaming asians for covid. I thought society was past blaming entire races for their problems.

[@mandyyu365]

as someone who lives in san francisco chinatown, this video really made me appreciate my community more than ever.

[@danishbutter1847]

Be safe and watch your back all the time these days over there.

[@pass3d]

我感觉还是跟文化有关系，从古至今华人很少去主动侵略别人，”己所不欲，勿施于人。“这样，最后都是在孱弱的时候，被盎格鲁撒克逊这些比较DNA里带着激进、殖民文化的人欺负。

[@lucasrem1870]

If you can't adopt, you get hated!

[@tornn8847]

It’s such a dangerous time to be non white right now

[@rg1649]

KZbin response template: As a ____, who has ____, I can confirm ____.

[@coolbeans1122]

As a chinese-american I already knew the reason but clicked on it anyways cause I’m so happy someone is finally teaching it

[@MARCBEA1]

Save Hong kong, Taiwan and the Wegers.

[@midnighteclipsed2738]

@@MARCBEA1 Palestine aswell

[@midnighteclipsed2738]

Also not related to the video but, Homura?

[@ellashy6539]

@@MARCBEA1 nah I'm from Hong Kong now scram you creep

[@coolbeans1122]

@@midnighteclipsed2738 yeppp

[@migueloth]

My great grandfather came to Mexico from Canton China along with his brother. Their original destination was SF but they got deviated to the port of Guaymas Sonora. They became successful entrepreneurs in Alamos, a mining town, and formed a family. Later on they were prosecuted by the government, as all Chinese did back in 1890's, they lost everything. He had to hide on a undergrownd cellar for many years and eventually died from tuberculosis. His western name was Ramón Ley, and his legacy still lives strong.

[@cassia-in-vancouver]

My respect to your great grandfather and his brother, and to their/your history.

[@pass3d]

中国文化并不是一个激进的文化。反而是盎格鲁撒克逊人，满世界到处搞殖民。

[@feanorasia0414]

@@pass3d bruh how is this related to tha video

[@jonathantan7094]

Thank you for voicing out how much discrimination faced by Chinese from the past till now!

[@bian7744]

Always have, always will...

[@feisaljauharitufail]

Stay strong friend.

[@ningthoujamelvis6103]

Come back to china. What do you expect from a country who always will be anti-yellow?

[@slc679]

All Asians, not just Chinese people, have and are currently experiencing discrimination

[@xr9381]

@@ningthoujamelvis6103 But they dominated so much resources, that’s not fair. We want their land, resources, and being not discriminated. I’m fortunately, this can only be achieved by war

[@EveloGrave]

I've always liked East Asian culture. It always infuriates me to see violence against people based on race. We are all human after all.

[@ristonfuller1319]

Communism

[@jameschen8]

@@ristonfuller1319 what

[@labas8396]

@@ristonfuller1319 that's THE most 'America 2020-2021' answer ever :D Some people just need to have imaginary enemies...

[@DwAboutItManFr]

To be honest it shouldn't even matter we are the same species, differences aren't justification for violence.

[@redacted_vombat5742]

@@ristonfuller1319 it's always one group of ppls that wants to revert back to the stone age and they makeup a large portion of the conservatives vote

[@IVaV1]

"We don't like you and will discriminate against you, but just please don't leave this place"

[@EstherXiao94]

"The irony is real. I hate but have to admit it."

[@bboygenetics9882]

Basically what America is doing to the Latino community right now. THEY TOOK ERRR JERRRRBS

[@IVaV1]

@@bboygenetics9882 I am pretty sure the Americans actually want the Latinos to leave

[@houghwhite411]

We don't like you, but we like the money you bring in

[@aezzil3536]

@@IVaV1 The agricultural and intensive labor industry would plummet

[@andyzhang7890]

Wow, this is such an informative series. As a first generation Chinese Canadian, I knew some of the information presented here, but so much surprised me, like just how many hate crime events there were, the relocation initiatives, and the architecture coming from White architects imitating Chinese styles. I would love to see more episodes on the history of Chinese diaspora around the world

[@MARCBEA1]

Save Hong kong, Taiwan and the Wegers.

[@Whatsayoutuber]

Great idea about more Chinese diaspora episodes! One of my close friends is Indonesian, but her family is ethnically Chinese. I love learning about some of the history and the combo of cultures through her stories. I’m sure the Chinese diaspora is more widespread than I can even fathom, but I love how my friend loops me into one example of it besides the Chinese American community that is known to most Americans (like me)

[@andyzhang7890]

@@MARCBEA1 shoot my bad bro, i forgot. lemme do that after lunch

[@south514]

@@MARCBEA1 hey old man, get 'wegers' right if you want to act like you care about any of these issues

[@MARCBEA1]

@@south514 Hey South, when are you getting out of your parents basement? It's not cool that your still working in that minimum wage job. Stop telling people what to do when your a loser.

[@amirmagar2009]

The end teared me up. Sometimes you just can’t understand the hatred in this world. Have a good day everyone!

[@汤圆-y7f]

Hey Chinese people, just remember, the only place you would feel safe is home - China, no one will hurt you because you are Chinese, remember that !

[@汤圆-y7f]

@Canadian Leaf what are you talking about?

[@汤圆-y7f]

@Canadian Leaf what about native Americans? I don't understand your question, why it is related to what I said above?

[@bocbinsgames6745]

@Canadian Leaf The US (and canada) has already genocided the native americans to the point where they barely exist any more

[@jgroenevelt424]

If anyone is interested in a great book about New York’s Chinatown history, I recommend “Tong Wars: The Untold Story of Vice, Money, and Murder in New York's Chinatown” by Scott D. Seligman. It was a great insight into the injustices the Chinese population experienced around this same time.

[@penname8441]

+

[@emilyharkness9685]

Thanks for the recomendation!

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodcl4824]

Is it near a bridge? I never had the time to check it out

[@voldemortthenoselessfreak2126]

Also search up the "Sangley Rebellion" this is where 44, 000 of Chinese that inhabiting the 1600's Manila were massacred by the Spanish and some Filipinos. all because of the jealousy of the Spanish officials to them.

[@MARLONMATUTE]

Nice, thank you I would definitely read this book. 😎

[@gerry991]

Isn't it ironic immigrants from Asia are treated badly by people who belong from an ancestry of immigrants.

[@oliverrainer5771]

Unless you're Native American, you're descended from immigrants in the US. Some people just don't understand it tho

[@lucasrem1870]

they are not able to adopt!

[@SmylingTrees]

Sees video title: "The surprising reason behind Chinatown's aesthetic" Me before clicking: Was it racism? Video: It was racism *surprised face*

[@steemlenn8797]

About as big a surprise as the strange custom of jewish places of worship to have extremely sturdy doors.

[@GameFuMaster]

if it wasn't about racism, Vox wouldn't make a video about it.

[@lucasrem1870]

If you can't adopt, you get hated!

[@Kage-jk4pj]

@@GameFuMaster America was built on racism. Basically every story leads back to there.

[@GameFuMaster]

@@Kage-jk4pj literally every country is built on racism and war at some point.

[@alexjlcairns]

I learned so much from this, thank you! I'm half chinese, and always struggled with embracing this side of me, but as I learn more and more about and just how resilient we are as a people, I've very proud of who I am.

[@topspin4hand]

If there's one thing Chinese people are, it's being pragmatic (and resilient). Some might say it was wrong to let a Western architect design Chinatown.

[@recluse5025]

I'm sorry that you had to struggle with who you are. Nobody should. You are not there problem, the world is.

[@kyum1nq]

san fransisco after the fire: finally chinatown is gone san fransisco in a few weeks: wait come back we need money

[@lucasrem1870]

you meant the people that build the great railways?

[@alysiannnn8274]

Now, I want to see how this episode ties to the Manilatown episode, as they're at the same city at the same time.

[@CLAVERIALAURENCECLYDED_A]

@Andres Aguinaldo kinginamo

[@sharimlegaspi5092]

@@CLAVERIALAURENCECLYDED_A jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj

[@sharimlegaspi5092]

@@CLAVERIALAURENCECLYDED_A jjjjjj

[@troy4298]

@@sharimlegaspi5092 dude shut up

[@simonjames9481]

Manila Chinatown is the Oldest and Biggest Chinatown in the world

[@Optikerlp]

I'm so glad that Missing Chapter is returning, truly one of your strongest series, Vox!

[@therealtalk000]

Fun fact: Manila China town is the oldest China town in the world.

[@KRYMauL]

Actually it's Binondo in Spain. Never mind that's just the name of the distinct.

[@richeeluha6968]

@@KRYMauL Philippines is not Spain we we’re colonies by them.

[@verbinski3195]

Binondo was part of Spain at that time

[@leabernal3475]

@@verbinski3195 Not really. Philippines was never a province of Spain, just a colony.

[@verbinski3195]

@@leabernal3475 I never said ph is a province of Spain. I said that the time Binondo Chinatown was built it was part of the Spanish Empire.

[@coolbeer2804]

Never knew about this side of Chinatown... huge respect to the community 👏

[@shalinitiwariscorner5210]

Heads off to Vox for Missing Chapter video. My father is half Nepali and half Bihari. My late mother(May her soul rest in peace) was a Chinese Indian. 😭Chinese Indian community also faced violent racism , internment and threat of banishment, after Indian Government passed Defence of India Act, 1962. 😟 One of elder brother and almost all the cousins migrated to UK as refugee. But she remained in India with my father and his family. 🇳🇪😄 She loved India, her motherland India so much till her last breath and was a faithful hindu.She overwhelmed with joy when Indian government removed the restrictions that it had imposed on Chinese Indians.

[@eugene9089]

In Malaysia, Malaysians call Chinese Indian = Chindian, which is related to Chinese mix Indian.

[@CameronBoyes]

I went to a restaurant in Vancouver that served a mix of Indian and Chinese food. The owner was from an Indian Chinatown originally, which inspired his fusion cuisine. One of the best meals I've had!

[@Satyamev_Jayate100]

@Blue Plumbob 🤣🤣

[@PachetePockets]

I'm an American currently living in China. My girlfriend is Chinese and I plan to marry her and move back to the United States with her. But due to the recent anti-Asian hate crimes, she is too scared to go. Which is absolutely abhorrent. It makes me ashamed to be American. Our country was built on the backs of immigrants, it's so frustrating how often we turn our backs on them.

[@willl237]

why dont you move to china

[@makatogonzo]

Good on you buddy!

[@JK-gu3tl]

Just avoid the blue cities, and she should be safe.

[@orangutancoochie6213]

On the contrary, America was built on the exploitation of immigrants so it comes as no surprise that immigrants (especially non-white ones) are being subjected to hate

[@VVayVVard]

@Orangutan It's the opposite. The US was built upon decades-long "oppression" of natives, by immigrants. And non-white ones had little effect on its rise to power; they were a tiny fraction of the population until well after WW1. It's really all natural resources combined with strategic advantages and some luck that built the economy. And the only reason it was possible was because most immigrants came from Europe, which was the economic powerhouse of the world until WW2.

[@emrazum]

Excellent coverage, rare to see this depth and history from mainstream outlets. Thank You!

[@Robot404_]

This is commonplace quality for Vox.

[@rd3k3k3k3]

@@Robot404_ agreed, vox is has some of the best video essays

[@adityaajit2120]

@@Robot404_ hey can you recommend me more channels like Vox

[@jono601]

You might be mistaking 24 hour live news and video essays/documentaries. It’s a different format. Live news happens live while these short documentaries have time to research and prepare a more polished video essay.

[@memphisstef3808]

@@adityaajit2120 johny harris

[@chengboli1462]

This is such a heartbreaking story... As a Chinese, I thank you for telling this story.

[@MARCBEA1]

Save Hong kong, Taiwan and the Wegers.

[@bananahat3350]

@@MARCBEA1 …did you mean Uighurs?

[@MARCBEA1]

@@bananahat3350 No, the spelling I initially said was correct and taken out of the web.

[@south514]

@@MARCBEA1 are you literally a bot dude, get a life and talk to your family or something, maybe don't spend your time harrassing random chinese peop

[@lalafoxtrotletsplay8121]

I loved visiting Chinatown and Little Tokyo whenever I visited the city. SF has a really special place in my heart. Thank you for the video.

[@tor112233]

the illustration at 1:43 is actually an anti imperialist piece portraying different empires slicing up and stealing areas of the chinese subcontinent

[@lgdcommanderchen]

True :) But that is because (as the video try to portray) China or spesifically the Qing Dynasty was portrayed as evil, despotic, and backward empire whom belong to a bygone era. So in one way or another it is related to the video ;)

[@hasanmuhammad6651]

Omg i just noticed that

[@joenuts5167]

@@lgdcommanderchen it did belong to a bygone era. they still acted like it was the 1500s when the industrial revolution was in full swing. They were arrogant and paid the price for not modernizing.

[@probablyaman]

Sad because China finally stood up and started to say no to the opium trade (profited grossly by the Western nations), only to be invaded by the Western forces. The Qing Dynasty was a failing era, but the Chinese people did not deserve the treatment and discrimination that followed afterwards.

[@rssyng]

also the yellow peril term itself is coined because the fear of japan as rising power will standing againt the existing imperial nation, not the china one

[@berrylarry20]

My best friend is from China and I'm so glad to live in a diverse city with Chinatown. It breaks my heart seeing all this hate and racism when Asian culture is beautiful 💔

[@insectbite1714]

What about the CCP that tries to destroy the Chinese culture by making pollution and going aganst things that are religious.

[@user-iq7mk3gb9w]

@@insectbite1714 You must learn to hate the right thing. China and all of Asian culture is beautiful, magnificent, and worth to preserve. What to hate is the government, not the culture.

[@pointingoutpoints3661]

@@user-iq7mk3gb9w Couldn't have put it better.

[@alistairt7544]

@@insectbite1714 That's the government. It has nothing to do with normal day to day people, especially since the officials in the higher ups are not even elected by the people in the first place

[@lolsmo395]

@@insectbite1714 What does that have to do with usa chinatowns?

[@elbeenstar403]

Man everyone is affected by this pandemic, no one should be blame because of it. People should learn to be open and kind to one another.

[@November441]

I don’t blame people of any kinds, but the CCP.

[@bri1085]

@@November441 Lots of governments should also be taking the lionshare of the blame just as much as the CCP.

[@hgos7211]

@@November441 The virus was spreading around the U.S and Europe in 2019, way before doctors in Wuhan even had a hint a virus was spreading. It was always going to be a pandemic, no matter what.

[@orksca5459]

the same people who blame asians for covid are the ones who refuse to wear masks and party outside every night

[@johncao6516]

@@November441 Not sure if you know, but there are over 90 million members of CCP (6.5% of the total Chinese population). So when you say "I blame the CCP" it's no different from "I blame all of China" because every Chinese citizens have family and close friends in the CCP. Average CCP members often don't engage in any political activities, and often disagree (privately) with Beijing policies, so putting blames on them is totally unfair. Now, if you want to blame the "CCP leadership" aka the central government, I wouldn't have a problem with that.

[@Tobi-ci3ns]

What an amazing story! When I visited Chinatown in SF I was blown away by how tacky it looks compared to ones in Australia, now I understand that they couldn't take any chances in being too subtle.

[@undercoverduck]

if anything Vox has taught me that whenever you examine the history of modern day phenomena in the west, there's always a "because they were incredibly racist" section

[@rafael16759]

i would never go to a country so far away that i had nothing in common lets be honest they asked for that thinking america was a country that spawned out of nowhere for everybody slaveary was abolished only a few decades lol

[@AlexS-oj8qf]

The Chinatown in Surabaya, Indonesia looks like Amsterdam with that Chinese Gate as the only sign of it being Chinatown lol

[@risannd]

Same in Jakarta

[@supportervandeeuropeseunie1625]

Amsterdam? You got to have a strong imagination for that. It looks more like a poorer version of a random Belgian city to me.

[@samanthasivannia1887]

U know, Indonesia is one of the country that has biggest Chinese community in the world, probably 2nd in the world, after Thailand

[@risannd]

@@samanthasivannia1887 or maybe the first, or third, since Chinese Indonesians are poorly documented here due to assimilation policy decades ago.

[@a11u45]

I live in Malaysia, where about 20% is Chinese. I see a few Chinese looking buildings (not always but usually temples). But still it's very rarely in my country do I see buildings that look as Chinese as the buildings in Chinatowns

[@Thesungod95]

want more videos like this. i love this culture stuff.

[@Neyobe]

Yes! I love Vox and their range in cultures; from Latin America to SouthAsia to the poles.

[@NA-nj4uh]

You should watch the Asian American series on PBS KZbin channel

[@harrywinter1520]

Check out (google) the Cultural Revolution.

[@mndsph4530]

The Philippines' Chinatown (Binondo) being the oldest recorded "Chinatown" in the world and even WAY OLDER than the States never patterned its architectural landscape after the US Chinatown! Go to the Philippines and do your research in here. Our Chinatown was created because there were Chinese who assimilated through conversion to Catholicism and integration into then Hispanic society to avoid persecution and deportation hence the Spaniard authority established quarters in Binondo and Sta Cruz Districts for this integrated caste. Those who did not adhere remained in "Parian" quarter within Intramuros (Old Walled City of Manila). The architecture even then was a mixture of both East and West because many of the Chinese were artisans and primarily worked for construction before upgrading into commerce as merchants which also impacted their lifestyle and dwellings, evidently seen at existing century-old structures found in Manila Chinatown, long before the Americans came to colonize our country

[@erikanders3343]

If memory serves while Binondo is the oldest and continuously occupied the esthetic then was not what it is today. The oldest gate in Binondo (Arch of Goodwill) in Plaza Santa Cruz was built in the 30's, the other gates off the square will built about 20 years apart.

[@stevezodiacXL5]

Yokohama, not far from Tokyo, has a Chinatown with exactly that style of gate. Chinese speaking vendors on the street. I was slightly surprised to see it there, given the history between the two nations.

[@jeep1077]

Those gates are exactly what you see in China. The buildings in San Francisco are a mix of Chinese aesthetics and American architecture of the period which is exactly what you would expect.

[@modkhi]

Japan doesn't have as much an issue with China as China does with Japan. Partially down to Japan being the aggressors back then, partially because of the history curriculum in Japan glossing over what they did to their neighbors. It'd be more of a surprise to see a Japantown in Beijing.

[@haruzanfuucha]

@@modkhi There ARE Japantowns in China.

[@euroschmau]

No one talks about Philadelphia's Chinatown, but we have the most beautiful gateway arch of all Chinatowns in the nation!

[@aaronclift]

I’ve been there several times. The gate is very beautiful, and the community is nice.

[@NA-nj4uh]

I think Philly's Chinatown is the best tbh

[@mammontustado9680]

"we"?? really, mr. O'Malley?

[@modkhi]

@J thelo324 Most Chinatowns are really small tbh. New York and ones on the West Coast are the biggest. I went to NYC and marveled at how much Chinese food I could get, stuff I hadn't eaten since I was very little and lived in China with my grandparents. Though for food variety Toronto's really nice too, but the Chinatown itself is also small. Montreals and Bostons (also places I've lived) are comparatively tiny too.

[@PatheticTV]

When I visited the US from Hong Kong, I always thought the building in Chinatown looked nothing like our buildings back home. Now I know why.

[@iemamau5838]

Hong Kong isn't really a Chinese city

[@timdove5717]

@@iemamau5838 You may not have seen the Hong Kong movie, in terms of traditional Chinese culture, in Guangdong as well as Hong Kong it is very well preserved

[@daisuke910]

@@iemamau5838 It is a Chinese city. Why do people think the rest of the world still stuck in 1950 I don't get why? Do you think all Chinese city looks like Forbidden City? Think again.

[@CaptainM792]

@@iemamau5838 Hong Kong is a Chinese city for sure, it was ruled by the Qing Dynasty before the British take over, and Chinese culture never really disappeared in Hong Kong. British culture however, such as horse racing, were incorporated into Chinese culture in Hong Kong.

[@PatheticTV]

@@daisuke910 Hong Kong’s not a Chinese city, it’s an SAR. :D

[@ifanismail6564]

"Filthy", "general evil", "problem solved", "pestilential". My god, the mercurial language of the so-called official reporting of that time. That kind of hatred and prejudice were the norms, eh?

[@jennifersun2638]

Prejudicism against Italians,Germans,Poles,Jews,the Irish was rampant at the time too.

[@TheMrCarnification]

What does mercurial mean in this context? I'm not a native speaker

[@bananahat3350]

@@jennifersun2638 No one said it wasn’t.

[@spacemanspud7073]

The idea that your specfifc race determines our personality, intelligence, ect. (Instead of just being completely irrelevant as it's known to be today) was mainstream science at the time

[@kenneth9153]

Fun fact: China Town in Manila is the oldest "China Town" in the world Binondo in Manila, established in 1594, is recognized as the world's oldest Chinatown.

[@chromenine]

@Samuel Anugrah Andre I think many of the oriental aesthetics in Binondo are actually relatively new, like the archway that they keep on changing, and the notorious oriental looking lamp posts blocking the road.

[@martinjoshuamanguiob2146]

@Samuel Anugrah Andre To add, Binondo actually had a different style of architecture that was dominant for centuries which was called the "Bahay na bato" architecture which translates to stone house(though I must add that the style of architecture was not only limited to houses but also commercial buildings and apartments). When the American era came, more modern buildings were erected built in the neoclassical, art noveau, art deco style, etc. Much of Binondo's architectural heritage was destroyed by the war and developers. Because Binondo was for a long time the commercial center of Manila, it declined as businesses started moving out to places like Makati and so Binondo is now pretty much a rundown chinatown though still quite lively but it never regained its pre war beauty. You can search old photos of Binondo to see what it looked like back then.

[@ccityplanner1217]

It's an exaggerated version of highly formal Chinese architecture. Cultures in diaspora often tend to be exaggerated version of the culture in the homeland: people are surrounded by difference so they club together for identity.

[@circleexample4480]

0:12 the words "pagoda style roof" is very interesting. cause originally, the roof is the original and the pagoda looks like a roof, which is a part of house that all pagodas of this style imitated. i am not surprised that westerners didn’t know that

[@Ms-Fortune]

_I hate seeing people suffer. We’re all the same; and it breaks my heart to see disharmony. We should all be included in the family of humanity; and everyone has the right to feel safe, loved, and appreciated for the good that they do. Anything less is unacceptable._

[@moguldamongrel3054]

Any group of people that resort to blackmailing others is not worthy of being included in the "actual" human family. Harmony as the word is being used commonly has lost to much of it's meaning to be meaningful. Collecting information to use against someone if they don't comply isn't what humans do. Words like suffering, the same, and using emotionally charged words to evoke sympathy etc when used manipulatively, lack any semblance of the root word, just like nation of today lacks any semblance to it's root words. Anything less is unacceptable.

[@insectbite1714]

@@moguldamongrel3054 yup, we must accept reality and not help bad people take us over

[@adolfhitler7394]

I hate seeing people suffer. We’re all the same; and it breaks my heart to see disharmony. We should all be included in the family of humanity; and everyone has the right to feel safe, loved, and appreciated for the good that they do. Anything less is unacceptable.

[@aaronp2542]

Agreed. But then the government here would call you socialist. The older I get, the more I feel we really don't need to humor the west and just focus on ourselves.

[@cvumanh]

The building structure actually suits earthquake prone areas. They have structure to be flexible in earthquakes.

[@poketopa1234]

Woah, I grew up near Chinatown but I never knew the city like this

[@anonynym7431]

US: We the People... Also US: Chinese Exclusion Act

[@buckyhermit]

This kind of reminds me of the Chinatown here in Vancouver. It was nearly destroyed by a freeway plan, but was saved in the last minute after residents saw the plans destroy a black neighbourhood. Chinatown was next (and seen as an easy target) and citizens put a stop to it. That's largely why to this day, Vancouver is the only major city in North America not to have a freeway running through its city limits.

[@PimpyGDawg]

That racist drawing at the 1:45 mark is categorically *NOT* one espousing the "yellow peril" narrative. It's a French anti-imperialist caricature deploring European and Japanese Imperialism in China, showing greedy leaders carving up China, which was left helpless to its fate. We studied it in French schools growing up.

[@youtubedeletedmyaccountlma2263]

Noice! Chinese here thanks for knowing the real stuff. Many stuff in this video is wrong. That’s the only San Francisco architecture. Most Chinatown in the west are built by Cantonese due to Hong Kong being coloniséd by British. While in other part of the world, it would look more like hokkien style or Hakka style.

[@isaiahsimmons5776]

VOX PROBABLY LOOKED AT WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE AND SEEN THAT IMAGE FEATURED AND AUTOMATICALLY ASSUMED

[@robinnilsson9487]

Vox: teaching you things you didn't realize you needed to know, but you absolutely should.

[@johannebaker9730]

The 1882 Act was outrageous

[@buianh1257]

In Saigon Vietnam, we have a number of districts with a large population of Chinese people living, especially in District 5. The Chinese people in Vietnam assimilated and became a part of Vietnam. So in Saigon, we don't have any Chinese-style gates, but there are some building that have Chinese architecture for their community.

[@sususegar]

Xin chao! Yup, been to Saigon twice and saw a few examples of Chinese architecture including the Thien Hau temple, but I couldn't find that gate. Also I think centuries of "cousin relations" and cultural assimilation have made the Chinese descendants indistinguishable from others.

[@N0N0111]

Hello Ranjani, Who ever came up with the idea to interview them outside on a chair BRAVO.

[@its.anitaaa]

Humans really do not learn from history ....

[@LutraLovegood]

This isn't history people are usually taught.

[@bian7744]

Humans learn from false history.

[@fyzxnerd]

I think it's important to have videos like this right now. I hope you also do this for Middle Eastern, African, and South American cultures in the US.

[@PanzerdivisionWiking]

Yeah, for African history we can research the great architectural style of Section 8 housing projects. JK..

[@jasonhaven7170]

@@PanzerdivisionWiking JK doesn't stop what you said being racist

[@chocomilo1628]

i want to see the culture and the perspective of middle eastern American especially after 9/11 and isis.

[@barbram8001]

@@PanzerdivisionWiking Why the hate?

[@PanzerdivisionWiking]

@@jasonhaven7170 Are you five?

[@moonshot9931]

That's a surprise. Chinatown's aesthetic is actually the white man's imagination of what is Chinese architectural design.

[@ShadNex]

I still can't believe people thought China looks like Chinatown Thats the same as Chinese people think america looks like disneyland

[@lordkent8143]

Yeah, when you see actually Chinese architecture in China it's not as flashy or compounded. Chinatown architecture just seems like western buildings with stuck on "oriental" elements really. It's also rare to see any Chinese architecture in most modern Chinese cities. A lot of westerns expect to see a gigantic Chinatown in China.

[@KRYMauL]

The Chinese aesthetic that was shown here died in the 1500s it's like saying Paris is only the old city and doesn't include the actual city center. Although, they do use bamboo as scaffolding because it's cheaper than steel which is really cool.

[@Sinyao]

@@KRYMauL Bamboo is such a good material to work with.

[@KRYMauL]

@@Sinyao And is cheap to replenish.

[@houghwhite411]

Why are Chinese so good at trading? You guys forced them to

[@xiaog9201]

Resilience is success. This is the real reason we can stand strong today.

[@abegailbohol7838]

Vox Missing Chapter is back!! Thank you ❤️❤️

[@devdhirsingh9864]

this video is beautiful and informative!

[@jameikajameika]

This makes the Yokohama Chinatown gates even more architecturally interesting.

[@LY43537]

Thank you for teaching Chinese-American history.

[@sususegar]

That explains a lot about the weird architecture in every Chinatowns I've been to, including the one in my country. As a Chinese descent those entrance gate always look strangely exaggerated to me.

[@bestanimalshort]

Large organisations like HS BC, still treat Chinese the same way today. They only want to take their money but in no way have they ever acknowledged the way they have treated Chinese, especially employees.

[@tombower3773]

What the Hong Kong Shanghai banking corporation? Im genuinley interested here, what made you choose them as an example?

[@tombower3773]

They aren't the first employer I'd think would be systematically racist too when their bank and group was born from that culture

[@0Apes0]

I live in London, and I’ve always adored the gates in China town.

[@brickmedusa]

Are there any similar places in London built by indians Pakistanis or any south Asians??

[@jamest6822]

@@brickmedusa not specific towns as such but Southall and Wembley are huge centres for south asians (pretty much all residents and businesses are south Asian) and Neasden temple is huge, the biggest Hindu temple outside India.

[@brickmedusa]

@@jamest6822 the Angkor wat temple is the largest Hindu temple actually

[@jamest6822]

@@brickmedusa this has changed since it was built then - it was the largest in the world at the time. It's still the biggest in Europe too

[@brickmedusa]

@@jamest6822 do pakistani indians and other desis go well in uk or there is still some sort of hatred

[@RawRLisA]

My great great grandparents from my moms side came to SF in the late 1800s. I’ve always wondered about their life then.

[@kailashpatirai]

CHIN have one child policy this is why CHIN have peace . Stalin's idea was also correct but dangerous "more man more problems no man no problems"

[@ZacharyAlexanderGoh]

I used to really want to migrate to the States when I was young. Now, I wouldn’t dare step foot there.

[@DanteAtropos]

It is not easy place to live in but it is still a good place when the racists get shamed back into their hiding spots.

[@RainierKine]

Thank you for highlighting our historical and current struggle. It's not only the U.S., Chinese all over the world face discrimination, especially in these recent years.

[@seanbeee]

I beg to differ. Yes Chinese people face discrimination where they are in small amounts in countries, but I mean Chinese people are the largest group of humans on earth. 🤷🏽‍♂️it’s so messed up though, like we should just see all of us as humans. As in mainland China they also need to stop discrimination in their own land, as humans we must change.

[@RainierKine]

@@seanbeee We don't disagree on the fact that all people should be free from discrimination. I think discrimination by Chinese people should be highlighted as well. However, the point that Chinese people are the largest group is irrelevant to the frequency and severity of the discrimination we face.

[@Hylean_Way]

@@RainierKine there are groups that have had it worse, though. Even within China there is currently discrimination against ethnic minorities. To say Chinese people have had it particularly bad I don’t think is accurate, even though of course discrimination against them exists.

[@dieltolo6112]

Genius! One of the greatest marketing play of history, sometimes sacrifice is necessary, make sure that you are the one that make the choice, please be safe out there.

[@hayi8957]

0:28 'but it's not because they're what real Chinese cities looked like' thanks for the interesting video! However, I must say that these gates called 'pailou' and 'paifang :)', which you highlighted several times throughout the video, certainly DO exist in 'real' Chinese communities. We especially see them at entrances to villages

[@biot7175]

Yeah, I was suspicious about that claim

[@DanteAtropos]

But it is used for totally different reasons.

[@hayi8957]

@@DanteAtropos how so?

[@AozoraUltra2006]

Gotta remind myself everyday of the hard work people put in and the pain they suffered for me to live comfortably in North America. I forget that a lot.

[@JacobCanote]

Fitting that the last arial shot as the view opens, the crimson of the flags prominently stands out. Journalism at it's finest. Best of luck!

[@LuckyJ26]

Right, that’s a lot of Taiwanese flags flying over those buildings.

[@dikshantsingh964]

Here in india we have such Chinatown in kolkata (West Bengal) which symbolises the brotherhood between Indian and Chinese ever since Chinese were given refuge after the 1962 indo-China war

[@bri1085]

Isn't Modi's government pushing heavy anti-China sentiment at the moment?

[@wh2960]

@@bri1085 west bengal is way different than most divisions in india

[@ninawayyy]

I would love to visit this place

[@jamest6822]

@@bri1085 someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think anti-Muslim sentiment is far stronger and more prevalent than anti-Chinese sentiment. India has a long history of enmity between Hindus and Muslims (and Modi is a Hindu nationalist) whereas China is a competitor country but not seen as an existential threat.

[@bri1085]

@@jamest6822 thing about people like Modi is they can ration their hatred. The Islamophobia doesn't disappear because he's using sinophobia to stoke up nationalist sentiments

[@cheesyboygouda]

imagine stealing someone’s country after immigrating from Europe and then complaining about immigrants “taking your job” 👋😂

[@tomlidot4871]

Thank you for illuminating forgotten, critical history in a timely manner. Fascinating that LA and Seattle created leverage for the families in SF. I have family in Seattle, they settled there around 1930. I was told it was Chinatown, I asked why they moved there? They said they had to. Kudos for your thoughtful work.

[@seandmello3793]

That's really cool

I'm just rereading East of Eden and this helped me get more context for Lee's background story. Very interesting!

[@peachforce]

This is fantastic-- information I'd genuinely never heard or even thought about, presented in an engaging manner.

[@Hopelesslittlekilljoy]

Not all Chinatowns are American built in this way. Philadelphia’s Chinatown (and the Friendship Gate) was built by Chinese artisans. Just a few years ago it got a fresh paint job using traditional Chinese methods, very cool to see. Just thought I’d spread a little happier of a vibe 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@lizzcastelblanco6652]

SOS COLOMBIA 🇨🇴 WE ARE CENSORED!!!

[@AndreasViklundOfficial]

"Missing chapter" remains a KZbin favorite for me. Great storytelling, great editing and always educational in a way that is important for several reasons. Thank you for helping me learn more about the world and its history!

[@Unfollowthem]

We Indians also has similar kind of entrance to almost every village, City. Probably from Hinduism, Buddhism....

[@hunting4honeys]

Hi, what's the entrance called?

[@Unfollowthem]

@@hunting4honeys village, City entrance It is called as "Kamaan or Ooru dvaara(in South)" it is situated 5-10 km away from residence. "Mahadvara, {Dvara baagilu, Agashi (In kannada)}, Gate in North india....

[@hunting4honeys]

@@Unfollowthem thanks for the info!

[@bakytzhantursynbek226]

@@Unfollowthem it is not called gate in the north. It is called Dwar

[@Unfollowthem]

@@bakytzhantursynbek226 But I heard Punjab Gate, Kashmiri Gate, Delhi gate(near Cricket stadium) while I was in Delhi...

[@siddsach1]

Amazing video!!! Asian American history is mostly invisible, please continue telling our story!

[@showersofstardust]

America's first response to anything or anyone new is always "I don't want that here", despite being a country built on openness to new ideas and rethinking how a government could function. The Italian and the Irish saw hate, Asian communities saw and see hate, and now also Hispanic and Latino communities. It's pitiful, when you see the history repeating, over and over. We may have language and cultural barriers to an extent, but we are all human in the end. Why can we travel to other places and be open to these differences but not make space for it in our homes? :/ I love America...but not this side of it.

[@emmanuelaguado9740]

Didnt know the China towns built in the Philippines were inspired by Chinese American designs.

[@jamesgreenldn]

Its not surprising as the Philippines was colonised by the United States

[@GamerJosher]

I mean it's possible but then again Binondo (Manila's Chinatown) was around way longer than San Fransisco's Chinatown so...

[@chromenine]

If i'm not mistaken, the Manila Chinatown at least was not built by the influence of the American Chinatowns but because the Spaniards relocated all the Chinese immigrants into Binondo, and eventually, that became the Chinatown. The oriental designs I believe were inspired by the American Chinatowns though.

[@sollaire1222]

@Andres Aguinaldo I can second this! Because Chinatown in Manila is in the district of Binondo and that's where Chinese immigrants used to live during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, first established in 1594... decades b4 the birth of USA. I also like, grew up there for most of my childhood, until I move to Quezon City.

[@simonjames9481]

Manila Chinatown was the first to adapt that Design (as early as 16th century) and not America.

[@maratmukhtarov1435]

Wow thank you for actually open up for me a page of that history which I never learned.

[@farazkhan7035]

Very good journalism. Keep up the good work

[@jk3jk35]

Chinese Canadian here - I will always remember the sacrifices my parents and elders made!

[@sadiksha7387]

A month ago I was searching to learn more about the Chinatown's aesthetic but did not find anything informative. Thank you so much Vox for bringing this information in limelight.

[@BaptisteLee]

I love chinatown's aesthetics and how it differs from mainland Chinese architecture! It makes it unique.

[@xcutioner5411]

actually u can find many "chinatown aesthetics" in level 2 to 4 even 5 cities in china go check channel walk east

[@cczsus6513]

Yep in poorer cities you might still see em

[@gpaintedsenyo3184]

Chinese city nowadays got no Chinese aesthetics, only ones borrowed from the west

[@MrNurserob]

I like that it showed the San Francisco Chinatown Pacific Bell telephone exchange. When in operation, operators had to know 5 dialects of Chinese as well as English, and they had to know who the customers were by name or description by the caller, as culture was averse to ‘numbering’ people. Those operators were pretty incredible. It was the largest Chinese telephone exchange outside of mainland China. Today it’s a bank, but still there.

[@andywlim]

This showed up on my feed as I just watched the season finale of Warriors on HBO which is set in SF Chinatown in the late 1800s

[@brixiex2580]

Wow . Honestly Vic and Vice need AWARDED for the quality and abundance of work and knowledge they give FREELY. I am so much more educated- surprisingly enough about ME OWN culture and ethnicity- and also about the world and about the country I live in, like, it’s Amazing and I am incredibly grateful!! I’m sharing these videos to people when debating hot topics and important events and it’s a shame that this wasn’t taught in school- almost ANY OF IT ?!?yet all of it is relevant and no novice would know , where it not for work like this!! Bravo /Bravi*/Brava!!!

[@acerniss]

It’s honestly devastating how much effort people have to put in to simply… survive.

[@hollowknight470]

Last time I was this early, California was still part of Mexico

[@PanzerdivisionWiking]

Dang! That’s a fresh meme!

[@chineselovefreedom]

心疼。

[@avacurtis2729]

😥

[@LearningwithLani]

This video was so interesting!!! I learned a lot. It’s so interesting that Chinatowns across the world have similar architectural styles. I’m considering showing this video to my students since it addresses issues past and present that affect Asian Americans to further educate them for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

[@ngoctramle2656]

the design of this vid is impressive