The Chinatowns of California

The First and Second Opium Wars, along with the California Gold Rush, became incentives for many Chinese people to relocate to the U.S. Although many Chinese immigrants initially settled down in San Francisco (known as Dai Fow, “the Big City”), many later moved to Sacramento (called the Yee Fow, “Second City”). Early Chinese settlers were merchants, restaurateurs, laundrymen, entrepreneurs, and peddlers; they served both the Chinese and the white communities.

Sacramento's Chinatown was soon founded on I Street, stretching from Second to Sixth Streets, and quickly became a flourishing community. However, the Chinese community initially faced challenges in Sacramento. The white working-class developed an anti-Chinese sentiment, so the ethnic group became the scapegoat for economic oppression. This hatred eventually reached Congress; the national Chinese Exclusion Act was passed in 1882—this excluded Chinese people from entering the U.S.; there were also declared ineligible for citizenship and weren't allowed to marry outside their race. Although the law was repealed in 1943, unfortunate events continued occurring throughout Sacramento's Chinatown. Fires destroyed canvas structures and wood shanty-like buildings, many Chinese lives were lost, and their belongings scattered. These mysterious fires were assumed to be set off by people who weren’t fond of the Chinese working class. 

After facing discrimination for many years, Chinese Sacramentans successfully broke down these social barriers. Now, when you walk around Sacramento’s Chinatown Mall, you’ll see Chinese elders practicing their morning Tai Chi and hear the shuffling of tiles from a passionate Mahjong game. You’ll also come across the Chung Wah, a governing board of consolidated family benevolent associations throughout Sacramento—the board played an important role in maintaining the tight-knit Chinese community's customs and culture. Although it was quite challenging for Chinatown in Sacramento to survive, it emerged stronger and continues to thrive today.