Scope and Contents In this interview, Harry Lee Chow talks about growing up near Chinatown in Washington, D.C., the history of his ancestry, attending local schools, and the racial climate of the local area. Chow describes being a child of first generation immigrants from China and his initial childhood reluctance to learn his parents' native language and religion. Chow recalls the effects of Lady Bird Johnson's Beautification initiatives in Chinatown, the Chinatown Courtesy Patrol, the Chinatown Creative...

Scope and Contents In this interview, Jack Lee discusses his family's arrival in Chinatown in Washington, D.C. after the Second World War, growing up in the center of Chinatown, his father's grocery store, and being a part of the Lee Family Association. Lee describes going to school in a majority-Black neighborhood, practicing basketball, and working for the Mayor's Office of Youth Opportunity program where he planned activities for the youth in Chinatown, before it was cut when Marion Barry took office. Lee...

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Larry La discusses his parents' journey of leaving Communist China, growing up in Saigon with his Chinese heritage, his family's escape from Vietnam after the Vietnam War, settling in Erwin, TN after living in a refugee camp in Malaysia, moving to Washington D.C. to work at City Lights of China, opening and running Meiwah, numerous anecdotes of his restaurant's customers working in politics and government, closing Meiwah West End, and earning the Outstanding American by Choice Award.

Scope and Contents In this interview, Mei discusses her family's move from Hong Kong to Washington, D.C., her relationships with other Chinatown kids, the Chinatown program at Calvary Baptist Church, and attended Wilson High School. Mei also recalls helping out at her grandfather's laundry, celebrating Chinese holidays, and her regret that her parents worked so much during her childhood. She concludes by speculating about the future of Chinatown in D.C., and how she believes that another Chinatown can spring...

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The initial phase of this project interviewed some of the oldest residents in Chinatown, representing a generation in transition. This phase interviewed second and third generation stories that are uniquely Chinese American.

Scope and Contents In this interview, Sunny Luk talks about helping out at his family's restaurant, race relations between the Chinese and Black residents, attending Catholic school, programs and activities offered to children in Chinatown, and playing sports in high school. Luk talks about his own children, struggling to make a good life for his family, the Chinese Young Club, and the generational differences between first generation immigrants and later generations and their relationships to money. Luk...

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In this interview, Wallace Lee describes his and his parents journey from Hong Kong to Washington, D.C., where he grew up. Lee recalls meeting people at the Lee Family Association, helping his family's laundry business, attending Catholic school, moving to the suburbs, and playing sports with other Chinatown kids. He concludes by describing the decline of D.C.'s Chinatown, his desire to preserve the area, and businesses closing down.