Queens - A Patchwork Of Cultures

Strength in Numbers
The 2000 Census counted 139,820 Chinese people in Queens, marking them as the largest Asian group in the borough. Until 1920, Chinese people were placed into the United States Census’ “other” category, along with any other group that was not white or black.

Where They Live
Since 1986, a booming economy in Flushing has attracted large numbers of Chinese—more than one-half of Queens’ Chinese population.
While there are still some vibrant Chinese communities in Ridgewood and Long Island City, the Chinese mostly congregate in Flushing.

How They Got There
The number of Chinese immigrants to the United States remained small until 1943, when The Chinese Exclusion Act, which kept America’s doors closed to Chinese immigrants, was repealed and replaced with a quota of 105 immigrants per year from both Mainland China and Taiwan. It was still rare, however, for the full 105 Mainland Chinese people to gain leave from China’s government.

In 1946, the War Brides Act allowed Chinese Americans who fought in the war to bring their wives to the United States. Many Chinese Americans pooled their loan monies and opened large wet wash factories, which employed hundreds of Chinese Americans for low pay.

What Makes Them
Who They Are
“Chinese people as a whole are becoming educated and more Americanized,” says Flushing Chinese Business Association President Fred Fu. “They’re focused on education. They send their children to school, and many succeed.

“People that are born in the United States are American. They’re not Chinese. They speak English, so they’re American. In 50 years, no one will ask a Chinese person, ‘When did you come to America?’”

One example of just such a Chinese-American is Flushing Councilman John Liu, who was elected in 2001 as New York City Council’s first Chinese-American member.
“You hear John Liu speak?” Fu asks. “He’s not Chinese. He’s American. We are growing here in the country.”

Flushing is home to more Chinese-Americans than Chinatown in Lower Manhattan. photo by Ira Cohen

The Good Life
Flushing is currently filled with Chinese signs and businesses, and major chain stores are taking an interest in opening in the area. The Flushing Mall opened in 2001, and members of the Flushing community are currently exploring the possibility of making Flushing a Business Improvement District (BID).

The Not-So-Good Life
Councilwoman Julia Harrison was quoted in a 1996 New York Times article as saying the movement of Asians to Flushing was “an invasion, not assimilation.” Her comments were met with uproar from the community, and three Asian- Americans challenged her council seat—but she still won re-election by a 61 percent majority.
“Everyone knew of it, but it’s in the past now,” Fu says of the negative comments. “Not important. What’s important is that business is good in Flushing and we’re doing well.”

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