Synopsis
Wei Li develops a geographical outlook of Chinese American people on community formation in time and space in chapter 10. The writer paints a picture of the geographical characteristics in terms of settlements, socioeconomic activities, and traditions of the first American Chinese immigrants in relation to the latest geographical characteristics. The migration of the Chinese population in urban and suburban areas is the most important aspect covered in this chapter. Further, Chinese settlement patterns depict changes in traditional and communal institutions and beliefs.
Changes in socioeconomic activities also appear as a major factor that precipitated changes in the migration patterns. The writer also observes that the increase in the Chinese population triggered major changes in settlement patterns. The chapter also explains the effects and changes in political, social, and economic conditions in Chinese American urban and sub-urban settlement patterns. The author develops an analysis of the underlying differences between Chinese American communities as regards the dynamics of formation, spatial concentrations, and socioeconomic distinctions.
Chinatowns
I concur with the writer that Chinatowns are the latest Chinese settlements in America that stand for racial minority suburbs occupied by marginalized foreigners (Li 221). Facts from historical records reveal that America had discriminatory laws that did not favor foreigners. Americans discriminated against foreigners based on their race and skin color. Foreigners mostly lived in ethnic clustered settlements outside urban centers. This trend explains the existence of downtown Chinatowns. I also concur with the writer that global trends in political and socio-economic activities changed settlement patterns of Chinese in America.
American Chinese migration was hastened by the rebirth of the garment industry and Chinese dining. Industries needed both skilled and unskilled labor, hence people migrated to urban centers in search of work. As a result of the recognition of the immigration act in 1962, the Chinese migration into the United States was encouraged (Li 221). As industries started resurfacing, the demand for cheap labor increased, and people had to move from the suburban areas to urban cores. As a consequence, the population in the suburbs decreased, and that in urban centers increased.
Ethnoburbs
Li notes that some settlements were characterized by the formation of concentrated communities in metropolitan areas. From my own point of view, this characteristic is true. In the previous years, we have learned that as people migrated to urban areas, the feeling of communal togetherness resulted in the formation of enthnourban communities. I concur with the writer’s views that disapproved of the element of spatial dispersion among people who dwelled in the suburbs (Li 219). This contributed to the institution of suburban residential districts that were characterized by Chinese Americans and native-born Chinese. According to Li, such settlement trends weakened and limited Chinese traditions to particular geographical places (Li 219). I agree that migration has serious impacts on people’s traditions and feelings. Cross-cultural interactions expose people to other civilizations that are not similar to theirs.
Heterolocal Communities
According to Li, a group of Chinese Americans shows signs of heterological traits that lack close spatial relations with other Chinese communities but display similar cultural and social traits. Li refers to these residential districts as “‘invisible’’ cultural communities” (222) due to the absence of Chinese geographical characteristics. In my view, I believe that Li’s beliefs reflected on the infiltration of cultural values and diversities brought about my migrations and urbanization. This leads to the creation of communities that have similar ethnic and social connections but lack a geographical link to their originality.
Works Cited
Li, Wei. “Chinese Americans: Community formation in time and Space.” Contemporary Ethnic Geographies in America. Ed. Ines Miyares and Christopher Airriess. Plymouth: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2007: 219 – 222. Print.