PHOTO HISTORY BOOK
IMAGES OF AMERICA: OAKLAND’S CHINATOWN
Arcadia Publishing Co., 2004
Oakland’s Chinatown has a history in every way as compelling as its more famous neighbor across San Francisco Bay. Chinese have been a presence in Oakland since the 1850s, bringing with them a rich and complex tradition that survived legalized discrimination that lingered until the 1950s. Once confined to a small area of downtown where restaurants stir-fried, laundries steamed, and vegetable stands crowded the sidewalks, Chinese moved out into every area of Oakland, those stands sometimes evolving into corner groceries that cemented entire neighborhoods. Chinese helped Oakland grow into a modern business and cultural center and have gained prominence in every aspect of its commerce, politics, and arts. Oakland Chinatown today, a point of origin for many Chinese families, is an economic star among Oakland neighborhoods.
Author William Wong was born and grew up in Oakland’s Chinatown. He went on to a distinguished career in journalism. Although important images in Images of America: Oakland’s Chinatown emanate from public collections including the Oakland Museum of California and the Oakland Public Library, most of the priceless historic photos in this volume are drawn from the private collections of dozens of families and Chinatown-based organizations. Taken together, they form a fascinating panorama encompassing the breadth of Chinese life and experiences in Oakland.
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