Baltimore’s Chinatown: Preserving The Memory Of A Conflicted Community

Abstract

Baltimore’s Chinatown presents a unique case study in the transformation of a site of segregation and isolation to a center of celebration and connection for the greater Asian American community. My research focuses on the reasons to commemorate and preserve the immigrant-built neighborhood. Using urban ethnography, interviews, and supporting textual analysis, I explore Chinatown’s complex origins, prime, decline, and current plans for future revitalization, such as the night market spearheaded by The Chinatown Collective, an organization dedicated to preserving Chinatown through creative means. Although Chinatown suffered from suburban flight and assimilation into American society, the area functions as a space for Asian Americans to congregate, facilitating cultural exchange and shared background. This paper discusses how Chinatown acts as the catalyst for Asian Americans to reconnect with their heritage, fosterbelonging in a diverse space, and open a dialogue on both contemporary Asian American urban identity and Chinatown’s importance on the overall patchwork of Baltimore.