CIRCUMVENTION OF UNJUST IMMIGRATION LAWS – This story tells of Louie Chong, a Chinese merchant who came to San Francisco Chinatown in 1909. He provided a home for his wife and raised three daughters and four sons without ever acquiring citizenship. The Alien Land Law of 1913 stated that aliens (such as Japanese and/or Chinese aliens) did not have right of land ownership that was afforded to American citizens and non-Asian aliens. Louie Chong circumvented this unjust law by asking his brother (Mr. Do Lee) to act as a “Straw Man” to buy the land for him – not only was Mr. Do Lee a “Straw Man,” he was also a “Paper Son.” It was a wile method but it was the only way Louie Chong could acquire land ownership.


THE CHINATOWN SQUAD AND THE TONGS – When the author was a young man during the 1940s, his father divulged to him a generalized insight into the purposes and workings of the Tongs. There are various types of Tongs: Family Tongs, Merchant Tongs, Labor Tongs and so forth. Their self-explanatory terms define their functions. Certain Tongs or renegade members of Tongs engaged in unlawful activities for monetary gain, such as gambling, extortion, prostitution and assassinations. Warring Tongs fought each other for control of the moneymaking, illicit operations in Chinatown. It was known as Tong Wars. The Chinatown (Police) Squad was formed to quash the criminal activities of certain tongs and renegade members of Tongs. All members of the Chinatown Squad were Caucasians.


THE CHINESE LAUNDRYMEN, A CASE HISTORY – This outline of a case history focuses on the linear progression of familial ties and events that transpired after a Chinese immigrant landed on American soil. Simply put, an example of how a Chinese immigrant came to the United States, developed a source of livelihood in the laundry business, and helped his family members migrate to San Francisco, California. This was done by circumventing unjust immigration laws. This story also tells of how the Chinese laundrymen developed their own money loan system to help each other. At that time, the chance of borrowing money from a conventional America bank was almost impossible.


A TYPICAL CHINATOWN FOOD MARKET – There were quite a few food markets in San Francisco Chinatown during the 1930s – 1940s. These markets were not large stores - many, no more than twenty-five feet wide by forty feet deep. These markets sold only condiments and provisions native to China. In short - a host of Chinese foodstuff used in Chinese cookery was available for purchase.

The Gwun Wor market was my mother’s favorite market. Credit purchases were extended to her. No signature was required from my mother. The market manager would record her purchases on a ledger sheet. However, cash payment in full for all purchases must be paid to Gwun Wor at the end of the month.

There was a lucrative sideline activity pursued by Gwun Wor. Like any other food market in Chinatown, it was in the illegal activity of selling lottery tickets to the residents of Chinatown. A food market is a convenient place to buy a lottery ticket since many people shopped daily at markets to buy groceries. Most markets were open from 10 AM to 10 PM daily.


THE CHINATOWN YMCA – The Chinatown YMCA (Young Men Christian Association) was built and opened to the public in 1926. Since then, the YMCA known as the “Y” has served the many needs of the Chinese community. Chinatown is a ghetto and like any ethnic group of people subject to live in a sectioned off area of a large city, youth with idle times can beget crimes. The “Y” was a hub of social services – a definitive force in helping many youths in Chinatown from becoming wayward juvenile delinquents.