Historical Location of Detroit Chinatown Building

In the late 19^th century, the arrival of the first "Oriental" in Detroit, Michigan from Canton marked the beginning of a new chapter in the city's history—the birth of "Detroit Chinatown." What began as a small laundry service on Gratiot Street in 1872, rapidly evolved into a thriving ethnic enclave, solidifying its presence along Third Avenue.¹ The Chinese community began to form with the establishment of influential Chinese organizations like the On Leong Merchants Association and the Association of Chinese Americans, both playing crucial roles in organizing for residents' interests and cultural celebrations. Despite some challenges, Detroit’s Chinatown attracted journalists, government officials, and even international elites.² However, the Chinese were driven to enter only a few businesses due to their exclusion from other job opportunities deemed "American” and the U.S. in general. Detroit's Chinatown exemplifies the pivotal role of Chinese Americans in shaping Detroit’s history as they challenged exclusionary policies, ultimately contributing to Michigan's diverse culture.

^[1] “History | Detroit Chinatown.”

^[2] “History | Detroit Chinatown.”

The first Chinese settlement in the United States played a crucial role in the nation's growth and development, yet it was not without its challenges and complexities. In the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, Chinese immigration was driven by the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, eventually allowing laborers to move through various parts of the U.S. By 1890, Chinese immigrants had dispersed throughout every state, their labor essential to the nation's growth.³ Nevertheless, Chinese immigrants encountered hostility from other immigrant communities during labor strikes in the Western regions, leading them to explore new prospects elsewhere. Also, growing anti-Chinese sentiment was perpetuated by both media portrayals and current laws that were put in place such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which limited immigration and evoked contempt towards the Chinese community.⁴ However, amid all the uncertainty, a small Chinese population settled in Detroit in the late 1800s, drawn by the city's developing industries and growing middle class. Detroit offered a chance to establish independent businesses, which would help these immigrants support themselves and their families back overseas. Chinese immigrants played a key role in the West's development, but their migration experiences and perseverance in Detroit highlight the complexities of their journey, as well as the impact of restrictive policies.

Among the developing Chinese communities, Detroit Chinatown stood out as a unique cultural and economic center, distinguishing it as one of the few Chinatown locations in Michigan. Notably, the Chinese population across the state during the time was low, comprising twenty-six men running laundries, a tea store operator in Bay City, and a student in Kalamazoo.⁵ However, Detroit's first Chinatown began to develop, bringing the small Chinese community together to celebrate their rich cultural heritage and traditions. However, as the growth and formation of Detroit Chinatown reveal the significant contributions and commitment of the Chinese community in the city's history, it is essential to understand their early journey. In the early 1800s, Chinese immigrants from the Toisan region in Guangdong Province sailed to ports in New York and Honolulu to seek work and establish trade routes, where they eventually settled in cities like Detroit.⁶ According to documents from the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News, the Chinese community experienced gradual growth from just one individual in 1872 to twenty-seven individuals by the late 1880s, followed by a substantial surge in the early 20^th century, reaching a significant 1,500 residents in 1929.⁷ Recorded addresses from the same source reveal a scattered yet concentrated formation of Detroit Chinatown, distributed between various streets such as Gratiot, Woodward, and Larned, providing substantial evidence of its cohesive ethnic enclave.⁸ Within this community, Chinese men played a key role, establishing their own businesses to support their families back home while utilizing skills that they had acquired from assisting with chores in the U.S.⁹ The entrepreneurial determination displayed by Chinese individuals in Detroit, as they established their businesses and contributed to the city's cultural diversity, highlight the lasting impact of their presence.

The pivotal role played by corporations like the On Leong Merchants Association in shaping the community became evident as they acquired surrounding land to construct helpful resources like headquarters, stores, and apartments, firmly establishing it as the heart of Detroit's Chinese community.¹⁰ As Chinatown continued to grow, many businesses emerged, including restaurants like Chung’s Chop Suey, grocery stores, and laundries, catering to the needs of the growing Chinese population in Detroit.¹¹ The historic Chinatown building at 3143 Cass Ave held significant cultural and historical value, particularly, as it notably featured a second floor serving as a community hub and free medical clinic run by dedicated local Chinese American health practitioners. The first floor housed the Shanghai Café, with visible traces of its existence until the building's demolition.¹² The close-knit nature of this community nurtured a supportive environment, where traditions were shared between them and crucial services were provided, particularly for socially and economically disadvantaged minorities. Despite the economic and social challenges faced by the city, the perseverance of the Detroit Chinatown community was evident in their commitment to preserving their cultural heritage and supporting local businesses, leaving a mark on Detroit's history and identity.

The laundry business became a predominant employment option among the earliest Chinese population in Detroit, offering an accessible opportunity for livelihood due to its low capital requirement and limited competition with American workers.¹³ After the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, male Chinese immigrants faced racial discrimination and even violence, limiting their access to various professions and business opportunities.¹⁴ Consequently, laundry work became one of the few available options because it posed no threat to other Americans.¹⁵ Chinese men, who never previously did domestic or ‘women's’ work in their homeland, gained expertise in laundry services while assisting wealthy women with household chores in the U.S. and became responsible for an essential business needed by all communities in Michigan. Having limited choices, they pursued an "eight-pound livelihood" to support themselves and their families still living in China, relying on an eight-pound sadiron to help run their laundromats.¹⁶ The laundromat businesses within the Chinese community in Detroit display how systemic racial discrimination and restricting laws led to the concentration of male Chinese immigrants in occupations like laundry work. Chinese immigrants turned to laundry businesses as a means of not only economic stability but also survival after facing limited opportunities due to societal prejudices and were still able to build a foundation for their community's growth.

The history of Detroit’s first Chinatown stands as a testament to the Chinese Americans' resilience and their enduring contributions, despite prevailing anti-Chinese sentiment. Chinese businesses played a pivotal role in the city's growth, gaining some local support and promoting relationships with residents. However, this part of history was not without challenges, even in the presence of the growing Chinese community in Detroit, as evidenced by tragic incidents like the racially motivated murder of Vincent Chin, a young Chinese man beaten to death by a Ford auto worker in 1982–a hundred years after the passing of the Chinese Exclusion Act.¹⁷ Memorializing Detroit Chinatown not only preserves a critical aspect of Chinese American history, but it would also honor their sacrifices and contributions, as well as recognize the hardships they faced along the way. The demolition of the historic Chinatown building at 3143 Cass Ave on July 9^th, 2023, has sparked fury within the Chinese community.¹⁸ This contemporary event serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving and protecting the cultural landmarks and stories that ensure the community’s legacy and helps shape Detroit's rich multicultural heritage.

^[3] “Milestones: 1866–1898 - Office of the Historian.”

^[4] “Chinese Exclusion Act.”

^[5] www.grcmc.org, “The Earliest Chinese in Grand Rapids.”

^[6] “History | Detroit Chinatown.”

^[7] “History | Detroit Chinatown.”

^[8] “History | Detroit Chinatown.”

^[9] “History | Detroit Chinatown.”

^[10] “Chinatown – Ethnic Layers of Detroit.”

^[11] Garza, “The Life, Death, and Small Beginnings of Rebirth.”

^[12] Robinson, “Asian American Leaders Want Ilitches to Honor Detroit’s Chinatown.”

^[13] www.grcmc.org, “The Earliest Chinese in Grand Rapids.”

^[14] “Chinese Exclusion Act.”

^[15] “Historical Record of Chinese Americans | Why Early Chinese-American Immigrants Were Subject to the Laundry Industry – 美华史记.”

^[16] “History | Detroit Chinatown.”

^[17] Davis, “Vincent Chin Was Killed 40 Years Ago. Here’s Why His Case Continues to Resonate.”

^[18] Robinson, “Asian American Leaders Want Ilitches to Honor Detroit’s Chinatown.”

“Chinatown – Ethnic Layers of Detroit.” Accessed August 3, 2023. https://s.wayne.edu/eld/digital-stories/chinatown/.

Davis, Wynne. “Vincent Chin Was Killed 40 Years Ago. Here’s Why His Case Continues to Resonate.” NPR, June 19, 2022, sec. National. https://www.npr.org/2022/06/19/1106118117/vincent-chin-aapi-hate-incidents.

Garza, Serena Maria Daniels, Maximilian de la. “The Life, Death, and Small Beginnings of Rebirth.” Detroit Metro Times. Accessed August 4, 2023. https://www.metrotimes.com/news/the-life-death-and-small-beginnings-of-rebirth-2394144.

“Historical Record of Chinese Americans | Why Early Chinese-American Immigrants Were Subject to the Laundry Industry – 美华史记,” May 30, 2021. https://usdandelion.com/archives/4592.

HISTORY. “Chinese Exclusion Act: 1882, Definition & Immigrants,” August 9, 2022. https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/chinese-exclusion-act-1882.

“History | Detroit Chinatown,” October 28, 2022. https://detroitchinatown.org/history/.

“Milestones: 1866–1898 - Office of the Historian.” Accessed August 4, 2023. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/chinese-immigration.

Robinson, Samuel. “Asian American Leaders Want Ilitches to Honor Detroit’s Chinatown.” Axios, August 1, 2023. https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/8/01/asian-americans-ilitches-detroit-chinatown.

www.grcmc.org, Grand Rapids Community Media Center-. “The Earliest Chinese in Grand Rapids.” History Grand Rapids, September 30, 2007. http://www.historygrandrapids.org/photoessay/1664/the-earliest-chinese-in-grand-.