Museum of Chinese in America

Jeanie Chin has been a resident of Park Row for over twenty years. Her parents were from Toisan, China. Her mother was the main caretaker and a garment factory worker in Chinatown, while her father is a World War 2 veteran who returned to work as laundry worker, restaurant owner and landowner. Jeanie recalls her childhood living in the Bronx and spending time in Chinatown during the sixties and seventies and describes Chinatown as smaller and populated mainly by people from Toisan and Canton, China. She noted that there was conflict in Chinatown between pro-Mainland Chinese and Taiwanese following the Communist takeover a few decades ago. Jeanie also describes some of the major civil rights movements that she participated in and witnessed in Chinatown, including garment worker strikes organized by the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU), the anti-war movement, protests against police brutality, and the tackling of work discrimination in organizations such as Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE). As a long time Park Row resident, Jeanie was also involved in activism following the 9/11 attacks, most specifically around Police parking and lane closures. Jeanie attributed closures and the failing of local businesses to such police actions. Jeanie and the Civic Center Residents Coalition became involved in filing lawsuits against the city regarding the aforementioned issue and raising a voice against such abuse. Jeanie noted that, on a positive note, as a result of the anger and frustration in Chinatown, many organizations that did not communicate prior to 9/11 were brought together to deal with ongoing issues affecting the community.