Chinese St. Louis : from enclave to cultural community /

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Bibliographic Details
Author / Creator:Ling, Huping, 1956-
Imprint:Philadelphia : Temple University Press, 2004.
Description:ix, 286 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.
Language:English
Subject:Chinese Americans -- Missouri -- Saint Louis -- History.
Chinese Americans -- Missouri -- Saint Louis -- Social conditions.
Chinese Americans -- Cultural assimilation -- Missouri -- Saint Louis.
Chinese Americans -- Missouri -- Saint Louis -- Societies, etc.
Ethnic neighborhoods -- Missouri -- Saint Louis -- History.
Community life -- Missouri -- Saint Louis -- History.
Chinese Americans.
Chinese Americans -- Cultural assimilation.
Chinese Americans -- Social conditions.
Chinese Americans -- Societies, etc.
Community life.
Ethnic neighborhoods.
Ethnic relations.
Social conditions
Saint Louis (Mo.) -- Ethnic relations.
Saint Louis (Mo.) -- Social conditions.
Missouri -- Saint Louis.
History.
Format: Print Book
URL for this record:http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/5518749
Hidden Bibliographic Details
Varying Form of Title:Chinese Saint Louis
ISBN:1592130380 (cloth : alk. paper)
1592130399 (pbk. : alk. paper)
Notes:Includes bibliographical references (p. 241-278) and index.
Review by Choice Review

In this richly detailed monograph, Ling (Truman State Univ.) documents the history of the Chinese in St. Louis. The arrival of Alla Lee in 1857 was followed by the development of Hop Alley, which became the Chinatown for St. Louis. Chinatown was leveled in 1966 due to urban renewal, and many of the Chinese dispersed into the suburbs. No new Chinatown arose, but a Chinese "cultural community" did appear. Ling defines "cultural community" as an ethnic community that shares common cultural practices, organizes activities, and maintains ethnic cohesion, even without a recognizable geographical site of concentration. It is dominated by professionals who are socially and economically well integrated into mainstream society so that they are not dependent on other Chinese for their economic well-being and thus do not need a physical Chinatown. But desirous of preserving their cultural heritage and maintaining their ethnic identity, they have formed cultural and social associations to organize activities to forge a cultural community. Ling perceptively suggests that cultural communities are developing in various other locales and among other ethnic groups as well. An important study suitable for general audiences. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. F. Ng California State University, Fresno

Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review