Hidden Histories, Radical Reimaginings: Chinatowns of the Past and Present

"Hidden Histories, Radical Reimaginings” reveals and connects the parallel stories of Pittsburgh and San Francisco’s Chinatowns, separated by 2,500 miles and united by shared stories of migration. San Francisco’s Chinatown is one of the oldest and largest Chinese enclaves in the Asian diaspora, yet few know of Pittsburgh’s Chinatown, which disappeared over half a century ago. Most of the Chinese immigrants in Pittsburgh made their way from California, where they initially landed seeking economic opportunity from the 1849 Gold Rush and the transcontinental railroads. Today, only one building remains standing from Pittsburgh’s original Chinatown, which was finally recognized in 2022 with a Pennsylvania Historical Marker after many years of advocacy from the Chinese community.

The live-streamed event includes:

Screening of “The Last Mayor of Chinatown,” directed by Lena Chen, which tells the story of Yuen Yee, who served as the last honorary mayor of Pittsburgh’s Chinatown. The film interweaves Yee's archives and excerpts from his memoir with his daughter Shirley’s contemporary commentary to show the rise, decline, and rediscovery of Pittsburgh’s Chinatown.

Presentation of “Radical History of SF Chinatown,” an interactive digital tour developed by UC Berkeley Professor Lok Siu and her students with the Chinese Historical Society of America. Through conducting interviews with community leaders and visually documenting significant sites, they explore Chinatown as a cultural-political center.

Moderated discussion with Dr. Lok Siu and Shirley Yee

This is an online-only event. Tickets are on a sliding scale basis, with no one turned away for lack of funds. A Zoom link will be sent out via email 30 minutes prior to the event.

"Hidden Histories, Radical Reimaginings” is co-presented by the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center, as part of the 26th United States of Asian America Festival (USAAF). View the full calendar of events: https://tinyurl.com/usaaf2023.

Please select a performance

Tickets are on a sliding scale basis, with no one turned away for lack of funds.