Preserving Oakland Chinatown’s History

Stories from a resilient neighborhood

 
 

Oral History Exhibit:
Chinatown Legacy Businesses:
Elder Stories

On View through January 30, 2024
Wed-Saturday at 1pm-5pm
Oakland Asian Cultural Center
310 Eighth Street
Oakland Chinatown

This exhibit is generously funded by Senior Assistance Foundation Eastbay.

The Oakland Asian Cultural Center’s AAPI Elder Voices Project presents a storytelling and photo exhibit that shares stories of community elders in Chinatown’s past and current family run businesses. They represent a legacy of cultural vibrancy and resilience. This photo and oral history exhibition features portraits by photographer Andria Lo.

 
 

Oral History Exhibit:
Lincoln Square Park Stories & Jikimee Stories

On View through July 31, 2023
Daily at 8am-6pm
Asian Resource Center Gallery
310 Eighth Street
Oakland Chinatown

This exhibit is generously funded by Senior Assistance Foundation Eastbay.

In collaboration with the Korean Community Center of the East Bay (KCCEB), Friends of Lincoln Square Park, Chinatown Pretty, and the Oakland Photo Workshop, the Oakland Asian Cultural Center’s AAPI Elder Voices Project presents a storytelling and photo exhibit that shares stories of community, resilience, and strength of seniors. Since the pandemic, KCCEB has convened monthly online gatherings with Korean American seniors to combat their isolation. Named “Jikimee” (Korean for “Community Protector”). Meanwhile, the Friends of Lincoln Square Park are in the midst of a capital campaign to build a new rec center for the community. This photo and oral history exhibition features portraits by photographer Andria Lo.

 
 

Join us June 30 at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center

In collaboration with the Korean Community Center of the East Bay (KCCEB), Oakland Asian Cultural Center’s AAPI Elder Voices Project presents a storytelling and photo exhibit that shares stories of resilience and strength of community seniors. Throughout the pandemic, KCCEB has convened monthly online gatherings with Korean American seniors to combat their isolation. Named “Jikimee” (Korean for “Community Protector”). This photo exhibition and story sharing event will highlight their collected oral histories through video interviews as well as portraits by photographers Andria Lo and Ella Chang.

This event is generously funded by Senior Assistance Foundation Eastbay.

Thursday, June 30, 2022 at 11am-12:30pm
Oakland Asian Cultural Center
388 Ninth Street, Suite 290
Oakland Chinatown

 
 

Join us May 1 at the AAPI Community Festival

We’ve partnered with Cut Fruit Collective, Chinatown Pretty, and the Downtown Oakland Association to create an exhibit sharing Lincoln Square Park stories. Plus watch a special performance of Oakland Chinatown Oral History by AAPI Bay Area theater group Ferocious Lotus.

Sunday, May 1, 2022
Lincoln Square Park
250 10th St.
Oakland Chinatown

Oakland Chinatown Memory Map

奧克蘭唐人街記憶地圖

The Memory Map highlights landmarks, businesses, and personal anecdotes from residents.

This digital map is part of the Oakland Asian Cultural Center's Oakland Chinatown Oral History Project, a community effort to capture and preserve Chinatown's history through an ongoing dialogue across generations and cultures.

 

唐人街長老口述歷史

Chinatown Elders Oral History

Elder Interviews
Bill Wong
Elder Interviews
Bill Wong
Elder Interviews

“As young Chinese kids, we were not encouraged to get out of Chinatown much. It wasn’t as though we couldn’t; it was a matter of how we felt and how people might look at you.”

Elder Interviews
Vangie Buell
Elder Interviews
Vangie Buell
Elder Interviews

“My parents, coming from in Philippines, identified with Chinatown quickly, because [Chinatown] was where we were able to get Philippine ingredients for cooking. So, I spent a lot of time here. My grandmother also had a restaurant here in Chinatown. “

Elder Interviews
Alicia Chew
Elder Interviews
Alicia Chew
Elder Interviews

“I enjoy Chinese New Year. For eight days there’s always noise, firecrackers, you smell the delicious food, you walk around. For Chinese New Year, we go to different houses and I remember mother’s table full of food. People come and we serve things to him. Those were the days but now we don’t do that anymore. Not only our family, every family.”

Elder Interviews
Li Keng Wong
Elder Interviews
Li Keng Wong
Elder Interviews

“Most of the kids stuck close to Chinatown. We never crossed Broadway to play, beyond 11th because we were always afraid somebody was going to beat us up. Oh yes, us kids were afraid.”

Elder Interviews
Nona Mock Wyman & Bernice Lee Goo
Elder Interviews, Ming Quong Home
Nona Mock Wyman & Bernice Lee Goo
Elder Interviews, Ming Quong Home

“Ming Quong was our home, where we grew up together and became lifelong friends.”

Elder Interviews, Ming Quong Home
Ed & Evelyn Loo
Elder Interviews, Madison Park
Ed & Evelyn Loo
Elder Interviews, Madison Park

“Madison Park is our town square. We worked hard to preserve and improve this space for the community. This is where you feel the the energy of our Tai Chi groups coming from all over.“

Elder Interviews, Madison Park