• How that works in one case as an Asian •
[1½ MIN READ]
A persistent stereotype about Asians is that they don’t make waves. As far as Philadelphia’s Chinatown community is concerned, the stereotype was correct. This means that the Gallery at Market East (now “Fashion District”) got built, curtailing growth to the south toward Market Street. Other development projects to the east limited expansion on that side. The 1960’s saw the construction of the Vine Street Expressway binding the neighborhood from the north. Finally, in the late 1980s, the Pennysylvania Convention Center completed the binding effort from the west.
Opposition to the Vine Expressway project saw the Asians of Chinatown begin to buck the stereotype of passivity. In recent decades, that bucking helped to defeat a proposed casino and a Philly’s baseball stadium. Now, it’s a 76’ers basketball arena. I’ve been a part of Chinatown since 1989, when I first moved to Greater Philadelphia and began worshiping in the community at Chinese Christian Church and Center. I care. So, I’m helping to make waves.
In my profession as a librarian, I’ve noticed that things I’ve done haven’t gotten the recognition they’re due. Maybe some of that is because people in general aren’t good at giving credit where it’s due. Or maybe it’s because I’m part of an ethnic population that everyone else expects to be quiet.
At JRC’s GGR quiet isn’t so much my problem. Loudness comes from a high level of comfort with the group’s members. To those of you who appreciate my role as the club’s anchor, thank you. I’m happy to buck stereotypes with your validation. I think it’s time to make waves with my work as a librarian, too.
-CtCloser (Calvinthe), “Negative split or positive splat” #dothedue
FINE PRINT ¶Text and photos (unless otherwise stated): Calvin Wang (Wäng), CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. ¶Cross-posted: (1) Facebook JRC Growlers Group Run (2024’09’11’W Run Message), (2) GGR email list, (3) Cerebruns by CtCloser. ¶This website posting: Cerebrun only with added caption.
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