Description:
Recent DC transplant Lance Tran discusses the meaning of Chinatown to him. Growing up in Missouri, he reflects on not having big celebrations of his culture. He remembers going to Chinatown for the first time in San Francisco and being struck by the sense of community and the pervasiveness of Chinese culture. Lance sees Chinatown as a way to connect with his culture, speak Cantonese, and as a place of refuge. He talks about the future of Chinatown, and hopes that the city can strike a balance between creating a place that is open and welcoming for everyone, while not displacing original residents. He says that we need to be mindful of issues like gentrification.
