Why are white people running stereotypical “Asian” stores in Chinatowns (and other ethnic enclaves) ?

Wait, What Are Ethnic Enclaves?

Chinatown, Little Tibet, Little India - in almost every large metropolitan across the world, there are neighbourhoods where people who share the same ethnic or cultural background live or work nearby.

Ethnic enclaves are the product of survival and community. For example, Chinatowns in Canada were formed in response to the hostility and exclusionary regulations Chinese immigrants experienced from white people — the Chinese community quite literally came together in order to survive.

But while these communities tell the story of survival and resilience, they also tell the story of Canada's history of white supremacy.

Did you know?

Some of the largest ethnic enclaves across Canada are Chinatowns: there is at least one in every major city (BC and ON have multiple!). And Chinatowns are home to not just the Chinese community - but also large pockets of other ethnic communities as well.

Iconic Chinatown architecture was designed by yt people, for the white gaze

The Chinatowns across North America that we know today, with their ornate roofs and pagodas were actually the manifestations of white people. You read that right.

For example, after the earthquake and fire that destroyed San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1906, white architects rebuilt an exoticized Chinatown, on the premise of needing to rebuild urgently (a key tenant of yt supremacy). They rebuilt Chinatown as what they believed Chinese architecture and culture looked like—and used this as the ultimate blueprint for Chinatowns across North America.

Why didn't the Chinese community speak out about this misrepresentation? When you are trying to survive in a system that was designed to disregard you, you will do anything to survive - even if it means staying silent and compliant - even when your own culture and identity are taken away and white-washed versions are sold back to you.

This is not to say that Chinatown is not "authentic"

Chinatown—like many other ethnic enclaves around our cities—lead a double life.

On one hand, Chinatown is treated like a museum: curated by white people, for white people. From an outsider's perspective, one might think - wow! Look at this community integrating and thriving while still holding on to their cultural roots. But the hipster coffee shops and the white-owned trinket shops selling statues of Buddha and Shiva next to each other aren't it.

Look past the facade and you'll find Asian-owned businesses - grocers, restaurants, health services, and community spaces run by the community for the community. These are essential services that must be supported financially because they offer a crucial support to people.

All Ethnic Enclaves of Systemically Neglected Communities should be protected and resources

We need a safe space where our seniors can receive medical care from a familiar face. We want our children and youth to learn their family's history that is hard to find in local archives. Our grocery stores and fruit markets allow us to provide our families with our cultural and ancestral food. We need our businesses to have a chance to grow and thrive without the threat of gentrification.

There are so many war memorials that are preserved, as well as houses that are historic sites because they are white history — shouldn’t the history of other communities be preserved and supported too?