When we left Columbus Park to go explore the cultural tokens throughout Chinatown, I ran into multiple small mom and pop shops. These included video game stores, bakeries, and local restaurants that have been connecting the community for decades. A symbol of the community’s interconnectedness were perhaps the decorations strung on streetlights over alleyways and down full streets. At first I wasn’t entirely sure what these decorations meant but with some research, this is what I found:

Facing discrimination and anti-immigrant sentiments in the late 19th century, Chinese immigrants moved to the 3-block area of Pell, Doyer, and Motts Streets. Escaping persecution, these residents came together to form a home in a foreign country. For the diasporic Chinese communities, the Lunar New Year is and has been one of the most important cultural holidays. Mythology suggests that the holiday decorations stem from tradition of protecting their community. Red lanterns, clothing, and firecrackers serve as deterrents from the evil of mythical beasts. More importantly, these decorations and traditions are something that entire groups of people can find themselves immersed in. From making the lanterns to hanging them over streets, there’s a sense of belonging that this enclave provides.

In fact, in 2020, to escape the dark dullness of the pandemic, the Light Up Chinatown project was founded to inspire New Yorkers to begin supporting the community again. This project and their donations helped put up 250 lanterns as a symbol of togetherness. It symbolized that even amidst growing Sinophobia and economic downturn, there was a community to find comfort in.