|
Chinese Americans in Los Angeles: A Timeline
|
| 1769 |
Spanish explorers. led by Gaspar de Portola,
enter the area that is now Los
Angeles on their way northward.
|
| 1781 |
El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles is founded by Felipe Neve.
|
| 1822 |
News of Mexico's independence from Spain reaches
the pueblo.
The plaza church is dedicated.
|
| 1848 |
The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill
starts the California Gold Rush, bringing many
people from all over the world, including Chinese.
California is ceded to the United States of America
|
| 1850 |
On September 9, California gains statehood.
First US census: 2 Chinese men are listed:
Ali Fou and Ah Luce.
They were house servants at the Los Angeles residence of
Robert Haley. They are gone from the city by 1852.
|
| 1854 |
Many Chinese leave south China with some coming to
the U.S. for the reasons of:
- the Triads uprisings in the Pearl River Delta (1854-61),
- the attack and occupation of Guangzhou by English and French troops during
the Second Opium War (Arrow War) (1857-58)
- the Punti-Hakka War in Sze Yup (1854-68)
- the need of colonies of the European powers and frontier areas
of Australia and North America for labor.
California Supreme Court upholds laws
prohibiting people of color from testifying
against whites (People Respondent vs. George W. Hall).
|
| 1855 |
Chinese fishermen establish camps along the
California coast, including the Channel Islands off
Santa Barbara, thereby beginning the state's fishing
industry.
|
| 1857 |
Three Chinese, John Tambolin, et al., are brought to
Los Angeles by an Englishman to work in a laundry.
With a continuing presence of Chinese in Los Angeles,
the first Chinese New Year celebration takes place.
|
| 1859 |
A newspaper, The Los Angeles Star, reports the
arrival of the first Chinese woman in Los Angeles.
Chinese fishermen become established off Catalina Island.
|
| 1860 |
Los Angeles has 4 Chinese-owned laundries.
|
| 1865 |
Thousands of Chinese from the Guangdong Province
are recruited by Central Pacific
Railroad Co. to work on westem portion of
transcontinental railroad.
|
| 1869 |
The transcontinental railroad was completed when the
eastern and western portions were joined at Promontory
Point, Utah.
Chinese laborers come to Los Angeles to work on a wagon
road north of Los Angeles.
|
| 1870 |
According to the Census, of the 5,728 citizens in Los Angeles,
172 of them are Chinese. Approximately one third of the Chinese
population lived in Negro Alley. The rest are scattered about
Los Angeles.
A Chinese cemetery is established in Fort Moore Hill's
public burial ground.
|
| 1871 |
An altercation between Sam Yuen and Yo Hing leads to
the accidental shooting of a Robert Thompson. This
brings to a head fermenting racial and economic strife
within the community and becomes directed toward the
Chinese. A mob of some 500 whites go on an arson and looting
spree leaving 19 Chinese dead. The event is known
thereafter as the
Chinese Massacre of Los Angeles.
|
| 1875 |
67 Chinese arrive in Los Angeles aboard the
steamer Senator from San Francisco. They are the
vanguard of workers arriving for the
construction of the L.A. & Independence Railroad.
|
| 1876 |
The Southern Pacific railroad connecting San
Francisco and Los Angeles is completed. Approximately
3000 Chinese laborers are instrumental in completing the
San Fernando Tunnel. Hundreds of Chinese railroad workers
move to Los Angeles.
The Chinese American Presbyterian Missionary Society is
formed in Los Angeles.
The Chinese activity in truck gardening begins to
flourish in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles City Council passes an ordinance
requiring all vegetable peddlers to acquire a permit
before selling in the city limits. The ordinance is
later restricted to only Chinese vegetable peddlers. The
ordinance was unconstitutional because it limits the
fee only to Chinese peddlers.
The Los Angeles City Council levies a $5 license tax on
the Chinese vegetable peddlers.
|
| 1877 |
Chinese Methodist Mission is established in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles City Council rules that successful
bidders for irrigation projects will not be allowed to
use Chinese laborers.
As a result of the protest of unemployed Anglos, a local
farm owner replaces 90 Chinese farm hands with
over 60 non-Chinese.
Bing Kung Tong starts in Los Angeles. Another major
Tong, the Hop Sing Tong, is already established. (Need
information on Chee Kung Tung)
|
| 1878 |
F. See On is founded. It is the oldest continuing
mercantile enterprise in the Los Angeles Chinese community.
The Chinese begin to monopolize the truck garden
industry. The farms are located along the Zanja Madre
as far south as West Adams Blvd.
Protesting more regulations against vendors, the Chinese
strike for several weeks.
Chinese are hired to build the Semi-Tropic Water Company
tunnel north of today's City of Orange.
A Los Angeles city ordinance against non-medical use of
opium is enacted, though enforced primarily against non-Chinese.
The attempt to drive the Chinese out of Los Angeles
through various taxing measures fails. Chinese
vegetable peddlers go on strike in protest against this
discrimination.
Los Angeles County voted against Chinese immigration
(98% to 2%).
|
| 1879 |
Dennis Kearney is in southern California on a
state-wide campaign for the Workingman's Party and
inflaming anti-Chinese sentiment. He establishes a
chapter of the party in Los Angeles.
The State Constitution contains a provision specifically
banning Chinese from public work.
|
| 1880 |
During this decade, the city, following the state's
position of 1879, excludes all Chinese labor from city contracts.
Fifty of the sixty vegetable peddlers in Los Angeles
are Chinese.
The California Supreme Court rules that the tax levied
by the Los Angeles City Council on the Chinese vegetable
peddlers is constitutional.
|
| 1881 |
The convention of the American Federation of Labor
adopts a resolution calling for Congress to prohibit
Chinese immigration.
|
| 1882 |
The Los Angeles City Council passes an ordinance
which would remove all Chinese from the city limits. It is ruled invalid
by the city attorney as it violates the
14th Amendment and the Burlingame Treaty.
The Chinese Exclusion Act
is passed by the U.S.
Congress. Its major provision includes suspension of
further immigration of Chinese laborers. Laborers already
in the U S. can not bring their wives and children.
Exempted from exclusion are government officials,
teachers, students, merchants and travelers. All Chinese
residents are denied naturalization.
|
| 1885 |
Passage of the Exclusion Act intensifies violent
acts against the Chinese throughout California and
other western states. A Los Angeles city ordinance is adopted which forbids
laundry operations after 9:30 p.m.
A Workingman's Club is formed in Los Angeles. It will
become known as the Anti-Chinese Union.
|
| 1886 |
Chinese labor continues to be used although the
construction of the San Gabriel Railroad results in
clashes between Chinese and white railroad workers.
Part of the original Chinese quarter on today's Los
Angeles Street is burned by arsonists. Two fires take
place between 1886 and 1887. The buildings are partly
replaced by 1890.
A proposal to extend Los Angeles Street to the plaza is
made, and is facilitated by the fires.
The Los Angeles Trade and Labor Council and the Knights
of Labor move to boycott Chinese goods and labor in Los Angeles.
|
| 1887 |
Los Angeles Street is extended to the plaza. As a
result, Calle de los Negros is partially destroyed.
Nearly all structures including Coronel adobe were already
burned and town down. The Chinese protest. Fredric Bee,
their attorney finds that the city is anxious to have
the Chinese section removed from the city center.
The dilemma is that non-Chinese city residents are not willing
to do without the services provided by the Chinese, yet
they do not want them residing near the heart of the
city. By August, a site is selected for a new Chinatown.
It is at the corner of Ducommun Street and Labory Lane.
The contractor, Hellman, Haas and Company is to build 66
two story buildings. The proposal is abandoned because
of the strong protest of nearby Whites, Blacks and
Mexicans. Red light madams of all origins object to the
Chinese.
|
| 1888 |
The second Chinese theater is built of brick on
Marchessault Street between North Los Angeles Street and
Alameda. It is located on the south side of the street
next to August Alley. The first theatre had been built
of frame construction on Alameda Street opposite
Marchessault Street.
Los Angeles Congregational Mission for Chinese is
established.
|
| 1889 |
Approximately 1000 Chinese lay Southern Pacific and
Santa Fe railroad tracks from Los Angeles to present day
Orange County.
Orange County is formed out of Los Angeles County. This
had an effect on population. (need more statistics for
Los Angeles County and Orange County)
|
| 1890 |
Way Leung Kung Saw, the predecessor of the Chinese
Consolidated Benevolent Association, is formed to
protect the welfare of the Chinese in Los Angeles.
The Garnier Building is erected by Philippe Garnier on
Los Angeles Street for Chinese commercial use.
A few Chinese businesses and residences are located on
Spring Street.
Important satellite Chinatowns, some with a population
of several hundred, flourish with the Los Angeles
Chinatown being the hub. These satellite communities
are located in places such as Riverside, Ventura and Santa Barbara.
Los Angeles Kong Chow Benevolent Association is
established at 215 1/2 Ferguson Alley for immigrants
from Hokshan and Sunwui districts in the Guangdong
province.
Louie Shui Wing builds the Kong Chow Temple.
|
| 1891 |
Los Angeles Chinese market gardeners are recruited
to raise celery in the area between Westminster and
Huntington Beach after previous attempts fail. The
Chinese are harassed and attacked by local residents.
Under protection of armed guards, they succeed in
developing it into a major celery growing area.
Sun Wing Wo store
opens for business in the Garnier building.
|
| 1893 |
Los Angeles labor unions initiate the first
proceedings in the county to register Chinese resident
laborers under the newly enacted Geary Act (1892). The Act
required all Chinese laborers in the U.S. to obtain a
residence certificate. Wong Dep Ken, a cigar maker of
Los Angeles, is the first to be deported from the U.S.
under the law.
Several Chinese are routinely arrested by police in
Hollywood and Whittier. Some are held for deportation.
Others have already been deported. And the rest are let
go because they have promised to register.
In March, under legal advice from the Six Companies of
San Francisco, the Chinese in Los Angeles refuse to
register in compliance with the Geary Act. By May,
Deputy Collector Eugene Maxwell intends to arrest community
leaders for encouraging the resistance. On May 4th, the
Secretary of Treasury orders all federal agents to
arrest those refusing to register.
|
| 1894 |
Los Angeles holds the first Fiesta de las Flores
on April 10-13 and the Chinese community is invited to
participate. The Chinese become a familiar sight in
subsequent yearly fiestas and other civic occasions.
|
| 1898 |
Los Angeles' first Chinese newspaper, Wah Mei Sun Po,
is founded by Ng Poon Chew a Presbyterian minister.
After Ng moved to San Francisco, he renamed it to
Chung Sai Yat Po.
It was an important newspaper in Chinese community
until its demise in 1951.
|
| 1899 |
The Los Angeles City Council calls for a delineation
of the borders of Chinatown and a thorough investigation
of sanitary conditions therein. Out of concern for public health, a Los Angeles
ordinance prohibiting laundry workers from spraying
water out of their mouths on to garments during the
laundry process is passed. The workers customarily used
this method before the invention of water sprayers.
|
| 1900 |
The Boxer Rebellion takes place in China in an
attempt to drive all foreigners out of the country.
Lives of Americans living in China are threatened. The
Chinese community of Los Angeles renounces the Boxers.
As a result of the Boxer Rebellion, reentry of Chinese
into the U.S. is made more difficult, especially through
San Francisco.
|
| 1901 |
Many Chinatown youths cut off their queues as a
gesture of their opposition to the Qing dynasty.
A Chinese cadet corps of over 1000 members forms shortly
after the queue cutting. The Western Military Academy
at 415 Marchessault Street is subsequently established
by U.S. General Homer Lea, who trains the anti-Qing
Chinese soldiers. Cadet training is directed by Captain
Ansen O'Bannion. There are nightly drills in Chinatown.
Cadets go on training maneuvers in places like the
Santa Monica Mountains, Hollywood Hills, Laguna Beach and
Eagle Rock. Many cadets are said to have gone to China
to aid in the revolution.
|
| 1904 |
As part of his cross-country trip Sun Yat-Sen visits
Los Angeles on June 14, 1904 to seek support for the
revolution in China. A banquet is given in his honor at
the Tuey Far Low restaurant on the corner of Alameda and
Marchessault Street.
|
| 1905 |
K'ang Youwei, an advisor to the Qing emperor, visits
Los Angeles on March 16. He stays with a Chinese family
on West 7th Street. He is here to promote the new reform
movement which is overthrown by ultra-conservatives forces
led by the empress dowager.
|
| 1906 |
After the San Francisco earthquake and fire, the newspaper, Chinese
World, of San Francisco was temporarily published in Los
Angeles. This was the first Chinese daily newspaper to
be published in Los Angeles. The newspaper moved back to
San Francisco around 1908.
|
| 1908 |
Perhaps the most serious outbreak of tong violence
in Los Angeles occurred when four tong members are killed
on the streets of Chinatown. The dispute revolves
around a Chinese woman known as Helen, Queen of Chinatown.
|
| 1909 |
Louie Quan and others including Caucasian and
Japanese vegetable growers, build the City Market
Wholesale Produce Terminal at Ninth and San Pedro
Streets. The City Market becomes a vital element within
the economy of the Los Angeles Chinese community and
a focal point for a separate Chinese commercial
and residential community known as East Adams.
|
| 1910 |
Sun Yat-Sen again visits Los Angeles to raise money
for the revolution in China. The Po Wang Building at
409 Apablasa is renamed the Sun Building in his honor.
In March, Sun Yat-sen met with Homer Lea in Long Beach
before returning to San Francisco.
Chinese are involved in 7th and Alameda Streets Market,
rival to the market on 9th & San Pedro Streets.
Chinese restaurants, such as the Palace Restaurant on
Spring Street, are established outside of Chinatown.
(Were Chinese only beginning to establish restaurants
outside Chinatown at this time?)
|
| 1911 |
The Qing dynasty is overthrown by the Chinese
Republic in a major victory on October 10. Overseas
Chinese, including those of Los Angeles, play a major role
in financing the revolution.
|
| 1912 |
The Native Sons of the Golden State establish a
lodge in the Los Angeles Chinatown. The organization
is unique in that the membership consists of American
born Chinese who were born in California. Its main purpose
is to protect and defend the civil rights of Chinese
Americans. At the 1914 national convention held in Los
Angeles, the name is changed to the Chinese American
Citizens Alliance (C.A.C.A.). The C.A.C.A. office was
eventually relocated to the Garnier building.
The Republic of China is officially established with Sun
Yat-Sen as the first president. Many men in Chinatown
cut off their queues.
|
| 1914 |
A large portion of L.A.'s Chinatown is sold in
preparation to the construction of the Union Passenger
Terminal. The plan to build the terminal is
stopped by litigation over ownership of land.
Huang Xing, China's great revolutionary leader, visits
Los Angeles to gain support for his effort as part of
the republican opposition to the authoritarian rule of
Yuan Shikai.
|
| 1917 |
Chinese Americans fight in World War I.
Low Chew, a prominent leader of the Chinese American Citizens
Alliance, volunteers for Army service and recruits
several of his friends in Chinatown.
|
| 1919 |
Consolidated Benevolent Association
establishes a Chinese cemetery at First and Evergreen Streets.
The cemetery still exists today.
|
| 1923 |
Chinatown merchants invite citizens of Los Angeles
to attend the Chinese New Year celebration. The
invitation is extended to show Angelenos that the
unfavorable image given to Chinatown is unwarranted.
|
| 1925 |
Los Angeles police intensify the decades-long series
of raids directed towards Chinatown gambling. These
efforts are effective, but gradually diminish in
importance as Chinatown decreases in size and relative
importance.
|
| 1926 |
A Peace Association is finally formed in the early
1920's to facilitate the solutions. Despite its
efforts, the final tong war occurs in Los Angeles. Chinese
merchants, Los Angeles police, and the tongs themselves
begin to emphasize peaceful solutions to disputes.
|
| 1927 |
Nationalist-Communist civil war begins.
|
| 1931 |
Mei Wah Club,
a social and athletic organization
for Chinese American women, is founded in Los Angeles.
|
| 1933 |
Peter Soo Hoo, Santa Fe Railroad land agent Herbert
Lapham, and others begin the search for an area where
those displaced by the destruction of Chinatown may
relocate.
Beginning in December, part of Old Chinatown east of
Alameda Street is condemned and razed to make way for
the new Union Passenger Station which officially opens
in 1939.
|
| 1934 |
Chinese General Tsai Ting Kai, the hero of Shanghai,
visits Los Angeles (from October 29 to November) on a
fundraising tour for China war relief and to arouse
public sentiments against Japanese aggression in China.
A
development known as the New Chinese Village is planned
to replace the destroyed part of Old Chinatown. The
village, to be built along New High Street, never comes to
fruition, as plans prove too costly to implement.
|
| 1935 |
Christine Sterling, founder of the Mexican market
place on Olvera Street, formulates a similar attraction
for the Chinese displaced by the eradication of
Chinatown. The development, known as China City, is to be
on North Spring Street.
|
| 1937 |
Peter Soo Hoo and Herbert Lapham, among others, hold
an historic meeting at Tuey Far Low restaurant where the
New Chinatown Corporation is formed. The corporation
seeks to own the land upon which a development for the
Chinese from the old Chinatown will be built. The
development is to be called New Chinatown and will be
located between North Broadway and Castelar Street.
The Sino-Japanese War begins. The following year, many
of the Chinese American children who had been sent to
China to be educated return to Los Angeles.
The Moon Festival is held for the United China Relief.
The effort draws many supporters from the Chinese and
non-Chinese communities.
|
| 1938 |
New Chinatown and China City open in June within
three weeks of each other. Street names in New
Chinatown such as Mei Ling Way and Sun Mun Way indicate
the importance of the Nationalist Movement in China.
Street names in China City like Lotus Pool Lane and
Passage of One Hundred Surprises, reflect a romanticized
view of the Chinese.
The Chinese population of the City Market, East Adams
and Spring Street areas expands due to the continuing
destruction of Old Chinatown. Some Chinese move to the
fringe of Old Chinatown, on Alameda, Aliso, and other
nearby streets.
|
| 1939 |
After the unfortunate Chinese New Year fire, a new
north section replaced the flimsy original one in China City.
|
| 1941 |
Tourist trade brings prosperity to New Chinatown and
China City during the 1940's.
Relations improve between China and the U.S. when the
two become allies in World War II.
Chinese enter into the armed forces and participate in
bond drives during the war.
|
| 1943 |
Madame Chiang Kai-Shek addresses audiences in the
Hollywood Bowl and at Los Angeles City Hall to solicit
American support for the Chinese war relief effort. She
also speaks to the assembled members of the U.S. Congress
and asks them to strike down all Chinese exclusion laws.
Congress repeals the laws and establishes a token quota
of 105 Chinese immigrants per year. The figure is
based on 1/6 of 1% of the number of Chinese in the U.S. in 1920.
Chinese are the first Asians granted naturalized citizenship.
|
| 1944 |
The Los Angeles Chinese Women's Club is founded.
|
| 1946 |
The number of Chinese women in Los Angeles begin to
increase largely because of the passage of the 1945 War
Brides Act, the 1946 Fiancees Act, and the enactment of
Public Law 713 in 1946, as well as by immigration from
other U.S. Chinatowns.
American Legion Chinese Post 628 is founded by Chinese
World War II veterans.
|
| 1948 |
Displaced Persons Act allow 5,000 Chinese scholars
already in the U.S. to change their status to residents.
California repeals anti-miscegenation law.
|
| 1949 |
The Chinese Communists win the civil war in China and
establish the People's Republic of China.
The Nationalists move to Taiwan (Republic of China).
|
| 1950 |
A new section of Chinatown, known as the West Side
of Chinatown or Greater Chinatown, is constructed on the
west side of Castelar (now Hill) Street. The addition,
has street names which signify the importance of Chungking
during the war with Japan. Chungking Road, for example,
is the central street.
|
| 1951 |
A plan for an international cultural center in the
plaza ends with the destruction of the Lugo House, which
had been occupied by Chinese since the mid-1880's. Hop
Sing Tong is the last tenant.
|
| 1951-53 |
Chinese Americans participate in the U.S. forces
during the Korean War.
Cold War hysteria creates a difficult time for the
Chinese. They are often regarded as possible communist
sympathizers. American conservatives routinely push for
deportation of certain Chinese.
Passage of a number of laws, including the
McCarran-Walter Act and Refugee Relief Act, contributes
to the increase in the Chinese population in Los Angeles.
|
| 1953 |
El Pueblo de Los Angeles becomes a state historic
park. The park includes the Garnier Building and other
structures previously occupied by the Chinese.
Military experience and college education, made possible
by the various G.I. bills, help the Chinese to move into
mainstream American life.
|
| 1954 |
The United Board for Christian College in China has
long been responsible for promoting Chinese higher
education.
Dr. Theodore Hsi-en Chen, head of
Department of Asian Studies of the University of Southern
California, is sent to Taiwan as its representative to
help establish Tunghai University.
|
| 1955 |
The
Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles
is established.
|
| 1959 |
Judge Delbert Wong becomes the first Chinese
American to be appointed as a judge of any court in the
continental United States.
|
| 1959-66 |
The Confession Program allows Chinese who had
immigrated using assumed identities to confess their
true identities to the INS. They could then apply for
readjustment of their immigration status in this country.
The program began around the end of 1956 or the
beginning of 1957 and went through several modifications.
|
| 1960 |
Residential dispersion of the Chinese continues
throughout the Los Angeles area, especially with American born Chinese.
|
| 1962 |
The first Chinese American bank in Southern California,
Cathay Bank,
opens and provides much needed
services and capital for development of the area.
|
| 1965 |
The Immigration Act of 1965 opens the door to Chinese immigration.
Subsequent immigration leads to a revitalization of the New Chinatown area.
|
| 1970 |
During the 1970's, the new wave of Chinese immigrants tend
to settle outside of New Chinatown.
The Chinatown Service Center, offering referral services
to the community, is established.
|
| 1972 |
Construction of the Mandarin Plaza on North
Broadway, represents the first significant development
in New Chinatown in over twenty years. It heralds a new
era of commercial expansion.
President Nixon's trip to the People's Republic of China
opens diplomatic
relations between the U.S. and the People's Republic.
This once again improves the attitude of Americans toward
China.
The normalization of U.S.-People's Republic of China
relations causes political polarization in the Chinese
community. Its impact on community life takes the form
of more diverse holiday celebrations and commercial
activities as well as a revival of interest in Chinese
traditions and culture.
|
| 1974 |
March Fong Eu is elected California Secretary of State.
|
| 1975 |
Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
is established.
The end of war in Southeast Asia results
in many ethnic Chinese immigrants and refugees, some of
whom eventually relocate to L.A.'s Chinatown.
|
| 1977 |
The
Chinatown Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library
opens.
Throughout the late 1970's there is continued rapid
growth in New Chinatown due primarily to an increase in
Southeast Asian Chinese. This leads to commercial
activity being supported by both ethnic trade and tourism
rather than just tourism as during the 1950's and 60's.
|
| 1979 |
A large influx of Chinese Vietnamese boat people
into New Chinatown occurs.
|
| 1980 |
The Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency
designates Chinatown as a redevelopment area.
|
| 1984 |
Cathay Manor, a large senior citizen,
low income housing project, is built. The
Chinatown Service Center is relocated to the Cathay Manor.
|
| 1985 |
Michael Woo becomes the first Chinese American
elected to the Los Angeles City Council and serves as a
councilmember until 1993.
|
| 1986 |
Monterey Park,
a small city east of Los Angeles,
is identified as the first suburban Chinatown in the
United States. Center of activity for Chinese
moves to San Gabriel Valley.
Lily Lee Chen is elected as Monterey Park City
Council and becomes the first Asian American Woman mayor.
|
| 1987 |
Judge Ronald S. W. Lew becomes the first Chinese
American Federal District Judge in the continental
United States.
The Friends of the Museum of Chinese American History is
is formed with representatives from El Pueblo,
the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California.
and the local community.
|
| 1988 |
Monterey Park voters elect Judy Chu as its
Councilmember three times.
|
| 1990 |
Michael Chang becomes the youngest French Open/Grand Slam Champion.
A 19th century Los Angeles Chinese cemetery shrine becomes
City's Historic-Cultural Monument No. 486.
Immigration Act raises annual immigration to the U.S. and
provides amnesty to illegal immigrants.
|
| 1994 |
California voters pass Proposition 187 to deny
undocumented immigrants education, health and social services.
Frieda Lee Mock and Terry Sanders win an Oscar for the
documentary Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision.
|
| 1995 |
Matt Fong
is elected Treasurer of California.
Republicans issue Contract with America aimed at reducing
government and the federal deficit, slashing taxes,
welfare reform, and fighting crime; California proposes
Civil Rights Initiative to bar preferencial treatment in
public employment, education, and contracting.
|
| 1996 |
Michelle Kwan wins World Champion, and again in 1998.
Gary Locke
is elected governor of Washington, the first
Asian American governor on the mainland. He served as
King County administer for 12 years.
John Tu sells Kingston and rewarded employees.
|
| 1997 |
Jessica Yu's
Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brian
receives an Oscar for best documentary short.
Bill Lann Lee
is appointed as Acting Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Justice
Department's Civil Rights Division.
|
| 1998 |
This Web page
for the Chinese American Museum is established.
Stewart Kwoh, Esq. receives the prestigious 1998 MacArthur Fellowship.
|
| 1999 |
David Wu
becomes the first Chinese American Congressman (Oregon).
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