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GOLDSEA |
ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Is Seattle a Haven for Asian Americans?
he Seattle-Bellevue-Everett area is only 11th largest in the size of its Asian American population (285,000, or about 11.4% of the area's 2.5 million), but it claims one of the oldest and richest slices of Asian American history. Its Chinatown was home to America's first Asian-owned manufacturing business, the Wa Chong Co. The company produced, among other things, a very fine grade of opium, some of which was probably exported to China with the U.S. government's blessings.
Best city for AA?
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Since its birth in 1910 Seattle's atmospheric International District was settled by generations of Chinese, Japanese, Filipino and Vietnamese immigrants. In the late 70s the aging District began enjoying a rebirth into its modern incarnation thanks to Asian American activism in seeking to preserve it as a historical and cultural site. More recently an influx of trendy young AA professionals, entrepreneurs and artists has helped transform it into a vibrant part of downtown Seattle's cultural and night life. The District hosts the Northwest Asian American Theater Company and the Wing Luke Asian American Museum, named after a Chinese American elected to the Seattle City Council in 1965.
On the far end of the Seattle area's cultural spectrum is lush, ultra-modern Bellevue, one of the nation's most affluent communities. Asians make up 20.3% of the students of the Bellevue School District, thrice the 7.3% concentration in the general population of Washington state. This points up the fact that Seattle hosts one of the nation's best established Asian populations. Unlike some urban areas dominated by one or two Asian nationalities, Seattle's AA population is highly diversified, comprising the nations 7th largest Japanese (31,000), the 8th largest Vietnamese (44,000), 9th largest Corean (38,000), and the 11th largest Chinese (58,000) and Filipino (53,000) communities.
The area's Asian Americans take pride in their high degree of acceptance and integration. The fact that the state's governor is a Chinese American named Gary Locke doesn't hurt, of course. Or that the city's major league baseball team is owned by Nintendo chairman Hiroshi Yamauchi and sparked by Ichiro. Even on the grassroots level, one sees signs of acceptance. The ratio of AM/WF couples is noticeably higher than in most other metro areas. A cop who was rude in issuing a jaywalking ticket to a group of Asian Americans last year was reprimanded by the police department. And the ticket was dismissed by the judge.
Is the Seattle area really a haven for Asian Americans? What are the best and worst aspects of AA life there?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:56:42 PM)
Erik, I really enjoy visiting Vancouver, B.C., from my home north of
Seattle. I love Stanley Park and the variety of shopping and restaurants. However, we have the same thing in Seattle, and there are two big factors about Vancouver that would prevent my wanting to move there:
1. Canadian socialized medicine.
2. People there can't drive. (No offense -- I'm sure you're the exception!) Every time I drive around Vancouver, I come close to being forced off the road by some oblivious or highly aggressive driver. When I'm driving around Seattle and I notice someone driving badly, more likely than not, they have B.C. license plates.
And they say only Asian people are bad drivers....
Okay, you Canadians, go ahead and give me your rebuttals!
Jenny
Saturday, March 30, 2002 at 23:00:47 (PST)
FYI, Vancouver rains more than Seattle. Yet it comes and goes, and becomes dry afterwards. Seattle however has periods of ceaseless rainstorms during its "wet season", which is both depressing and unbearable at times.
In my opinion, Seattle is a lofty city; never mind it's hospitality towards Asians because of Gary Locke or for whatever any other reason. This place is boring and too small! You'll regret moving out here if you're from California or New York. At first, one will find this place refreshing because of its natural scenery and vastness but as time goes by, this place seems empty and dead!
Vancouver is a real city, Seattle is not! Why? Vancouver at least looks like a HK while Seattle reminds people of a city in Nebraska, the Dakota States, or some other small and insignificant town in the Central USA.
Californians, New Yorkers, don't move out here
Saturday, March 30, 2002 at 08:57:01 (PST)
I've lived in Seattle, Vancouver, and the Bay Area. After living in each city, I can pretty much tell you the whole deal. First off, Seattle. This place has whiteville written all over it. Despite the great diversity within the city and surroundings, lets just say practically every Asian American is a coconut.., especially on the Eastside. How can one help it? If you were raised in white society, you're gonna end up with some white mentality. As for Vancouver.., well, Canada is a great place to live. White people up there are more laid back. As for culture, Chinese people especially from Hong Kong rule the scene up there. Overall, a friendly environment. Finally, the Bay Area. What a place. Diversity at its best. No lack of culture nor identity. This place has it all. With a state that has over 50% non-whites, a diverse mix of culture is well blended with mainstream white American society.
So there you have it.
Free Your Mind
Saturday, March 30, 2002 at 01:22:31 (PST)
Vancouver sucks. The place is filled with greedy HK Fobs. The traffic is no better than Seattle, plus the bus system can strike anytime. Not to mention that there seems to be a silent resentment among Asians from the whites. Why else would you occasionally see "Go Home Chinks!" graffitti around the city?
vansux
Friday, March 29, 2002 at 20:40:07 (PST)
TSJ,
That's because Vancuover is in Canada. Socialized medicine and slower economy etc.
AC Dropout
Friday, March 29, 2002 at 12:22:34 (PST)
TSJ,
Portland - total hellhole for Asians who want to live in the Northwest. I can't imagine any Asian living here, since Seattle is nearby and affordable. This place is a "wannabe Seattle" but far from being one."
Well, why live in Seattle if Vancouver, BC is close by as well? It rains less than Seattle, and there are a lot more Asians there. It's also a lot cleaner. And no, Seattle is not affordable at all! The traffic is horrendous too, even worse than the Bay's.
Hey TSJ,
We were discussing about the different American Cities, and not Canadian places.
Seattle is relatively inexpensive if you compared it with the SF-Bay Area and NYC.
Interesting Topic
Friday, March 29, 2002 at 12:10:13 (PST)
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