Institutionalization of the Chinese Tongs in Chicago's Chinatown

by Andrew Sekeres III
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Page 12

In Chicago’s Chinatown, these tongs existed because they always had business due to the fact that the city placed them into a natural area by placing embankments of all kinds around them. The Chinese-Americans living there had no chance of moving out due to the physical restrictions placed by the city and the racism placed upon the Chinese community. This racism against the Chinese is not a issue whatsoever because analyzed to fullest potential in this paper earlier, it shows that the Chinese were victims of racism and even excluded from this country ever since they landed here in 1849 during the Gold Rush.

It is important for us to learn about groups like the tongs because through research, we can find the reasons why the tongs existed for as long as did. The tongs are always a present force in this country’s criminal underground. However, law enforcement officials are having a hard time to apprehend these groups because of the history that surrounds. The Chinese are coming more and more to this country everyday. With them, they bring their Old World traditions with them. However when a group like the tongs prey on their people while showing that they are helping them at the same time, there has to be some kind of punishment that show them it is allowed in this country to prey on others for your own well-being.


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