Chinese Launderer: Difference between revisions

Prior to the invention and mass production of modern laundry machines, doing laundry was a lengthy, hot, dirty and tiring chore. Naturally, many people turned to professional launderers to get the job done. In [[The Wild West]], many of these launderers were Chinese in origin. Since they were barred by law or custom from most other occupations, and they were willing to do hard work for low pay, this was seen as a good opportunity by the immigrants. Indeed, at one point, Chinese immigrants operated 89% of the laundries in San Francisco, and had a strong presence in other cities and towns.

 

 

By the 1930s, [[Big Applesauce|New York City]] had around 3550 Chinese-run laundries, proudly displaying "Hand Laundry" signs to show their commitment to [[Good Old Ways|traditional methods]]. Unfortunately, in an effort to drive the [[Yellow Peril|"dangerous foreigners"]] out of the city, laws were passed in 1933 to among other things restrict ownership of laundries to American citizens. (The laws of the time prevented Chinese immigrants from becoming naturalized citizens.) After negotiations by the traditional Chinese social organizations failed, the openly leftist Chinese Hand Laundry Association was formed to fight this discrimination. They did a very good job at this, and in helping support their Chinese homeland against the Japanese invasion with infusions of cash. Unfortunately, in the 1950s, the [[Red Scare]] smeared the CHLA as "Communist" and membership sharply declined.