Year of the Ram: Chinese New Year Feature
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Chinese New Year Celebrations Abound in the South

By May Chow | AsianWeek Staff Writer

Jambalaya, crawfish pie, filé gumbo for Chinese New Year? Or dragon dances illuminating the twilight skies along the Mississippi Delta? For many, it’s hard to believe that Asian Pacific American communities exist outside of coastal cities like San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles.

Chinese immigrants made their way to the Mississippi Delta shortly after the Civil War during the Reconstruction period (1865-1877) as replacements for the black laborers who were leaving the area at that time. In 1880, the U.S. Census reported that there were 51 Chinese in Washington County, Miss. Many of the Chinese immigrants were from the southern provinces of China.

The immigrants found jobs on the plantations, but soon started opening their own businesses. The first Chinese grocery store in Mississippi was opened sometime in the early 1870s. Tax records show several Chinese landowners in Rosedale, in Boliver County.

At that time, the Chinese were classified having the same status as blacks. They were excluded from social organizations, country clubs and white public schools. The Chinese found it difficult to find a niche in such a biracial society. Because of this, Chinese in the Mississippi Delta distanced themselves from others in the community.

There were several schools that held small and separate classes for Chinese students. In the mid-1940s in Cleveland, Miss., there were two classrooms for Chinese students. The classes had 36 students, and three teachers. One of those teachers was Chinese.

After World War II, the Delta saw an increase in Chinese immigrants. In 1960, 14 Delta counties together made up for more than 90 percent of the Mississippi Chinese population. The 1960 U.S. Census report listed 1,244 Chinese in Mississippi and reported that the Delta had more Chinese than any part of the South. By 1970, the Chinese population grew to 1,441. In the 2000 Census, 3,099 Chinese lived in Mississippi, out of an APA population of 18,626 in the state.

Over the years, the Chinese population moved to nearby cities such as Jackson, Miss. and Memphis, Tenn.

The Chinese community in Memphis, Tenn. celebrated Chinese New Year for the first time this year. The Chinese Student Association of Memphis cooperated with local merchants and families to welcome in the Year of the Ram on the University of Memphis campus on the Friday before Chinese New Year.

Wang-Ying Glasglow, a spokesperson for the event, said that this was the first time in Memphis history that the Chinese groups in Memphis had congregated to put on such an important event.

Chinese artwork, crafts and food were displayed at the University Center and at Rose Theater. Participants could also learn more about the Chinese zodiac and the history of Lunar New Year. The night ended with traditional lion dances and kung fu demonstrations.

The event saw more than 2,000 attendees, and Shelby County Mayor A.C. Wharton even proclaimed the first week in February as “Chinese Week” in Memphis and Shelby County.

Rhodes College, also in Memphis, hosted a Chinese New Year celebration in its auditorium. Other cities, including Nashville, Springfield and West Knoxville will also hold activities commemorating the Year of the Ram.

Most of these Chinese New Year’s festivities are coordinated by APA student organizations on college campuses. In Troy, Ala., the Chinese Students Association at Troy State University put on its second annual New Year’s bash last week, complete with food, music and history. Events were scheduled in Auburn, Mobile and Montgomery too.

In South Florida, the Organization of Chinese Americans has co-sponsored an annual Chinese New Year Festival for 15 years. More than 6,000 Floridians attend the celebration, which features Chinese folk dances, a ping pong tournament and acrobats. This year, the city of Fort Lauderdale will work with seven Chinese organizations to sponsor the first-ever Chinese New Year Dragon Boat Festival.

With more than 250,000 APAs, Florida has the eighth largest APA population in the nation, according to the 2000 Census. In South Florida alone, there are more than 100,000 APAs.

Television stations in Louisiana will air special programming for the Lunar New Year. In Lafayette, La. three documentaries about Chinese immigration and the history of Chinese New Year will be broadcast. Keep an eye out for celebrations in New Orleans.

Reach May Chow at mchow@asianweek.com.