Chloe Chan and Anna Huang, volunteers at the Museum of Chinese in America, witnessed the impact of COVID-19 on Chinatown's vibrancy. With many local businesses closing and a rise in AAPI hate, they decided to use their historical knowledge to foster community resilience. They initiated the Mott Street Girls to offer walking tours that educate others about the rich history of Chinatown and draw parallels to past injustices. Their mission goes beyond tours; it's about healing, unity, and combating racism during challenging times.
Overnight, restaurants, bars and small businesses closed in the area, many for good. Alongside concerns for public health, the Asian-American community faced a rise in AAPI-hate due to racial stereotyping and misinformation.
We thought this was a teaching moment where we could draw parallels against history because this is not the first time we've gone through something like this, citing the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
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