"She was an elbows-out, combative political force who was never afraid to speak her mind, which was always the case at the annual Chinese New Year Parade. We lost Rose Pak ten years ago, in 2016, at the age of 68. By that point, she had become a singular force in her beloved Chinatown and in citywide politics, and she never seemed happier than when she had a microphone in her hand, presiding over the grandstand stage at the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade."
"But it wasn't until a century later, in 1953, that Chinatown business leader Henry Kwock Wong launched the parade as we know it today modeled after American celebrations like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Wong's son, Wesley R. Wong, writes in the biography that his father envisioned a celebration to "rival Mardi Gras in New Orleans," and one that would show Communist-fearing Americans that the Chinese American community was not to be feared."
Rose Pak died in 2016 at age 68 after decades as a combative, elbows-out political force in Chinatown and citywide politics. She frequently emceed the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, using the grandstand microphone to poke fun at and pressure local politicians. The Lunar New Year celebrations in San Francisco date to 1853, and the modern parade was launched in 1953 by Chinatown business leader Henry Kwock Wong, modeled on American spectacles like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Wong envisioned a celebration to rival Mardi Gras and to reassure Americans fearful of Communism about the Chinese American community. Pak successfully pushed for projects such as the Central Subway and could exact revenge when thwarted.
Read at sfist.com
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