A Tale of Three Chinatowns
Screening and Talkback
Registration for this program is now closed.
Join Revolutionary Spaces for a documentary screening of A Tale of Three Chinatowns and explore how preservation is tied to the voice of the people. The conundrums the founding generation faced are still challenging us today in real, tangible ways: “How is my voice heard? What happens if I am silenced or marginalized?” We ask: how are these challenges activated through the lens of community preservation?
Old South Meeting House has long been a space for the community to come together and solve problems facing Boston; Revolutionary Spaces is thrilled to continue the tradition, pairing this screening with a talkback panel featuring filmmakers Penny Lee and Lisa Mao, UMass Boston Professor Andrew Leong, and expert Beyazmin Jiminez as we tackle these questions and more. Opening remarks will be given by writer, teacher, activist, and artist Cynthia Yee.
As we sit together in an incredible 18th century meeting house, we will reflect – together – on the notion that there’s more worth preserving than just brick and mortar.
The program will include a casual reception, celebrating the film and the Chinatown community.
Admission is free and open to the public. The program is generously supported by the Lowell Institute.
About the Film
A Tale of Three Chinatowns is a feature-length documentary that explores the survival of urban ethnic neighborhoods. Specifically examining Chinatowns in three American cities, the film looks at the forces altering each community and the challenges that go with them. The film profiles Chinatowns in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Boston and features the voices of residents, community activists, developers, government officials, and others who have a connection to this ubiquitous neighborhood. Through these perspectives, the film presents the present day pressing topic of urban development and gentrification through the eyes of those on the frontlines. Chicago’s Chinatown is a story of growth where the Asian-American population has increased and its borders have expanded. In contrast, Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown has dwindled to an estimated population of 300 residents of Chinese descent. The Chinatown neighborhood in Boston finds itself somewhere in between these two extremes as various groups fight for the land on which it sits.
