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EASTERN WIND

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER  VOLUME 4 NO. 1

Editor-in- Chief: Elaine Doong
Managing Editor: Barbara Furukawa
Art Editor: Mikio Togashi
Mailing: Sam Cacas
Calendar: George Guillermo
Business Manager: Jeanette Chow
STAFF: Harry Chow, Regina Chow, Jaime Chung, Miu Eng, Carol King, Amy Lee, Lester Lee, Wanda Lee, George Liao, Alan Qta, Vivian Tseng, and Lianne Uyeda.

CONTRIBUTORS: Tuei Doong, Corinne Furukawa.

Eastern Wind, the D.C. Asian-American Community Newsletter, has been in existence since August, 1973.  It was initially funded by the D.C. government's Office of Youth Opportunity Services.  With the termination of this funding in August of 1974, Eastern Wind is now solely dependent on contributions.

Eastern Wind was formerly a joint activity of four groups forming the International Group Council of Wash., D.C.  Reorganization in September, 1974 resulted in the establishment of the newsletter as a independent organization of individuals interested in producing a newsletter for Asian-American concerns.  It has also changed from a monthly to a bi-monthly publication partly due to the lack of funds and in order to experiment with the production of a bigger issue.

Through the newsletter, we hope to promote a positive image of Asian-Americans and to undo the harm that mass media perpetrates in its typecasting and insensitive attacks upon Asian people.

We hope to create an awareness within the Asian American population of policies, structures and events of a harmful nature to Asians, whether they are in schools, media, courts, or jobs, so that they may assess and combat the injustices.

It is our aim to develop greater understanding among Asians of their individual and collective experience in the United States.  We hope that through Eastern Wind we can explore together what it means to be Asian in America.

THE EASTERN WIND STAFF

All articles, poems, etc. printed in Eastern Wind do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Eastern Wind staff, but are reflective of the writer.

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[[image - cartoon drawing of a man holding his travel bags]]

IMMIGRANTS: A Journey to the Mountain of Pyrite

A LOOK AT CHINATOWN D.C.

Since July of 1968, when the National Origins Quota System was lifted, 20,000 Chinese immigrate to the United States each year.  Under the immigrant preference system, most of those who come here are spouses, sons, and daughters of U.S. citizens, and resident aliens.  There are also those who are accepted because of their profession and skills.  Certain categories of workers which are in short supply in the U.S. are also readily admitted into the country.  Because of the 20,000 quota to each country in the Eastern Hemisphere, all those who can make it are considered the "lucky" ones.

Why do so many Chinese immigrate to the United States?  Because the U.S. is still known as "gold mountain", the myth that one can get rich quick here still prevails over uncalculating dreamers.  There are some self-sacrificing parents who bring their children here in hopes of a better education.  In short, there can be as many reasons for coming here as there are immigrants.  However, many come here mainly because of the poor economic conditions in their countries.  Ironically enough, these immigrants are escaping to conditions little better than the one at home.

These immigrants look upon the U.S. as a great foreign aid provider which can afford huge investment in other countries, therefore creating jobs and trades for them.  Little do they know that :foreign aid's" one objective is to serve the "contributing" country's economic, political, and military interests, and foreign investment is only intended to make profit for the investors.

Where Do They Go?

Most immigrants flock to Chinatowns, usually considered ghetto areas, to be with relatives and friends, for mutual protection and aid.  D.C. Chinatown is located in the downtown area where one would hesitate to roam the streets at night.  The few restaurants and grocery stores are only shadows of what one can get back home.  Nevertheless, new immigrants who are able to rent an apartment, no matter how deteriorated, usually consider themselves lucky.  Others are forced to find residence on the fringe of Chinatown, making life even more complicated.

Facing Many Problems

Aside from poor housing, D.C. Chinatown has no teenage centers or recreational facilities for the youth.  Not until recently, when the Calvary Baptist Church opened its doors to the community, did youngsters have a close-by place to play basketball.  Georgetown playground, some thirty blocks away, is still the closest recreation center youths of Chinatown frequent.  Plans for building a playground in Chinatown have been pending for two years, yet, the government still has no grant money money nor land for the badly needed recreational play area.

Juvenile delinquency in Chinatown is also on the rise.  Newly arrived youngsters, without adult supervision, tend to get into mischievous trouble.  School holds little or no

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