The Tong Wars of New York's Chinatown (Part 1) | The China History Podcast | Ep. 171

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  • čas přidán 5. 07. 2024
  • In this long awaited and oft requested episode Laszlo explains about the Tong Wars of New York's Chinatown. With the help of Scott Seligman's latest book we go back to late 19th - early 20th century America and focus on New York's Chinatown. These were terribly unpleasant days for most citizens of Chinese ancestry and especially for those immigrants who either had not begun the process or lived in the shadows illegally.
    The Chinese Exclusion Laws tarred these citizens like no other immigrant group in US history. The Tong Wars didn't happen because of these laws but they were certainly part of the story. With everything Chinese-Americans have done to make America great over the past century it's interesting to look back at another time when the ordinary law abiding Chinese and the bloodiest tong soldier were equally reviled in society that was loath to accept them.
    The book is called "Tong Wars, The Untold Story of Vice, Money and Murder in New York's Chinatown" by Scott D. Seligman.
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Komentáře • 136

  • @cozyhomeone
    @cozyhomeone Před 2 lety +1

    Excellent history documentary .... Thank you !

  • @azntbooi
    @azntbooi Před 3 lety +4

    You really nailed this. Great job

  • @MrChopstsicks
    @MrChopstsicks Před 3 lety +1

    I’m onto episode 2. Thanks for the in depth episodes. You are doing awesome

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 3 lety

      Thanks for giving it a shot. When you finish, and if the series met with your general approval, go check out this latest vid I posted a few hours ago on the Life of the Wild West Madam, Ah Toy czcams.com/video/NXWJADmF8Ew/video.html

  • @Ray89135
    @Ray89135 Před 5 lety +9

    Laszlo, You do an invaluable service in disseminating history. Hopefully, we learn from it. We all are humans struggling to survive in this unfair world. Thank you.

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 5 lety +3

      Thank you for your kind remarks Ray. Information and knowledge is the key to understanding and acceptance.

  • @philliplyn2692
    @philliplyn2692 Před 3 lety +1

    Loving this one thanks for sharing very information blessed love to all knowledge is power hopefully everyone pays attention keep up the good work 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

  • @BackBruck
    @BackBruck Před 3 lety +1

    Thanks for this. 😊

  • @itgirl_nyc
    @itgirl_nyc Před 3 lety +6

    13:30 20 Mott Street! My dad used to run a restaurant called Home Village ar 20 Mott. They have since torn down that building. The new building has been left unfinished for a long time. 16:30 4 Mott Street. My grandpa lived there. He came to NYC in 1917.

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 3 lety +2

      Hah! That's wild. One can really do a whole history of NY Chinatown on just tracing the lives of all the occupants at 20 Mott St. going back to Wo Kee's time in the 1870's. Can you imagine all the history on just that one small square of 勿街?

  • @deciovidalalves7351
    @deciovidalalves7351 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Belíssimo documentário,as thongs Chinesa foram muito importante e muito influência na política Americana...por outro lado explorava a mão de obra Chinesa.

  • @tumomukanihimself
    @tumomukanihimself Před 4 lety +74

    Cinemax's 'Warrior' brought me here.

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 4 lety +7

      Yeah, I gotta watch that series.....The first time I heard about it I wanted to see it....Alas....too many streaming services already....You may have changed my mind....Looks great. Thanks for coming by to check out my stuff. I hope you find a few other things that interest you. Over 200 episodes from ancient to modern times.

    • @gowithgroove
      @gowithgroove Před 4 lety +3

      @@ChinaHistoryPodcast I just finished reading "Gangs of New York" - thanks much for filling me in on so much more!

    • @williewonka9410
      @williewonka9410 Před 3 lety

      Me too

    • @goodvibesonly1920
      @goodvibesonly1920 Před 3 lety +1

      Best ass show just finish season 2 man great show 💯

    • @oddeye9640
      @oddeye9640 Před 2 lety +2

      Phenomenal show. Season 3 is being made now. :3 :3 :3

  • @quinnpd
    @quinnpd Před 4 lety +4

    You have a Dan Carlin style. A engaging confidence in the presentation that show mastery of the subject being discussed.

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 4 lety +1

      I'll take that as the ultimate compliment. Dan is the gold standard of history podcasting. Thank you sir.

  • @fredguo2538
    @fredguo2538 Před 3 lety +1

    Hello there Laszlo! I've been thoroughly enjoying this series so far, and I'd like to suggest the Hatchet Men: The Story of the Tong Wars in San Francisco. It's an extremely interesting book about the tong wars on the other side of the US and are quite unique from New York in their own right. Cheers!

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 3 lety +2

      I got that one noted. SF Chinatown is another topic for the future. This book will come in handy! Thanks Fred.

  • @ryan100101able
    @ryan100101able Před 3 lety +3

    it looks like u studied that topic , so much indept information , i wouldn t have had any chance to hear about the late 19th century in america. ..
    thank you for all that "knowledge" greetings from vienna (austria)

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 3 lety

      Thanks Mad Max. One one of my dreams is to visit your city. I hope it comes true.

  • @saigoneze4465
    @saigoneze4465 Před 3 lety

    this is a great channel ! subbed! Can you do a podcast on the indochina / china history ie:VN war

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 3 lety

      My deepest thanks for your appreciation. I did a 6-Part series on the history of China-Vietnam Relations. You might want to go check that out. czcams.com/video/me3FXs7h6wU/video.html The Vietnam War was also a big part of my 10-Year anniversary special featuring the story of Nixon's 1972 Visit: czcams.com/video/ytOsuVLP4tU/video.html

  • @ryanmoore2447
    @ryanmoore2447 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Intresting

  • @Tsar_Nman
    @Tsar_Nman Před 6 lety +1

    Cool video

  • @cambodianmod301nationwide6

    The Tongs an American Nightmare Movie bought me here.

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 2 lety

      The 1968 Classic Philip Chan film. I saw it when I was a kid. Thanks for stopping by!🤝

  • @raymondpiper8294
    @raymondpiper8294 Před 3 lety +12

    I worked constructing the MTR station in Hong Kong . The tattooed covered steel fixers we were told strictly to stay clear of them as they were exclusively tong members .

    • @Amidat
      @Amidat Před 3 lety +4

      got to have legal jobs to wash the illegal money

  • @goodvibesonly1920
    @goodvibesonly1920 Před 3 lety

    Warriors badass show, man I got wait for season 3 hella pissed

  • @dankmheems290
    @dankmheems290 Před 4 lety +33

    I think China Mac is a descendent of these tongs as his dad was a Flying Dragon, with links to that triad and it's tong, but he left to join a local group called the Ghost Shadows.

    • @Eastmeetssouth81
      @Eastmeetssouth81 Před 3 lety +15

      Like Mac, a lot of us southern Chinese are tied these groups because for a long time you couldn't even be here without being connected to a family association. They were the foundation for their existence in many ways.
      My folks are connected to Hip Sing and my great uncle was the treasurer for the local merchants association for decades. Growing up, I always just saw him as the kindly old cigar-smoking great uncle in the wheelchair. It wasn't until later that I was informed that he was a huge deal, a real OG. Never knew how much power and respect he had.

    • @EvosBasics
      @EvosBasics Před 3 lety +5

      Like Will Leung-Richardson said, the Tongs ran Chinatown. They basically were the government as far as residents were concerned. They looked over all sorts of matters and nothing happens in the neighborhood (legal and illegal) without having to go through these associations. Everyone is in some way connected to the Tongs.

    • @Plama316
      @Plama316 Před 3 lety +1

      Yes, eventho he was kinda sort of forced out because his father became a rat and everyone in the family looked down on them.

    • @soksdoerng174
      @soksdoerng174 Před 3 lety +1

      Tea Cup Media, will ask you is that good? lol

    • @terrencejackson9248
      @terrencejackson9248 Před 3 lety +1

      Interesting

  • @asamusicdude
    @asamusicdude Před 2 lety +1

    A team and big trouble in little china brought me here
    "China is here Mr burton"

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 2 lety +1

      I freaking LOVED Big Trouble in Little China. Kurt Russell at his best! I saw it in the theaters back in 1986 when it came out. Glad you found my channel. Check out the episodes on the Hong Kong Triads and the history of Chinese Martial Arts and Wing Chun style. Over 200 hours worth of Chinese history stuff. I hope you'll look around and find some episodes you like. Thanks for stopping by!

    • @asamusicdude
      @asamusicdude Před 2 lety

      @@ChinaHistoryPodcast it's a classic you cant beat!.
      Will do. Love me some history. Its fascinating

  • @ttytty6940
    @ttytty6940 Před 3 lety +2

    Everybody was kung fu fighting

  • @PyroNexus22
    @PyroNexus22 Před 4 lety +4

    This needs to be a Martin Scorsese movie

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 4 lety +3

      I'm gonna get on the phone with Marty and tell him so!

    • @georgieman1910
      @georgieman1910 Před 3 lety +2

      Scorsese lent his name to the production of "Revenge of the Green Dragons", not about Tong wars but about the Queens gang, which turned into a horrible disaster of a movie.

    • @2phalanges
      @2phalanges Před 3 lety

      go watch better luck tomorrow.

  • @MonaGee98
    @MonaGee98 Před 11 měsíci

    The movie "Gangs of New York" now playing out by new arrivals from Asia against old Americanized Chinese immigrants such as I. My ancestors from Taishan built Chinatowns in America.

  • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
    @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 3 lety +1

    Hi Everyone.....my deepest and sincerest apologies to all for the slight reverb. I hope you won't hold me in too much contempt for this.

  • @malcomshaw5962
    @malcomshaw5962 Před 4 lety +5

    😎🤘🏿

  • @DerekLeyrer
    @DerekLeyrer Před 3 lety +2

    How is there not a movie or tv series on this

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 3 lety +1

      I been asking the same thing even before I did this episode. Ten times better than all these mafia movies and series. (IMHO)

    • @Amidat
      @Amidat Před 3 lety

      tons of Hong Kong movies and tv shows.... Though not set in NY - you often hear them discuss goings on in NY and San Fran

    • @k.dalexander3803
      @k.dalexander3803 Před rokem +1

      Watch warrior it's a series on this exactly

  • @Exedus20
    @Exedus20 Před 3 lety +2

    I like the skyle of the tong gangsters. Sharp looking for sure

  • @alexs5744
    @alexs5744 Před rokem +1

    Is there a difference between a Triad and a Tong? I hear those Chinese gang names all the time and I’m curious if there are differences and similarities.

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před rokem +3

      I would say the main difference is that Triads are illegal organizations that engage in organized crime. Tongs are legal entities that are comprised of good and decent law-abiding citizens as well as some criminals that provide both licit and illicit services to the Chinese communities.

    • @alexs5744
      @alexs5744 Před rokem +1

      @@ChinaHistoryPodcast Thanks for giving that bit of information.

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před rokem +2

      @@alexs5744 The least I can do. My deep thanks Alex, for checking the vid out.

    • @alexs5744
      @alexs5744 Před rokem +1

      @@ChinaHistoryPodcast Your welcome.

  • @christinacaruth835
    @christinacaruth835 Před 2 lety

    I wouldn't doubt it even my Grandfather was born around 1886. He was in the same Tong as Mock Duck. It was the On Leung. I find it very odd that my Grandmother last name was Eng. It was change to Hom so she can be let into America. Bypassing San Francisco were the Hall of Records was destroyed during the Quake of 1906. There was alot of Racketeering in the Chin Family. I know that my Grandfather run Opium Den,Speakeasy and Gambling Halls.

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 2 lety

      Incredible! That's so interesting that this history touches your life. Thanks for sharing with me and my CZcams community of listeners.

  • @trollbrochina
    @trollbrochina Před 3 lety +1

    Til this day Mock Duck is still one of the heroes that Chinese kids in the street are looking up to.

  • @ItsQFam
    @ItsQFam Před 2 lety

    I am 32, this is the first time I heard coolie in America. last time I hear that was grandma from chaozhou, she said don't come to America and become a coolie! thank you!

  • @Renwoxing13
    @Renwoxing13 Před 4 lety +1

    I am so suddenly interested in this topic that the Tang Dynasty can wait!

    • @srt.sinica
      @srt.sinica Před 4 lety +1

      Read Scott Seligman's book if you want more details.....The story of the Tong's is a great American immigrant story.

  • @mindmesh7566
    @mindmesh7566 Před 2 lety +1

    You know a kind old butter knife shared his experiences of the tong wars. But I have to say, my sympathies are solidly with the spoons on that one!!……What??

  • @pR1MeYwL99
    @pR1MeYwL99 Před 3 lety

    si bai si shi wu

  • @jimboblordofeskimos
    @jimboblordofeskimos Před 8 lety

    redone or reuploaded by mistake?

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 8 lety

      Yeah....deleted the one from a few days ago. Can you believe almost 30,000 downloads and not a single one said I repeated myself around the 25th minute. Are my listeners polite or what? There should only be one now.....the one I uploaded this morning.

    • @jimboblordofeskimos
      @jimboblordofeskimos Před 8 lety

      Then ill be rude and tell you im very disappointed, for 30 seconds or so I thought it was part 2. If it wasnt for the fact that my mind is fat and lazy after binging through the cultural revolution and the voyages of Zheng He, id have harsh words for you.
      Thanks for the great podcast :)

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 8 lety +1

      Part 2 is coming sooner than you think....And looks like there'll be a part 3 as well.

    • @jimboblordofeskimos
      @jimboblordofeskimos Před 8 lety

      Good man.

  • @BlastBinary
    @BlastBinary Před 3 lety

    This video but without reverb would be amazing

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 3 lety

      You’re kidding me? When does the reverb start? Shoot! Can’t believe I didn’t catch that.

    • @BlastBinary
      @BlastBinary Před 3 lety

      @@ChinaHistoryPodcast Its only this part 0:00 to 40:00

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 3 lety

      @@BlastBinary I guess I have to do it all over and delete this one. Can't believe 46,000 listeners later I learn about this screw-up. What a colossal blunder. Thanks, Blast Binary......I'm in your debt.

  • @TV-xc5ut
    @TV-xc5ut Před 2 lety

    where are these tongs when we need them?

  • @MbisonBalrog
    @MbisonBalrog Před 3 lety +1

    How an ethnic community survive or even grow when there is an exclusion act against you? If no new or young people coming in then no business.

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 3 lety +2

      There were all kinds of ways to sneak into the country.

    • @MbisonBalrog
      @MbisonBalrog Před 3 lety

      @@ChinaHistoryPodcast Is that what happened though? Massive amounts of smuggling, and illegal migration occurring much like today with Mexico/Central America.

    • @georgieman1910
      @georgieman1910 Před 3 lety

      Ever heard of "paper sons"

    • @MbisonBalrog
      @MbisonBalrog Před 3 lety

      @@georgieman1910 each man must be claiming like 20 sons then

    • @georgieman1910
      @georgieman1910 Před 3 lety

      @@MbisonBalrog
      I don't know about 20 sons for each man...but 20 available slots would have certainly been plausible. Paper son/daughter slots were traded like currency. Now add the great SF Fire of 1906 and with all records destroyed, anybody can claim anything. Where there's a will, there's a way....

  • @TheFeylove
    @TheFeylove Před 2 lety

    Hoodvlogs brought me here

  • @koulor315
    @koulor315 Před 2 lety +1

    when it comes to kung fu i wonder how realistic was the fighting? LOL i assume most chinese tong dudes knew martial arts to fight back, or is the TV show warrior just exaggerating

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 2 lety +2

      I'm sure, like all these fight scenes, it was very tightly choreographed. And with Brett Chan as the choreographer, it looked damn good.

  • @MrBenbaruch
    @MrBenbaruch Před 3 lety +3

    Sad irony Chinese and other East Asian people are still kicked around in the USA 🇺🇸.

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 3 lety

      Even my own wife has experienced it this past year.

    • @MrBenbaruch
      @MrBenbaruch Před 3 lety

      @@ChinaHistoryPodcast that’s terrible I’m glad she’s ok.

  • @virgiljjacas1229
    @virgiljjacas1229 Před 3 lety +1

    " Exclusion Law ". And anyone will criticize the Chinese for retaliation in that way 🤬🤬🤬

  • @Carlton_Wilson
    @Carlton_Wilson Před 3 lety +3

    Much is made of the Chinese Exclusion laws and restrictions against and exploitation of Chinese immigrants in the 19th century, but our society was much more open and welcoming to Chinese here in The USA than China's was to westerners in China. Foreigners in China were forbidden to travel outside of designated trade districts and several wars(SEE; The Boxer Wars) were fought due to said racist, xenophobic Chinese restrictions against westerners. The Chinese Exclusion Act was in response to Chinese restrictions against westerners in China.
    Two sides to every story.

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 3 lety +2

      I see your point.

    • @darrylg2043
      @darrylg2043 Před 3 lety

      You mad, bro?

    • @Amidat
      @Amidat Před 3 lety +4

      Maybe that's because westerners sought to take over and control China. Also China is not the one who pretended to be an immigrants paradise. There is no "pretend" statute of liberty in China saying "give me your poor and your tired". Context is key. The US was wide open land. China was and is far more crowded... Not even close.

    • @Amidat
      @Amidat Před 3 lety +4

      @Unknown Unknown westerners were not poor immigrants into China. They sought to dominate. Not even remotely close. The Japanese straight out refused to even deal with westerners at all - until the gunboat diplomacy of Commodore Perry. Explain then why there was no "Japanese Exclusion Act". Well I can tell you it's because there weren't Japanese low wage workers brought to the US.

    • @mptaki
      @mptaki Před 2 lety

      I don't seem to recall an official Western Exclusion Act in China, and in fact, jewish refugees fleeing from the Holocaust fled to Shanghai as there was no visa system back in the day. There were already foreigners, mostly missionaries living in China in the 1900s. In America, the Chinese were discriminated against, so much so that they had to open their own laundromats and restaurants because no one would employ them. Can you imagine if there were Buddhist and Taoist temples in the US at that time? The Boxers Rebellion was the best thing to happen to the foreign powers as they couldn't wait to dig their claws and take chunks of China. I don't recall when China tried to invade America and then took a port for 100 years?

  • @tas19921
    @tas19921 Před 3 lety +1

    7:24 didnt age well

  • @jayyrocc6508
    @jayyrocc6508 Před 2 lety

    The real American gangstas thugs

  • @rakyatmalaysiarm6710
    @rakyatmalaysiarm6710 Před 3 lety +1

    Yeah, America is peaceful with no gangs, no Al Pacino n the others. No bootlegging, no mafia... Lmao...

  • @nazarithfelix7777
    @nazarithfelix7777 Před 4 lety +2

    Looks Cambodian

    • @ChinaHistoryPodcast
      @ChinaHistoryPodcast  Před 4 lety +2

      Mos def ain't a northerner....

    • @soksdoerng174
      @soksdoerng174 Před 3 lety +1

      Actually looks Chinese, remember there's many Chinese tribes, not are all Hans.

    • @spoo4620
      @spoo4620 Před 3 lety

      @@soksdoerng174 southern Hans