History of NYC’s Chinatown: The Toishanese Migration
Documentary Screening and Filmmaker April 29 6:30 (MoCA)

w/ Virgo Lee & Chester Lee Q&A

A newly released documentary from NYC Media that traces the origins of one of New York City’s most enduring neighborhoods. Through sweeping historical insight and intimate community voices, the film centers the Toishanese immigrants who helped build not only America’s railroads, but the foundations of Chinatown itself.

Across decades shaped by exclusion and resilience, early arrivals forged a world of their own through family associations, storefronts, dialects, and traditions. Within a few dense blocks, they created networks of care that sustained generations and preserved cultural memory. Over time, those roots extended beyond Manhattan, shaping new Chinatowns in Sunset Park, Flushing, and Elmhurst, each reflecting new waves of migration and evolving identities.

Featuring appearances from MOCA and members of the community, the film offers a glimpse into a living history still unfolding. Following the screening, stay for a conversation with producers Andrew Chow Guidone and Joy Lau, joined by community members Virgo Lee and Chester Lee featured in the film. Together, they will reflect on the process of documenting Chinatown’s layered histories and the urgency of preserving stories that are too often left untold.