My heritage has always been something I hold close to my heart. It’s a huge part of my identity, and I take pride in being Chinese. And that brings me to this point today.

A long time ago in Chinatown, new immigrants from China would come to the USA in search of better opportunities. But with everything in English, it was hard to navigate.

This is where my great-grandfather, Bing Jung Hom, stepped in. He, along with other Chinatown leaders, standardized the names of streets in Chinatown. Due to his background as a calligrapher, he hand wrote all the signs in Chinatown with a translation into Chinese, specifically Cantonese (considered a dialect in China, but can stand as its own language).

Whenever we go to Chinatown in New York, we sometimes pass by these signs that were translated. It makes me feel closer to him, as I unfortunately never got to meet him. Through these signs still standing, it keeps part of him alive.

However, in the early 2000s, due to “budget cuts”, the signs have been slowly replaced with only English signs as the originals got older. This is making it more difficult for new immigrants to navigate without the translations. And with the signs being replaced, pieces of my great-grandfather and other Chinatown leaders’ hard work are disappearing with it.

Thankfully, a Chinatown representative introduced a bill to have NYC make it a law that in some neighborhoods, bilingual signs were required. This would mean that immigrants could get around easier, as well as preserving my great grandfather’s and the other Chinatown leader’s legacy. 

When my sister and I heard about the bill, we wrote our testimony to be read at the hearing. However, due to school, I was unable to view it. As of now, the verdict has not been announced.

As I mentioned before, I never got to meet my great-grandfather. And the signs were comforting to see, as a part of him was still here. And I want to be a part of preserving his legacy.

My great-grandfather was a good person. He was always concerned for others, and was a thinker. He was someone devoted to the community around him, and he was also a teacher. He spent most of his adult life working for the community, and continued teaching in a school in Chinatown. And while I wish I got to meet him, at least I can still remember him through the signs still standing today.

 

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To contact the author: Caroline Wu '32

Photo credit: Chris Birrittella '28