Los Angeles Korea town has had a contentious battle of turf over the years. Some may recall the tension from the aftermath of the Los Angeles riots between the Korean and African American community. the LA Times had an article this week about how now, the battle is with the Bangladeshi community.
Although [Maminul Haque] is standing in the heart of Koreatown, he and many other Bangladeshi Americans say the name does not reflect all its inhabitants. Now, the community is seeking recognition of its own “Little Bangladesh” within the area west of downtown popularly known as Koreatown.The proposal has angered longtime residents who have worked hard to promote the district as a Korean cultural destination and economic hub.[latimes]
The Bangladeshi area here is unlike other L.A. ethnic hubs. Whereas on Pioneer Blvd. in Cerritos there are clean sari stores, or bright chaat houses, not so here. Located in the heart of the grittiest part of Los Angeles, the Bangladeshi business are interspersed with Korean and Mexican stores. There is no section of stores. Food is fast food and grocery store combined. But the community does exist – they have annual parades, they have an Independence Day festival in the park behind Shatto lanes, and South Asian Network has organized a housing campaign in the neighborhood.
More than a name is at stake. Although largely symbolic, the recognition afforded by a special district designation can help establish a community within the cultural mosaic of Southern California, said Hamid Khan, executive director of the nonprofit South Asian Network. When noted on maps and street signs, it can also attract visitors and help local business. [latimes]
There are about 10,000 Bangladeshi Americans living in the area, according to the South Asian Network. Though I think this is an overestimate, there is no doubt that this neighborhood is the gateway point of where the Bangladeshi-American Angeleno experience began since the first wave of ‘Deshi’ migration in 1965. But the neighborhood Koreans aren’t happy with it…
Although the city never formally defined the neighborhood, Koreatown has been identified on maps since the 1980s. In February, members of the Korean American community filed their own petition asking the city to recognize Koreatown…After a series of meetings in December and January, Korean American representatives offered to recognize a much smaller section along Koreatown’s eastern boundary as “Little Bangladesh.” But Muhammad Hussain, a spokesman for the “Little Bangladesh” campaign, complained that there were very few Bangladeshis living in the proposed area.[latimes]
Word. The Bangladeshi community beat them to the punch by a month. I have no doubt a compromise can be met, but I think a formal recognition of the neighborhoods, both Bangladeshi and Korean, would bring more resources and support to the area. Though, personally, I kinda would like the Bangladeshs to win this fight.
Though brown loyalty makes me kinda want to Bangladeshis to win too, I also think the Koreans have a valid point. I think the district shouldn’t be defined according to ethnicity. It’s clearly not Koreatown anymore – but that doesn’t mean it has to be Little Bangladesh either. Can’t there just be a generic name for the whole area, like the Asian District or something?
Like “The Silk Trade Route of Los Angeles”? Or “The Oriental Express”?
I am KIDDING.
They might as well change the name of the area every few years after a census is done on the current population is done, cause it seems like it will change from one group to another.
I’ll be honest, since I never group up in an ethnic enclave, I don’t really have full understanding of this issue.
I don’t know enough about the local details to weigh in on the Bangladeshi–Korean issue here, but I want to throw up a cautionary note on the idea of having “annual parades”–it seems kind of loser to me–truly successful groups in the US don’t have them! So, perhaps we desis should avoid them.
They didn’t beat them to the punch. I remember a fuss being made about the city’s refusal to formally recognize Koreatown a few years ago.
truly successful groups in the US don’t have them!
The Chinese?
truly successful groups in the US don’t have them!
The Amish
Can’t we all just get along?
“truly successuful groups don’t have them”
St. Paddy’s Day parade? Columbus Day? Fourth of July? Chinese New Year Dragon day?
Bengal liquor… now that’s a hoot.
truly successful groups in the US don’t have them!
Latvians, Upper Voltans, Ecuadorians — model ethnicities.
“Though, personally, I kinda would like the Bangladeshs to win this fight.”
Just because they’re brown? =/
Personally, I’m all for compromise, but I pretty much agree with what Suki Dillon said. There are too many different kinds of immigrants in LA living side-by-side to carve an official ethnic niche out for every group that wants one. It might have been viable when immigrants were fewer and came from fewer different countries, but nowadays it’s just prohibitive when you’ve got such little space to share. Not to mention, what happens when immigrants stop arriving from a given country and that ethnic population starts to assimilate? Members of that group will be less likely to stick to that ethnic enclave as they intermarry with other groups and venture into the suburbs. Then is there any justification for keeping their Chinatown or Little Italy alive if there are no Chinese or Italians left?
Then is there any justification for keeping their Chinatown or Little Italy alive if there are no Chinese or Italians left?
Yes. As tourist districts with quaint restaurants. Manhattan’s Little Italy doesn’t have many Italians left (they’re all in New Jersey), but’s a good tourist draw.
Having an official ethnic district in a city can also help brand an ethnicity — something especially important for Bangladeshis, a small and easily overlooked Desi nationality. Bangladeshis run most of the “Indian” food joints in the UK and Eastern Canada (and the US?), but would never get any customers if they called it “Bangladeshi food” (See Seinfeld episode with Babu Bhatt). Maybe, in their own ethnic district, they could “out” themselves. “He’s Bangladeshi — I never knew!”
So when is Little India intervening to aid creation of a Little Bangladesh a la 1971?
Taz, is Ilish available there ? Oh well…
I think, as immigrant scenario changes over time, these type of issues will arise more often. Instead of naming localities by country/ethnicity, maybe roads or local landmarks can be named after famous personalities of that region. How about Kazi Nazrul road ? or King Sejong road ? There would be more roads than one in the locality I hope. And those names will make people curious enough to google.
Bangladeshis run most of the “Indian” food joints in the UK and Eastern Canada (and the US?)
Not in the US. Not that I have seen anyway. I think in UK its pretty common. Did not know it was common in Canada too. Bangladeshi food it actually pretty kick ass. Its just not as popular in the US outside the biggest cities.
Not in the US. Not that I have seen anyway. I think in UK its pretty common. Did not know it was common in Canada too.
I’m pretty sure this isn’t true about Canada either.
in toronto, srilankan tamils are chefs in kitchens of every ethnic stripe – thai, chinese, italian, burgerjoints – you name it. there seem to be odd ethnic ghettos in different professions here. one can somewhat understand why the nanny profession is dominated by filipinas or the trucking by the punjabis — but some would not be easy to explain — the car rental agencies seem to be dominated by ethiopians/eritreans, the airport security check folks are dominated by punjabis and the late night goons are desis of indeterminate origin, identified by a ridic 3 mm thin strip of hair on their jaw line.
If the city council in Artesia not going to give a ‘Little India’ title to that Pioneer blvd. section, I think these guys are going to have a even tougher time.
I like zee’s suggestion of re-naming (more like dubbing) roads with historical figures. Works well on Chicago’s Devon Ave which has a stretch of road devoted to the Jewish community and another stretch devoted to the Indian/Pakistani communities.
I know of neighborhoods that have been reffered to as Little Indias.E.g. Flushing/ Oak Tree Rd/ Jackson Heights/Newark Ave/ Devon Street/etc.
The only other “Little subcontinental country” I have heard of is Little Pakistan (somewhere in Brooklyn). But I do not know if it is commonly used — I have almost exclusively heard Little Pakistan associated with terror/ GWOT or terms that are even more derogatory. Places with large Bangladeshi/ Pakistani Populations are unfortunately usually termed as little India.
I have never heard of a little Bangladesh, Little Lanka,. Little Bhutan, Little Maldives, Little Afghanistan. , etc Nor apparently, has Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_named_ethnic_enclaves_in_North_American_cities Are there really neighborhood of “little other Subcontinental countries? or is this a case of Me too…
If there are no little Bangladesh’s anywhere, why will anyone care about renaming Korea town as little Bangladesh?
Rob,
don’t worry, some day you’ll get to say, “Though, personally, I kinda would like the Hindus to win this fight.”
I’ve spent a lot of time in K-town, and only really see other Desis near the border between K-town and the Latin-Byzantine quarter. Apparently I’ve overlooked a section.
I do not think the government should be acceding to any group claiming any area as Little Whatever. Endorsing a particular area as a preserve of a certain community seems discriminatory to me. Formal recognition as Koreatown or Little Bangladesh sets a precedent, which city governments can only follow in an arbitrary manner. When is an area Little X? When 7/10 businesses have an X connection? Can X only be a nation or ethnicity? Can it be a lifestyle? Tamiltown? Little Gay-sia (where gay-asians congregate)? Gothtown?
I am not against government-sponsored immigrant friendly services (bilingual education; legal aid and health care tailored to immigrant communities); it is completely legitimate to provide services in a form that taxpayers can utilize. The naming of a particular area should be limited to informal usage among citizens. Private citizens can call the area by its popular name, but government cannot be partial in this manner. Government documents or tourist guides might use neutral language like: The area around Smith Park, popularly known as Little Z, is an area with several restaurants and business run by people of Z origin.
This is kinda ironic because just a few years ago, the Koreans(i think) in Cerritos area organized a huge rally. The objective of the rally, to oppose the naming of a particular section of cerritos as little India. Their argument, there are people of a lot of other cultures around there too. I am not sure what was the outcome in the end, were they able to name it Little India in the end?
Korean BBQ Dosa truck anyone??!!
(yes, i realize dosa is south indian. still.)
I live in the area, and while the Bangladeshi community has clearly swollen in the last five years, there is no way that you could call the area from “Third Street to Wilshire Boulevard and Vermont Avenue to Western Avenue as “Little Bangladesh.” — they should have been more realistice and asked for a bangladesh street or alley designation for the stretch on Third from Vermont to Western. There are about 7 bangladeshi eateries in those 15 blocks. but it’s not like Jackson Heights or Artesia, where there are stores selling clothes and other back-home goodies. Though I have heard there is a makeshift mosque.
I don’t think that Bangladeshis run all the food joints in Toronto. Most of the well known food and grocery places are run by Indian Aga Khanis from Africa.
But, my favourite pasta chef in Toronto is Bangladeshi: http://www.flickr.com/photos/astuteobserver/429050466/
Korea Town is always known as Business and Entertainments. This is major reason Koreatown has no boundary. Koreatown will expand as Koreans make money and do business. Even Koreatown is multicultural environment it will always be Koreatown because majority of Business owners are Koreans.