The Mississippi Delta's Chinese American community

I love those Delta accents!

That was interesting!

I loved that video. Sort of heartbreaking, but also positive, in different ways. Thanks, OP!

Thank you, OP. Fascinating story.

Thanks OP. Sad to hear that the lady's brother was the victim of the armed robbery.

That was fun and Id love to sit and chat with Miss Daisy dukes while slinging down some gin and tonics ! Pure corn pone accents coming out of those faces just tickles me to no end.

As a " northerner" Chinese, hearing those accents is hysterical. We did have relatives from Georgia and they had the thickest southern accents.

I could listen to that lady talk all day.

"Are you ornamental?"

LOL, good old Mississippi.

I planned on only watching a little bit, and I watched the whole segment before I knew it. Good share.

What a great story about some very good people. I love that woman's unexpected slow drawl.

If you didn't watch: Chinese in the Mississippi delta region took the cotton-picking and farm jobs after slavery was abolished. In time, many became grocers. These Chinese grocers sold to both black and white customers, unlike most white-owned stores. In this era, Chinese were not allowed to own property, so many lived in the back of the stores they ran. They integrated and contributed to the communities in which they lived, but their outward appearance often still leads others to see them them as outsiders.

Their work ethic and commitment to family is inspiring.

That was wonderful.

nǐ hǎo, y'all!

Omg.

R13: i’m Sure you know, in Mandarin pronunciation, when two characters with 3rd tone run together, you pronounce the first character as if it’s in 2nd tone. This is because two 3rd tones pronounced together just sound too ‘low’ and displeasing to the ear.

^^ ALL that shit sounds displeasing to my Western ear!

[quote]"Are you ornamental?"

Ladies and gentlemen, behold! The people in real 'muricah who don't "live in a bubble" like us folk' on the coasts.

I don't know why they are still living in that shithole. Just move.

They live there because it's home and they love it there. Otherwise they would have left long ago. What's so hard to understand about that. Just because you don't like something does not necessarily mean everyone else is going to dislike it. Open you mind.

[quote]Open you[sic] mind.

Considering the majority of that region still hasn't managed to do this, that's why we're perplexed as to anyone, esp., non-whites *choosing* to stay there. Unless it's a financial situation.

R18 + r20 = idiots not understanding the concept of "home" and this, "Just because you don't like something does not necessarily mean everyone else is going to dislike it. "

It's not financial. At the very least they could move to the larger cities in the region, but old people don't like change, especially with their living arrangements. Even if they wish things were better in some respects they'll put up with it to keep things the way they're comfortable with. This is the life they've learned to enjoy. Leaving and going elsewhere would mean they'd have to start all over in a new environment with no guarantee things would actually be better.

I have a feeling R18 is very young. If he lives long enough he'll probably think back one day, maybe remembering this very topic, and think "how could I have thought that way?".

I spent the summer of 1985 in Greenville trying to get this little airline up and running. What an experience!

OP, that honey has as thick a delta accent as you can find

R21 = triggered hick

r26 = big bloated blowhard

Aww, still triggered, R27.

Come down, babe.

Calm*

But you can come and I'll make you feel better

^^ Still bloatin' 'n' blowin'. Stick a pin in it, shug.

Only when I have dairy. I'm lactose intolerant.

Oh Toots, you're intolerant of a lot more than titty juice.

No, I'm not. Been down there. I have family in NC/GA...

I understand plenty, R32.

People act like Chinese and other people who are obviously not "American" in appearance don't suffer discrimination in every city in America. Why do you think so many large cities end up with Chinatowns and Koreatowns, etc. It's because people gravitate to areas where they feel more safe from being mistreated than if they lived outside of these predominately Chinese and Korean neighborhoods. I've personally seen Asians being treated like crap by people of Italian heritage in New York City.

A lot them have moved r18. That is what they are saying, there are not a lot of them that remain.

There will always be some people that are ready to move on to better opportunities, and some people that want to remain where it is familiar and feels like home for them.

The young people leave. The old people stay as long as they're able to take care of themselves. When they get too old to do that they rely on their kids to move them closer to them.

I drove all around the deep south on a couple of road trips last summer, and I can definitely understand the appeal in many parts of it. I'm actually planning to go back I liked it so much.

When I was down there I did wonder why there were so many Asian owned businesses through rural Georgia. I wasn't expecting it, but I guess this helps explain it. I had no idea about this part of southern history.

Very interesting. Thanks OP.

OP, thanks for sharing that. The food looked good!

Such a great video! Thank you for posting it, OP.

I found it interesting that they ate Chinese food with forks. Not a chopstick in sight. I remember eating dinner at a Chinese restaurant in South Carolina. Only forks.