0:00 - David begins the interview by discussing his purchase of a building on Bayard Street, Chinatown NY. David then talks about his arrival to the United States in 1926 and his experience going through immigration and staying at the detention center. David talks about arriving in New York in 1927-1928.
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9:50 - David talks about his father and what he did when he arrived in New York. David talks about working and living in the city in Chinatown and Harlem. He describes the large gambling and crime scene in the New York City during the start of the Great Depression.
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18:26 - In 1932 or 1933, David formed a partnership with a friend to start a laundry business. He remembers the start of the Sino-Japanese war and how it made him reconsider his plans to make money in the United States before returning to China. He committed to a life in the United States and married in 1942. David recalls facing discrimination when trying to rent a place to live, describing his experiences looking for an apartment in Italian and Jewish neighborhoods.
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29:46 - The interviewer inquires about David’s second laundry store and his experience living in wartime USA. David discusses how he was initially called to serve but was not eligible due to his older age. He also moved to Baltimore at this time but eventually returned because his wife was experiencing health issues. David resumed working in the laundry business in New York but faced increased competition leading to lower prices for laundry service.
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38:00 - In 1955 or 1956, David recalls that the laundry workers began organizing to request better pay, which led to a strike for a selection of dissatisfied workers. David helped lead and organize Chinese laundry workers to fight for better wages and coordinated with other organizations such as the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association.
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47:43 - David explains the difference between the Chinese Hand Laundry Association and the Chinese Hand Laundry Alliance and why there were two groups. He attributes the creation of two groups to political affiliation, with the Association appealing to Chinese workers with communist leanings while the Alliance was more closely tied to the CCBA and democracy. David also talks about garment unions, describing their initial start and also his opportunity to join one during the early days.
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54:16 - The interviewer inquires about the Shirt Pressers Association, and David describes how unions operated during his time as a worker. He goes into further detail about the Shirt Pressers Association, detailing their recreational activities and location on East Broadway. David is asked about a laundry ghost story before the audio is cut.
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