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Interview with Audrey Boutte and Agnes Tebo
Audrey Boutte; Agnes Tebo; and California State University, Monterey Bay
The majority of the content is the story of Audrey Boutte and Agnes Tebo's lives. It begins with their descriptions of moving from Louisiana and Texas and coming to Salinas. Agnes speaks about the need for a job and how much better California pays compared to Texas, and Audrey speaks about the standard of living improving greatly compared to Louisiana. Both Agnes and Audrey briefly speak about the racial discrimination that they and their families experienced both in Salinas and in Texas and Louisiana. Chinatown is spoken about sparingly throughout the interview because it is a sensitive subject for Audrey because it was one of her father’s favorite places to visit and he recently passed away. It seemed to be the only "hotspot" around the area and it is where many different races intermingled with each other white eating out, gambling, drinking and sometimes even fighting. The end of the interview goes into detail about the racial discrimination of not being able to purchase a lot or house anywhere in Salinas and how tough it was to purchase a house and having to have it moved across town.
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Interview with Annette "China" Brooks
Annette "China" Brooks and California State University, Monterey Bay
China is a black, bisexual, formerly homeless, recovering drug addict, and homeless relief worker at the @Risk Cafe on Soledad street in Salinas, California. Her story takes her from growing up in nearby Seaside, coping with an absentee father and a drug addicted mother, to having her own children and dealing with her own addictions in Chinatown, and eventually to recovery. She comes from a large family, being a girl among thirteen brothers, she lived a tough life. Her mother's addictions had an influence on her and she became addicted to drugs and street life as a teenager. She eventually went to jail, and when she came out in the 1980s she discovered Salinas Chinatown. She spent nearly 20 years living in the streets of Chinatown, and she describes her story in detail including, crime, prostitution, and violence. Her story is reflective and also encompasses a lot of the modem history of Soledad street. Her story is mirrored by many stories of drug addiction and crime in Chinatown. It captures some of the essence of the people living there now. She talks about community, drug use, and her eventual recovery. Nearing the end of her story, she describes why after all this time she has elected to stay in Chinatown, and why she continues to do so now. It is her belief that it assists her recovery, and gives her a sense of fulfillment and belonging to continue to work in Chinatown
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Interview with Carolyn Chavez
Carolyn Chavez and California State University, Monterey Bay
Carolyn Chavez, having to live in Salinas all her life, shares with me the history of Salinas that she remembers. She tells us about her parents and their agricultural background. Carolyn being the only child in her family, finds acceptance and joy in the Chavez family. She tells us about her memories of a restaurant located and owned by her mother-in-law called "the Alfaro's." Despite focusing on the negative, Carolyn focuses on the positive. She remembers a town that everybody accepted one another and lived in a harmony. Carolyn, avoids talking about conflicts nor her time's issues. She wishes for the best of Chinatown and gets fascinated by the idea of making Chinatown the new Santana Row.
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Interview with Carol Cisneros
Carol Cisneros and California State University, Monterey Bay
Carol Cisneros recalls her childhood memories of Chinatown in Salinas, California from the 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's. She emphasizes that her memories came from a child's point of view. She begins by telling us about her family history. Carol's father and Mother were born in Japan, but her mother was raised in Sacramento. Her parents got married in 1932 and came to US that same year or following year. Cisneros grew up with twelve siblings, she was number ten. Although her family was poor, Cisneros’s father owned a garage on California Street across the Buddhist Temple. She mentions that as a teenager her father attended mechanic school in Missouri where he learned that trade. Cisneros reflects back on the past on how all their daily activities were centered with school and church, whether it was sports or any other kind of social activity. Overall, she feels her family was fortunate to own a home and a garage in those difficult times. Cisneros remembers Chinatown through a child's point of view. She recalls Chinatown as being a, “forbidden type of a place”. The only places she remembers attending in Chinatown were to the Japanese and Chinese market in Chinatown. As a child she would run right through Chinatown to get to the market because there were bars and sometimes drunk people. She also remembers attending the Republic Cafe with her family to eat or take out. They would usually go to the Republic Cafe after Church activities. Cisneros describes Chinatown as being run down with not many families living there anymore and a lot of empty buildings. Although she saw Chinatown as a forbidden place she was amused by it and never felt scared. Page|2 Carol Cisneros tells us about her family experiences and stories of the internment camps. Although she was born after the internment camp era, her family was sent to the internment camps including the first five children. She also has two siblings that were born in the internment camps. She mentions that her father learned to play Gaul at the internment camps and later competed in the tournaments in San Francisco. Afterward, Carol would hear the horror stories of the internment camps in Arizona where the winters were cold and the summers were hot. She remembers hearing the stories of there being a lot of sand and dust. And that in between the slats of wood there would be air coming through. So, her family had to stuff them to keep the dirt and sand out. Overall, Cisneros mentions that her siblings and parents didn't speak much about that era, but she feels that her family members met a lot of people and built long lasting friendships. Cisneros reflects on the internment camp experience. She feels her family was fortunate enough to own a garage and a home. She knows there were a lot of wonderful people in Salinas who were able to take care of their property, garage, home, and items. Nothing was lost or stolen. After the war ended her family was able to come back to Salinas. But she feels the Japanese lost dignity of being U.S citizens and being incarcerated for things that they had nothing to do with. Overall, the worst thing was to have to rebuild their lives, and rebuilt trust from other people. Cisneros compares Chinatown now to how it used to be. She mentions that Chinatown is now deteriorating and it has become a very dangerous place. She mentions that now she sees “outright prostitution, drug dealing...hypodermic needles...and you see people actually attacking and preying on people...It’s a lot scarier place. A lot more dangerous.” She speaks about the huge problem in Chinatown. About how there are not only drug dealers, but people with mental problems. She explains that there’s not enough state-run hospitals to help treat and accommodate those people anymore. She emphasizes that to solve the problem we will need big cooperative effort from the city, state, and federal. Lastly Cisneros tells us a bit about the history of the Buddhist Temple and her involvement in it. The temple was built in 1924. It was a religious as well as ethnic place to meet social needs. She explains that the new architecture is modem in that it’s a new chapel, but it reflects the architecture of old Japan. Apparently, Cisneros read that during the war there were a lot of ears of Japanese living in the U.S who were going to be helping or signaling Japan through the bell. Therefore, they lowered the bell to show U.S that they weren't going to use it to signal anyone. Cisneros speaks about her father being the only one who owned the heavy equipment to lower the bell. Thus, they were able to preserve the bell for so many years. Cisneros involvement in the Temple started off as a young child attending Sunday school and Youth Group. Once she had children she started taking her kids to Sunday school. Slowly as they needed volunteers Cisneros got more involved with the Temple. She first volunteered to be a Sunday school teacher, then a Youth Group Advisor, next Women’s Group and finally a Board Member of the Temple. Overall, she enjoys giving back to the community and being very involved.
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Interview with Bill Crites
Bill Crites and California State University, Monterey Bay
In this Interview, Mr. Bill Crites was asked many questions about his life. He went back to talking about his life many times, it was apparent to me his family was very important to him and there was a definite family theme throughout the whole interview. Growing up in Salinas and Los Gatos, CA, he remembered his experiences with both great detail and with the capability to tell stories about certain aspects of his life. He discusses the atmosphere of his home life and what his parents were like while growing up on Highland Drive, in Salinas, CA. He referred to his childhood multiple times throughout the interview. Mr. Crites described the games him and his brothers played as they were growing up as well as the atmosphere of his home with all of his brothers and sister. Salinas is a changing town, but as he explains the town, he goes back and says multiple times how Salinas was a “small town” and the way it is not anymore. Mr. Crites described the town as a place where everyone knew everyone. The city of Salinas had one high school, which was Salinas High School which is still in its original location. He also talked about some of his memories of being in high school and the impact of having to find a part-time job so he could have some extra spending money.
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Interview with Barbara Fabella
Barbara Fabella and California State University, Monterey Bay
Barbara shares her interesting and unique experiences of Chinatown. Her memories as a young child of two are extremely vivid. Barbara describes her living situation using the term Farmed out. She tells stories about the various families living in and around Soledad Street. She recalls the different experiences she had with each of the families and this has helped her be more open minded and accepting of different nationalities and customs. Every family she lived with as well as the people she encountered in all of her homes, including the Republic Hotel, the Royal Hotel and the Black Cat, are described in detail. In her interview Barbara also talks about what Chinatown was like. She gives detailed descriptions of the prostitutes and the Johns as if they were right in front of her. Her stories of Chinatown included descriptions of the buildings as well as the kinds of people she would see every day. Barbara mentions the military men and hobos, as well as the people she knew from the shops and hotels. Barbara gave a complete picture of the overall community of Chinatown and felt connected to it in many ways. Although she does say a bit about her mother and history, Barbara says more about her Childhood memories in Chinatown. In addition, Barbara shares what she would like to see done with the revitalization project.
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Interview with Alex Fabros
Alex Fabros and California State University, Monterey Bay
Mr. Alex Fabros is a Filipino American born in the Philippines to a Filipino mother and a Filipino father who was serving in the Military. Although he was born in the Philippines, at age 2 his parents brought him to the Unites States, a journey he remembers. Fabros was an "Army brat" until the age of 14. He lived in Germany and Colorado military stations going back and forth from one another. His family finally settled in Salinas when Fabros was 14 and grew up around this area in the 1950's and 1960's. As a child he and his family faced discrimination and intimidation from Whites, particularly his neighbors since Fabros's father bought a house on the White part of town not in Chinatown. Although he did not live in Chinatown Fabros and his family would often be there. They would be at the Social Bach's, playing poker, or getting haircuts. All the older men his dad would hang out with would be referred to as uncles even if they were not technically blood uncles. Fabros attended the local public schools in Salinas. During elementary he faced a lot of racism from other kids and his father taught him to fight and to not take no "Crap" from anyone. During high school Fabros was having "issues" and hated being there. He mentions a disconnect between American born and raised Filipinos and the Filipino kids who recently immigrated from the Philippines. Fabros ultimately stayed and finished high school. He attends Hartnell College but then drops out because he feels school is not for him. Fabros begins working in the Fields because father makes him since he is not enrolled in school. He saw the harsh brutal working conditions first hand. He got to be part of major strikes although he was not very aware or interested their meaning. He met Larry Itleong, a famous Filipino Labor organizer and Cesar Chavez. While in Delano shortly after a short strike where the Mexican and Filipino laborers joined forces in the labor movement he received a draft letter. He is flown to San Diego for boot camp. He receives training and joins up with his cousin who also got sent. He is then sent for further training here at the DLI in Monterey. He is finally sent to Vietnam as a Sergeant where he saw and made connections to the local Vietnamese. He begins to critically think and reflect during the Vietnam War and is disgusted at the "Sin" he saw in his native country of the Philippines when stationed there. Fabros returns from the war and begins working with the community and labor organizations. He gives a detailed explanation to why Salinas was the start of the Civil Rights movement for Filipino's. He summarizes his explanation and gives a message to the younger Filipino community of a sense of history and obligation to keep fighting and standing for their rights just like the first Filipino Americans did.
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Interview with Albert Fong (2012)
Albert Fong and California State University, Monterey Bay
The primary focus of this interview centered around Chinatown with an emphasis on the Republic Cafe. Mr. Fong's attention to detail leads the interview through many different time periods and subjects as his recollection takes him to different places. Mr. Fong begins the interview with discussing the Republic Cafe, and moves into recollection about what Chinatown was like as a young man. Throughout his interview, we are given anecdotes about his family, the history of Chinatown or stories from the Republic Cafe. We find that much of his father's history is unknown, but what is known Mr. Fong gives us as much detail as he can. Historical detail is placed more on dates and people, while Mr. Fong offers stories of depth when discussing the community and his family. His attention to detail is most prominent when discussing the Republic Cafe, and the community surrounding it, and how it all worked as a whole. By being a part of the process, Fong had an inside look which he is willing to share. Mr. Fong discusses the workings of different Republic Cafe events, and what it was like working at the Republic Cafe during things like large Chinese New Year's banquets. Mr. Fong offers much personal insight as to what it was like growing up not only as a Chinese American, son of Chinese immigrants, but also what it was like to grow up in Salinas' Chinatown. Here, Fong gives insight to the dynamics of his family and who they were.
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Interview with Bill Young
Bill Young and California State University, Monterey Bay
The Interview starts with what Mr. Young knows about his family coming over from China where he is not fairly lucid of his early memories then jumps around to different points, such as his time working in the Salinas Drive-in market to when he was in the military, then back to Salinas, back to the military and then back to Salinas, each time going to a different period in time. His stories about World War Two are just as lucid as his stories of Korea and he recalls family history of his grandfather being a merchant, that his grandmother was his grandfather's second wife, and that she lived with them briefly just as clearly. Near the end we go over some picture boards he made highlighting the military services of his family as well as the campaign he waged to reduce the sentences of some Marines who killed some Vietnamese laborers with a pamphlet he made called "An Act of Kindness". After the bulk of the interview is over, the interviewer thanks him for his service, which is playfully denied as "Bullshit" showing the spunk and energy of the 84-year-old.
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