Building Strong Communities on Cultural Foundations

TO:  Kathy Kolnick, Professor

FROM: Beatrice “Tippe” Morlan, PPD 417 Student

DATE: February 23, 2010

SUBJECT: Building Strong Communities on Cultural Foundations

Thais are a historically marginalized ethnic group here in America. One could call them a “minor” minority whose members do not conform to the typical Asian American stereotype.  They are the most heavily trafficked ethnic group within the United States according to the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report, and Thais do not have enough political clout to raise very much awareness of these and other struggles they face. The United Way estimates that 50,000 or more Thais living on the West Coast are undocumented, and this has fostered a sense of transiency and lack of community among most of them living in America.

Institution building through understanding the history of Thai Americans is greatly helping the community to build a stronger sense of solidarity and pride (Abbott and Adler 1989), something that has been needed for a long time. Ever since the official designation of Thai Town in 1998 by the Los Angeles City Council, community members have had a concrete place to call their own, a place to rally around in Los Angeles and a place to teach and learn about the history of their community. The Thai American “group identity” grows stronger each day with increasing education and awareness being exchanged between the Thai and American cultures (Abbott and Adler 1989). The historical analysis of 

Thai Town improves understanding of the transnational Thai American culture allowing community members, politicians, and many others to more easily recognize and respond to their needs.

The federal designation of Thai Town as a cultural tourist attraction in 2008 through the Preserve America white house initiative was a “critical decision moment” for Thais as it enabled the community to better serve its members through increased funding and services. This project is paving the way for future policy options through increased awareness on a national scale and access to funds to support community-based initiatives (Johnson and Schaffer 1985). It is so essential for ethnic groups to learn of and identify with their history, especially within the context of the places they reside. This allows them to function more successfully as a part of a larger community. Without such awareness, it can be difficult for others to understand the role such ethnic groups have in society as well. This is why cultural tourism within our own country is a critical tool for using history to expand people’s knowledge of and interactions with one another.

As a Thai American, I am grateful to be so involved in my culture now that I have found my place in Thai Town, Los Angeles amongst others like myself. I have been fortunate to have a role in Thai American history through my involvement with the Thai Community Development Center working on many of these initiatives. My understanding of my own culture and its place in the context of American cities is just beginning to grow as I work to improve the conditions of the Thai American community in any way I can.