Oakland Chinatown’s first youth gang: The Suey Sing Boys

Abstract

Research concerned with Chinese gangs in the United States focuses on two sites, San Francisco and New York. This study examines Oakland Chinatown and the development of its first Chinese immigrant youth gang, the Suey Sing boys, during the five years from 1968-1973. I rely heavily on data from primary sources such as interviews with gang members and field observations. Key topics for investigation are the formation of the Suey Sing boys, the relationship of the youth gangs to the Chinatown social structure, and the relationship between gangs in Oakland and San Francisco.