Chinatown Family Portrait: 22 Years of Storytelling
A Family’s Story of resilience and Displacement in New York City
A photographic chronicle captures the evolving life of a Chinese American family navigating the challenges of urban change in New York City. The project initially documented the vibrant daily routines of the Lam family within their Lower East Side apartment, a space defined by its characteristic density and communal living. As time progressed, the photographs reflect a shift in tone, mirroring the family’s experiences with loss, economic pressures, and the changing landscape of their neighborhood.
The family faced important hardship with the passing of Granny and Bo. Following their deaths, Shirley Lam returned to her childhood home, a poignant return amidst a period of upheaval. the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 also created a prolonged gap in documenting the family’s life, underscoring the disruptions of the era.
Concurrently, the Lower East Side underwent rapid conversion. The building itself was subject to renovations, and long-term Chinese residents were increasingly displaced by new, higher-paying tenants. This trend reflects broader gentrification patterns across New York City, documented by organizations like the Metropolitan Council on Housing, which tracks displacement and tenant rights.
A Fight for Legacy and a Return to Roots
In 2021, Shirley Lam undertook a legal battle to preserve the apartment inherited from her grandparents, Granny and Bo, taking the case to housing court. A striking image from this period depicts Shirley standing defiantly on the tenement stairs, dressed in patriotic colors and holding an orange – a conventional Chinese symbol of good luck.Despite her efforts, Shirley lost the housing court case.
The photographs reveal a deeply personal impact of this loss. One image shows Shirley back in the bunkbed of her childhood,listening to saved voicemails from Bo,a moment of wistful remembrance and connection to the past. This intimate scene underscores the emotional weight of displacement and the enduring power of family ties.
Evolving Family Dynamics
Beyond the immediate challenges, the project also charts the individual journeys of family members. Children pursued higher education, with some establishing lives in New Jersey and the Bronx. Shirley, meanwhile, deepened her connections with her patients, who became an extended family network. The evolving arrangement of the apartment-with screens, computers, and furniture creating pockets of privacy-reflects the growing independence of the lam children.
The photographic series serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of the Lam family and a visual record of the forces shaping New York City’s communities. It highlights the complex interplay of personal narratives, economic pressures, and urban development.