Mott Street

Mott Street with fire escapes

Mott Street (Chinese: 勿街; Jyutping: Mat6gaai1) is a street in the Manhattan borough of New York City. The street is narrow, but very busy. It is considered the Main Street of Chinatown. Early immigrants were from Taishan, China. Later, more immigrants came from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Ah Ken was a businessman and first Chinese to settle in the area in the 19th century. The street has a history of gangs and is connected to gangs in popular culture. Cantonese gangs terrorized the town for 20 years.

In fiction

Several crime shows and gangster films have been shot on the street. Examples include The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II and Once Upon a Time in America, as well as an episode of Law & Order.

References

  1. ↑ Kwong, Peter (July 30, 1996). The new Chinatown – Peter Kwong – Google Books. ISBN 9780809015856. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
  2. ↑ Chan, Ming K.; Postiglione, Gerard A. (July 1, 1997). The Hong Kong reader: passage to ... – Ming K. Chan, Gerard A. Postiglione – Google Books. ISBN 9781563248702. Retrieved October 18, 2011
  3. ↑ Moss, Frank. The American Metropolis from Knickerbocker Days to the Present Time. London: The Authors' Syndicate, 1897. (pg. 403)
  4. ↑ Asbury, Herbert. The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the New York Underworld. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1928. (pg. 278–279) ISBN 1-56025-275-8