Date of Award

Spring 5-19-2024

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Major

International Studies

First Advisor

Keavy McFadden

Second Advisor

Garth A. Myers

Abstract

Hartford has been recognized as a global city through its diverse ethnic population and cultural formations consisting of Native American, Black, Latinx, Puerto Rican, and Afro-Caribbean communities. Yet, scholars have not yet fully explored Asian and Asian-American community formations in Hartford and how these communities have contributed to Hartford’s global interconnectedness. Through my senior thesis research, I aim to address this gap by highlighting the importance of Asian community formations through Asian-owned business and food practices in the Hartford region.

In this context, my research asks: How are Asian diasporic and Asian-American community formations visible in Hartford through culturally-related businesses and socioeconomic practices? What transnational linkages are made in Asian-owned businesses surrounding food and food culture? How do these businesses contribute to the visibility of smaller Asian populations in Hartford as a global city and Connecticut? In this project, I analyze three Southeast Asian diasporas: Vietnamese, Filipino, and Thai.

For the methodology of my research, I first reviewed the data pertaining to Asian immigration and Asian-owned food businesses in the U.S. and Connecticut to establish the context of my research. I then engaged in archival research from The Hartford Courant to explore how Vietnamese, Filipino, and Thai communities have been reported on by the local media. Finally, I conducted nine semi-structured interviews with Asian food business owners between December 2023 and February 2024.

By combining these three methodologies, I weave a storytelling narrative throughout this project with personal histories from the individuals, families, and businesses from Vietnamese, Filipino, and Thai backgrounds to share in the intimate stories of culture, displacement, immigration, and identity. Asian-owned food businesses in Hartford can offer insights into the histories of Asian immigration, entrepreneurship, familial aspirations, and transnational diasporic crossings that are not easily visible in the historical documentation of Asian diasporic communities.

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