New York City's Chinatown is a very lively and densely populated neighborhood. Many people are attracted to the area's numerous Chinese and Southeast Asian food establishments. The energetic and popular Chinatown of today is a major contrast to the early crime-affiliated Chinatown of the late 19th century. Prior to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, many Chinese men immigrated to the United States for work. A good portion of them settled in New York City, more specifically in the streets of Mott, Pell, and Bayard. The Chinese population would eventually expand and form the area that we know today as Chinatown. Unfortunately, Chinese immigrants faced many hardships. The passing of the Chinese Exclusion Act displayed the country's racially charged fears against Chinese immigrants, who many believed were robbing Americans of their jobs. As a result, Chinese immigrants were limited to jobs in laundromats or restaurants. Many of those who didn't work in these fields ended up joining gangs as a means of survival. Two of the most notorious gangs that came to power in Chinatown were the HIP Sing Tong, and the On Long Tong. These gangs ran a variety of establishments, like opium dens, entertainment centers, and even illegal prostitution rings. Launforcement was virtually absent from the area, which is why most of the violence that would soon take over Chinatown would go unpunished. This is Doyer Street. Back in the 1900s, this street was filled with tall, tenement buildings, gambling bars, and opium dens, among other things. But what made this street more significant was that it used to be the most peaceful street during the time of the gangs. The popular Chinese theater, which used to be located here on 5-7 Doyer Street, was even declared a safe and neutral ground. However, on one summer night, this neutral ground would no longer be safe. On the night of August 7, 1905, members of both gangs packed into the Chinese theater to watch a play. The audience of approximately 500 people were calmly watching the show when all of a sudden someone threw lit firecrackers onto the stage. With everyone distracted, a couple of HIP Sing members took out their pistols and shot and killed three on Long Tong members. The killers escaped, probably from one of the many underground tunnels that branched out from Doyer Street, and nobody was ever charged for these crimes. This night marked the start of a long and deadly war between the two Tong gangs. Chinatown grew much more violent, and one area in particular became known as the Bloody Angle. This sharp bend on Doyer Street was a sight of many deadly murders. Gangsters would hide on different sides of this angle and attack their victims with bullets or with hatchets. These streets used to literally be soaking in blood. In fact, in a 1994 New York Times article, law enforcement officials stated that more people died violently at the bloody angle than at any other street intersection in the United States. Over time, various peace negotiations were attempted, and the violence did stop for a while. However, this didn't last for a long due to the emergence of new gangs and other issues. But that story is for another time. For now, let's walk around and enjoy the delicious food and wonderful Chinese culture that's been preserved here. Thanks for watching!