70 years ago, Chinese social club gave teens a bond over culture, friendship
For Faye Chin, many things about growing up in Houston during the 1940s and ’50s have faded with time.
But, the Dragoneers social club is still vivid in her memory. The club was a group of Chinese teens and young adults who were bonded by their culture, religion and friendship.
“When we were kids, we definitely felt like the Dragoneers was a necessity,” said Chin, 85, a retired event planner and caterer. “Our parents wanted us to stick together so we wouldn’t forget our heritage. It gave a sense of continuity. We remained friends all of our lives.”
Now, in their 80s and 90s, some 25 Dragoneers recently reunited at Asia Society Texas for a special celebration of age, culture and Chin’s birthday, which is in August but was rescheduled multiple times due to the pandemic. Henry Gee, at 98, was the oldest member at the party.
There were about 75 Dragoneers over the years. Members had to be at least 14 to join.
They attended different schools, where each was often the only Asian student in his or her classes, but they saw each other every week at the Chinese Baptist Church, which was then located near downtown and was formed as part of the Chinese immigrant mission of First Baptist Church. After services, they gathered together as Dragoneers to dance, bowl, play sports and hang out, like kids do.
Sometimes, they took trips to San Antonio, New Orleans and even Mississippi to meet other Chinese kids. They even had an official publication called the “Yip Yap.” Their activities, including the election of officers, as well as their sentiments about China and the Korean War, made the Houston Post’s society column.
The Dragoneers carved out a place in Houston’s cultural landscape as first-generation Americans. Their parents immigrated to the U.S. from China. Some came to Houston by way of California, others arrived to escape the cold of Detroit and other Northern cities. They lived in neighborhoods scattered across the city; Chin was raised on the city’s north side.
They mostly worked in the grocery or restaurant busiheritage, nesses. Some families lived in the back of the stores.
Chin’s family operated two grocery stories, three restaurants — including the Lai Jan Tea Room at Westheimer and Mandell — and a Chinese gift shop.
“We all worked, went to school and to church, but we never owned our business. Discrimination then wouldn’t allow it,” she said.
To understand life then, consider that the 1960 Census recorded no one from Japan, Korea, India or Vietnam living in Houston.
There were 325 Chinese Houstonians that year — even fewer when Chin was a girl, she said. The Japanese who came to the Houston were mostly located in Webster; a small group of rice farmers lived near what is now Mykawa Road, which was named for Shinpei Mykawa, a Japanese naval officer and rice farmer.
It’s hard to imagine Houston, a melting pot of culture, without such ethnic diversity. It’s also impossible to imagine the Dragoneers didn’t directly face some hate because of their given the history of racism in this country.
“Everyone talks about the prejudice during that time, but I don’t remember it. I think my dad would not allow us to be subjected to any prejudice,” Chin said.
Irene Joe, 85, a retired elementary school teacher, said the Dragoneers was formed because Asians were not allowed to go to white social events.
“My mother and father also didn’t want us to get into trouble,” she said. “They wanted us to stay active and meet other Chinese people. It was to keep our culture and customs going. They also wanted us to marry Chinese. That was a big thing.”
In many ways, the Dragoneers reflect my own adolescence.
I participated in activities offered by social clubs, like Jack and Jill, which was started in 1938 by Black mothers who were prohibited from joining whites-only social clubs. The mothers, much like these Chinese parents, wanted to provide cultural and social experiences for their children and a safe social place where they felt a sense of belonging.
Both Chin and Joe said they learned about hard work from their parents — and about friendship from the Dragoneers.
“It’s wonderful to see everyone after all these years,” Joe said. “We all have gray hair now.”