Chinese American Citizens Alliance
The Chinese American Citizens Alliance plays a significant role in the history of Chinese Americans. Chinese were brought to this country in great numbers as cheap labor to help build the railroads, later became this country's scapegoats when poor economic conditions and high unemployment became prevalent.
Against this backdrop, a small group of young Chinese Americans, born and raised in the United States, assembled in San Francisco and decided that they would have to take matters into their own hands if they were going to combat this sentiment and accelerate the process of assimilation. They found that they not only had to fight the hostile public opinion against their Chinese ancestry, but they also had to overcome the skepticism of their own elders who felt that these young upstarts were becoming too Americanized and were forgetting the ideals of the old country. Despite this opposition, this group of Chinese Americans believed in the importance of their American birth and felt that they nevertheless had a role to play in shaping this country.
Thus, the fraternal order of the Native Sons of the Golden State came into existence in San Francisco. First incorporated in the State of California by Chun Dick in 1895, the group was later reorganized in 1904 by Walter U. Lum, Joseph K. Lum, and Ng Gunn. By 1912, other Chinese Americans in communities outside of San Francisco learned of the organization and wanted to form local chapters. Membership in the organization was at first confined to Chinese males born within the State of California, but as more and more requests came to establish branches elsewhere, it became apparent that a complete reorganization was necessary. Therefore, in 1915 "Chinese American Citizens Alliance" was born.
From that small group of men in San Francisco, the Alliance grew into a national organization with 16 lodges today, including one here in Oakland. Annual activities held in the Oakland Lodge are: installation of the Board of Officers in January, National Essay Contest in March, local scholarship evaluation in May, anniversary celebration in June, senior luncheon and flag rising on Fourth of July, picnic with Veterans of Foreign Wars in September, and New Year’s Eve dinner-dance with the community. They promote voters registration and support local non-profit organizations. They also sponsor line dancing and tai chi classes at Lincoln Square Center. More information can be found in their website www.cacanational.org.
CACA Oakland Lodge installation dinner January 2010