Explore ‘Forgotten History’ Of Chinese Immigrants In Essex County

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Montclair History Center. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

The first Chinese settlement on the East Coast was in Belleville, NJ from 1870-1886. Most people, even in New Jersey, have never heard of the history of Belleville as the first Chinese settlement on the East Coast. Join educators and community leaders from AAPI New Jersey and Belleville Historical Society to learn more about this forgotten history. Professional development hours awarded to teachers who attend the session. This event will take place on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Register for the Zoom link here: https://events.humanitix.com/history-at-home-belleville-home-to-the-first-chinese-settlement-on-the-east-coast

Presenter Biographies

Roslyne Shiao is the Co-Executive Director of AAPI New Jersey and leads their Teach Asian American Stories initiative to support New Jersey educators implement the historic AAPI Curriculum Mandate. Roslyne lives in Montclair, NJ with her husband and two children.

Sulynn Miao, she/her, is a proud daughter of immigrants from Tianjin, China who grew up in Washington State and now resides on the unceded land of the Lisjan Ohlone people, known colonially as Oakland, California. She is a University of California, Berkeley alum with a background in education and mental health. Her experiences providing trauma-informed care for youth and families, leading school-based programs for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and coordinating vocational services for students, have all led her to the intersection of history, identity development, and intergenerational healing. As a current Curriculum & Program Consultant for AAPI New Jersey, Sulynn designs curriculum and educational resources, community programs, and professional development for educators to teach the stories of the Asian and Pacific Island diasporas. Sulynn is also pursuing a M.A. degree in Asian American Studies from San Francisco State University.

Michael Perrone is a lifelong resident of Belleville. His family arrived from Italy by ship on NewYear's Day 1956. He graduated from Belleville High School in 1975 and attended Rutgers University in Newark. The Perrone family has been in the mason contracting business for more than fifty years. Michael has been involved in community service and political activism since high school. He served for 15 years as an aide to the late New Jersey Assemblyman John V. Kelly. Michael has had a lifelong interest in history and has served as president of the Belleville Historical Society for the past ten years. He has had a keen interest in Chinese culture since his late teen years having explored everything from Chinese food and history to Tai Chi and Feng Shui. While always being aware that Belleville had been home to a Chinese community in the latter 19th century, he was stunned to discover in 2015 that the Belleville Chinese community was the first and most significant on the U.S. east coast. As a tribute to this Chinese community a monument was built in Belleville. Perrone has spent countless hours studying, speaking and writing about this unique history. as president of the Belleville Historical Society and due to his construction experience, Perrone and the Belleville Historical Society have restored scores of historical monuments throughout northern New Jersey for many years. These volunteer efforts have gained them widespread recognition including recent awards from the City of Newark and the Township of Montclair.

About the Montclair History Center: The Montclair History Center, formerly the Montclair Historical Society, is an independent not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1964. Montclair History Center shares stories of Montclair’s diverse and complex history through research, education, and programs. We connect the past with who we are today. For additional information, please visit the website www.montclairhistory.org or contact the Montclair History Center at 973-744-1796 or mail@montclairhistory.org.

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