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Gee Family of Houston

The Gee family, is a notable Chinese-American family in Houston, Texas. Their shared surname, Gee (朱), developing strong community ties, marked by their historical impact on job creation through innovation in the grocery business which allowed them to have a large impact on the growing Asian American community in Houston.

Cultural Integration and Community Building

The Gees were able to integrate and succeed both culturally and financially by embracing their Chinese heritage alongside Western cultural norms. Their involvement in community institutions like the Chinese Baptist Church helped them overcome economic and racial barriers while adapting to new social and cultural values.

C.Y. Chu (C.Y. Gee)

C.Y. Chu, also known as Chu Yu-choi (朱汝才) and Chu Gim-sam (朱兼三), was a prominent Chinese American figure and entrepreneur in the United States, particularly known for his significant contributions to the Chinese community in Houston, Texas.

C.Y. Chu was born in 1901 in Taishan County, Guangdong China. He obtained a scholarship from Lingnan University (Guangzhou) in China to attend Berkeley College in Stanford, California, to study business in 1918. After completing his education in California, Chu began his career in Texas, initially hired by Chinese grocers in San Antonio as a language tutor. In 1924, he moved to Houston and ventured into the grocery business.​​

C.Y. Chu, alongside his brother Wanto Chu, established a chain of grocery stores in the city. This business venture not only served as the stepping stone for the Gee families' financial success, but also played a pivotal role in assisting new Chinese immigrants in Houston. The Chu brothers' stores allowed Chinese immigrants who had recently immigrated to the United States to raise money and continue working or eventually franchise under the Chu's business.​​

The business model was unique and forward-thinking for its time. C.Y implemented an apprenticeship system, recruiting Chinese workers from other parts of the United States or directly from China. Newcomers would pay their costs through their wages and eventually earn shares in the grocery chain. The Chu brothers' operations also ensured that a member of the family would always be managing the store at the front.

Wanto Chu (Wanto Gee)

Wanto Chu emerged as a key entrepreneur and community leader within Houston's early 20th-century Chinese immigrant community. He significantly impacted the Chinese community in Houston through his business ventures and community involvement. Wanto Chu was born in the 1890s in Guangdong Province, China. He migrated to the United States, initially studying in New York before being invited by his brother, C.Y. Chu, to Houston,Texas.

After moving from New York to Houston Wanto decided to join his brother in business. Together, they opened a chain of grocery stores, which played a crucial role in assisting new Chinese immigrants in Houston. These grocery stores not only served as a business venture but also as a means to welcome and support other Chinese newcomers, integrating them into the local community​​.

In addition to the grocery business he ran with his brother, Wanto Chu was one of the founders of the Gee Family Association in Houston and served as its first president. The Association, aims to provide assistance to Chinese immigrant families in Houston through community life, social, cultural, and business endeavors.

Jane Eng Gee

Jane Eng was born April 6, 1921, in a Hispanic neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas Her early years were spent working in her family's store, where she developed a strong work ethic and an understanding of business operations from a young age. Living above the store with her six siblings, Jane Eng was immersed in a multicultural environment, which shaped her perspectives and interactions with diverse communities.

Her direct involvement with the families' economic activity opened doors to wider contacts and greater opportunities, not only for her family but also for the Chinese-American community in Houston. She played a crucial role in navigating the complexities of running family businesses, including making crucial financial decisions, such as investments, expansion plans, and budget allocations, especially during a time when the roles of women in business were often limited or unrecognized. Jane would continue using her business acumen to found her own realty company, the Jane Gee Realty Company.

Beyond her business pursuits, Jane Eng Gee was deeply involved in community building and cultural integration in Houston. Her leadership and advocacy were exemplified by her election as the first female president of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA). In this role, she was instrumental in encouraging voter registration among the Chinese community and assisting Chinese grocery store owners with obtaining health cards, a state requirement for food-related establishments.

Additionally, she played a significant role in organizing the Houston Miss Chinatown pageant, an event that began informally in the 1960s. jane was instrumental in incorporating scholarships into the pageant, providing young Chinese-American women with an educational and social opportunity.

Yick Grocery Stores Stores

The Yick Stores, a chain of grocery stores established by the Gee family, notably C.Y. and Wanto Chu, played a crucial role in empowering the Chinese American community in Houston, particularly during the era of the Jim Crow laws. As the first example of Chinese commercialization in Houston, the stores served as a first step towards cultural integration into American society.

Establishment and Significance

The Yick Stores, (including Jun Yick, Young Yick, and Sun Yick), were founded with a philosophy deeply rooted in traditional Chinese values. The name 'Yick' (益), meaning 'advantage' or 'improvement', reflected the values of straightforwardness, sincerity, and abundant knowledge. This ethos was integral to the stores' operations and their role in the community​​.

During the Jim Crow era, when Racial segregation was prevalent, Chinese grocers occupied a unique social and racial niche. The Yick Stores, operating mainly in "Colored" areas, fostering a positive relationship with the African American community. Both groups, marginalized and excluded from white neighborhoods and credit systems, found a mutual support system. The Yick Stores, unlike larger grocery chains, extended credit to their local customers, many of whom were African Americans, thus playing a pivotal role in sustaining the community​​.

The Chu brothers, including Wanto, became the primary financiers for the local Chinese population, providing loans and financial support at a time when Chinese individuals could not access credit from white-owned banks. This financial assistance was crucial for many in the Chinese community to establish themselves and thrive despite the discriminatory local regulations​​.