Tongs associations

Tongs are organized groups or associations that originated among Chinese immigrant communities, especially in the United States. They often formed for mutual support, cultural preservation, and social connection. However, some tongs became involved in criminal activities such as gambling, drug trafficking, and violence. While some functioned as benevolent organizations helping community members, others operated more like secret societies with a focus on illicit enterprises. Their structure can include leadership hierarchies and coded communication. Understanding tongs requires recognizing both their community support roles and the complex, sometimes illicit, activities they have been associated with historically.