Sons of Chinatown: A Memoir Rooted in China and America

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Author William Gee Wong was born in Oakland, California’s Chinatown in 1941, the only son of his father, who was born in Guangdong Province, China, and emigrated to Oakland as a teenager during the Chinese Exclusion era in 1912. As the exclusion law ended in 1943, young William was assimilating into American life and developing his path as a journalist. Sons of Chinatown poignantly weaves these father and son stories together. Through the mirrored lens of his father, Wong reflects on the hardships Asian Americans endured. Wong’s inspiring memoir provides a personal history of the Asian American experience. Joining the author in conversation will be Grant Din, Board Member, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation.

This program is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of Verizon.