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The Chinese migrants chasing an American dream

Hugo Wong shares the personal stories of two young men who left China in the late 19th century for the riches of California, encountering both opportunity and prejudice

Published: February 23, 2024 at 7:07 AM

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What led two teenagers from Canton province in China to emigrate to California in the late 19th-century? And what lives awaited them on America's west coast? Speaking to Elinor Evans, Hugo Wong discusses the interlocking stories of two of his ancestors, who left China as young men in the late 19th century for the riches of California. Met by both opportunity and prejudice, they later helped to establish a Chinese settlement in Mexico, with their descendants forging new cultural ties.

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Hugo Wong is the author of America's Lost Chinese: The Rise and Fall of a Migrant Family Dream (C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd, 2023)

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Authors

Elinor EvansHead of digital (web and video)

Elinor Evans is head of digital (web and video)

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