Chinese laborers were once the backbone of Napa Valley. Throughout the 1800s, they toiled in the grape fields, hop farms, leather tanneries, and laundries, and carved out neighborhoods in towns throughout the Valley. These contributions did little to deter discrimination and Anti-Chinese Leagues sprang up to harass and intimidate immigrants like Chan Wah Jack, who ran the successful Sang Lung store in Napa's Chinatown. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act hastened the decline of local Chinatowns and these once vibrant communities disappeared while the industries they helped to foster flourished. Join John McCormick and Lafayette City Council Member Wei-Tai Kwok as they uncover the forgotten contributions of the Chinese people in California's most famous wine region as part of the Sweet Thursday Author Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 11 in Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library where McCormick will also discuss his book, "The Chinese in Napa Valley: The Forgotten Community that Built Wine Country."
This is a free event, but registration is required at Tinyurl.com/sweet-May23. The doors will be open at 6:30 p.m. for coffee and treats and Orinda Books will be selling copies of the book after the presentation. This program will be presented in-person or via Zoom livestream.
This is a free event, but registration is required at Tinyurl.com/sweet-May23. The doors will be open at 6:30 p.m. for coffee and treats and Orinda Books will be selling copies of the book after the presentation. This program will be presented in-person or via Zoom livestream.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA