300: Forgotten Stories

This episode is sponsored by Bilt Rewards- go to JoinBilt.com/Immigrantly to get started Some stories demand to be told. This one, in particular, struck me deeply. I sat down with Nancy Wang, a storyteller, artist, and author of Red Altar, to talk about her ancestors—Chinese immigrants who helped build California’s fishing industry against all odds. Their ingenuity, their fight against racist laws, and their sheer will to survive felt eerily familiar. As we spoke, I found myself reflecting on the weight of legacy. How many immigrant stories like Nancy’s have been erased? How many sacrifices did it take for communities like hers and mine to thrive in a country that often tries to erase our presence? Nancy shared how her ancestors were banned from fishing during the day, forcing them to innovate by using fire baskets to catch squid at night. They were resilient, determined, and unwilling to be erased. As she spoke, I couldn’t help but think of today’s immigrants facing exclusion and f...