By Kenneth Hong
May 30, 2023
The threads of history are woven together in unexpected ways. My family's story is inextricably linked to that of a man who fought for his rights as a U.S. citizen. A man whose name I had never heard of until a few years ago. I owe my very existence to that man named Wong Kim Ark.
Wong was born on Sacramento Street in San Francisco in 1870. My great-grandfather, HONG Yin Ming was born a few blocks away on Washington Street that same year.* We don't know whether or not they ever met, but they lived almost identical lives.
|
|
|
Identification Photo of Wong Kim Ark on 1904 Immigration Affidavit (National Archives) |
Identification Photo of Hong Yin Ming on 1899 Immigration Affidavit (National Archives) |
|
|
Official Map of San Francisco Chinatown 1885, with Sacramento and Washington Streets Highlighted |
Keep reading to learn more about Wong's legacy and how it affected Hong Yin Ming and his descendants.
