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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 finding ways to survive.

This episode is more than history; it’s about the living, breathing legacy of immigrants in America. It’s about resilience, the cost of belonging, and why telling these stories matters now more than ever.

Listen in, and let’s make sure these stories don’t stay hidden

📖 Check out Nancy’s book at https://www.ethnohtec.org

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You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: [email protected]

Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound

Immigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.

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