Steven Chen

More than a century after the nation was born, and after abolishing slavery, America introduced a policy that blatantly targeted and discriminated against the Chinese – the Chinese Exclusion Act. Furthermore, this is the only law in American history that prohibited the immigration of a particular racial group. Why were the Chinese the target of such a law?

One hundred and twenty years ago, who founded the first organization to fight for the protection of rights of Chinese Americans? Who traveled across the country giving speeches to advocate for the Chinese to have equal rights in America? Who wrote countless media articles exposing those who slandered the Chinese, and testified in front of Congress in opposition of the Chinese Exclusion Act? And who engaged in open debate against anti-Chinese politicians, and was even willing to duel to the death?

His name was Wong Chin Foo (Wang Qingfu), and he has been referred to as the Martin Luther King Jr. for Chinese Americans. This pioneer advocate for the protection of rights of Chinese Americans fought his entire life for Chinese Americans to be treated equally. He did not undertake this effort alone. In 1892, he founded and went on to lead the Chinese Equal Rights League. He fought unwaveringly against the Chinese Exclusion Act.