1850-1882: A Chinese American Origin Story—A Book Talk with Veronica Li

Thursday, July 23, 2026 5-7 pm FREE Join author Veronica Li for a timely discussion of her new book, 1882: A Gold Mountain Odyssey. In this historical novel about the first wave of Chinese immigrants to the U.S., we follow their journey through the gold rush, building the U.S. railroad system, and the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Through this story, we will learn about the courage and resilience of these early Chinese Americans, and their assertion of belonging in the United States. Veronica will be joined by Sue Lee to discuss Chinese American history, political advocacy, the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, and the ongoing impact this “origin story” has on current immigration policy today. This event is co-presented by the Oakland Asian Cultural, the 1882 Foundation, and Eastwind Books. Register for Free Tickets ABOUT THE AUTHOR Veronica Li immigrated to the U.S. from Hong Kong as a teenager. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and her master’s degree in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University. She has worked as a journalist and a World Bank project officer, and is currently a writer. Her three previously published titles are: Nightfall in Mogadishu, Journey across the Four Seas: A Chinese Woman’s Search for Home, and Confucius Says: A Novel. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and coauthor of 1882: A Gold Mountain Odyssey, Sverrir Sigurdsson. You can find her online at www.veronicali.com.