Breaking Racial Barriers: Wo Kee Company.

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  • Author(s): Wen Zhengde
  • Source:
    Chinese America: History & Perspectives. 2005, p13-17. 5p.
  • Additional Information
    • Subject Terms:
      WEN He; CHINESE people; IMMIGRANTS; HOYT, Jake; RACE discrimination
    • Subject Terms:
      UNITED StatesReport Available
    • Abstract:
      The article relates the story of Wen He, a Chinese immigrant to the U.S. in the 1800s. Despite the strong anti-Chinese prejudice and discrimination during the 1800s, he managed to forge a very close friendship with a white man named Jake Hoyt. They traveled together throughout northern California and Oregon in search of economic opportunities and eventually decided to become partners in a business. In the late 1800s they opened a very successful lumber company in San Francisco called Wo Kee Lumber and Timber. Later on, when Jake decided to attend law school, Wen He gave him financial support. And when Wen He was dying in 1901, Jake was at his bedside.