Gum Saan to Golden Spike is a comic novella collaboratively written and illustrated by the students in the University of Washington’s (UW) American Ethnic Studies program.
It is the first book of the trilogy Passage Through Seattle: Wong Family Saga, 1842-2023. The series includes sequel In a Yellow Tone: Seattle’s Chinatown International District During WWII (2021) and KingDOOM: How Asian American Protests Saved Seattle’s Chinatown International District, 1972-2023, which is currently in progress.
According to Dr. Connie So, a professor at the UW’s American Ethnic Studies Department and advisor for the project, the purpose of the trilogy is “to combat stereotypes and ignorance about Asian American history and contributions” and to “help [young artists] draw parallels between current-day events and the past.”
Originally a film created in honor of Golden Spike Day in 2019, the novella was recreated to better preserve and communicate the history of early Chinese Americans.
“The novella is an enhanced vision of the original film,” said Han Eckelberg, who served as the executive artist and director for the film and novella, as well as for the sequel.
Gum Saan to Golden Spike aspires to continue preserving and sharing Asian American history. By recreating the project into the comic novella, the students and artists hope that their art and messages will reach a wider audience of both kids and adults.
Following Wong Ho Ping and his descendants, the comic novella retells the story of why many Southern Chinese — Taishanese and Cantonese — departed South China for the United States in search of Gum Saan, also known as “Gold Mountain.” The migration led to the building of the transcontinental railroad and the fight against labor and economic discrimination.
To escape the devastating effects of the First Opium War, and to make a living for his family, Wong Ho Ping leaves China to search for gold in America. When he arrives, he confronts difficulties ranging from homesickness, U.S. racism, and struggles to earn a living. Eventually, he does find “gold,” but loses some friends in the process.
After Wong Ho Ping returns to China and marries Woo Yu Er, China encounters more turmoil: rebellions against the Qing government, the Second Opium War, and increasing Western colonialism. With limited opportunities, Wong Ho Ping’s son, Wong Sing Dan, is tasked with returning to Gum Saan to help his family make a living. Sing Dan again “searches for gold,” like his father, but not in the literal sense. He seeks to make a living for his family and new wife, Go Ai Ting, and to reconnect with a long lost friend and family member. Through the story of Sing Dan, the novella highlights the difficult decisions pioneering Chinese in America made, and the often forgotten impact those decisions have on their descendants.
I noticed that while each student artist clearly possesses their own style, it is still cohesive and collaborative. For example, Dylan Hartono’s portrayal of Sing Dan as a charming boy in Taishan contrasts with Brooklyn Hose’s portrayal of him as a militant labor leader in Utah. However, this change of expression resonates with the progression of Sing Dan’s character. After being in the U.S. for nearly 15 years, working on the transcontinental railroad, and fighting against the economic discrimination targeting the Chinese workers, Sing Dan is, understandably and realistically, hardened by the grueling labor and oppression.
Alongside the immersive artwork, the novella embeds drawings and timelines of historical events created by the artists and writers and integrates real letters and poems of the era collected in Marlon Hom’s Songs of Gold Mountain. Adapted for the characters in the novella, these additions provide historical context to the characters’ fight for survival.
This portrayal of Chinese American history is important, especially considering how many people are not aware of the significant role Chinese people played in U.S. history.
As a Taishanese American taking Dr. Connie So’s Chinese American Studies class, I personally connected with the history.
After joining the project — I am now working on KingDOOM — and seeing the drawings and story unfold, I was inspired by everyone’s dedication towards preserving and enshrining this history through art. Easily digestible and enjoyable to many, Gum Saan to Golden Spike is an empowering and fun way to learn about Asian American history, and to many, that of our ancestors.
“Our stories also address the issues of masculinity, femininity, perseverance, and Asian pride,” said Dr. So. I learned about the difficult path my ancestors had to take just to survive and make a living for themselves and for their family. I learned how Chinese Americans were never collectively “passive” or “weak;” the Chinese railroad workers unionized and fought for their labor rights all the way back in 1867!
Gum Saan to Golden Spike can help many Chinese Americans — like me, who previously struggled to acknowledge my identity as a Taishanese American — reconnect with and take pride in their history and identity. Beyond that, the comic novella benefits all people by telling a compelling story about an important segment of our population and American history.
The novella, sponsored by OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates of Greater Seattle, UW American Ethnic Studies department and the City of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods, debuted on September 30, 2023, at the Rainier Arts Center in Colombia City. Other sponsors of the project include the Chinese American Citizens Alliance and the Wing Luke Museum.
