Detained Chinese immigrants carved their anguish into a wall a century ago. Those words inspired a ballet

The Oakland Ballet Company presents a poignant piece inspired by Angel Island, known as “the Ellis Island of the west,” which served as a detention center for over half a million immigrants, primarily Chinese, from 1910 to 1940. The performance takes place on the island, highlighting the experiences of detainees from 80 countries who were held under discriminatory laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act, and features the emotional poetry they etched into the walls, reflecting their suffering and defiance. This ambitious work aims to shed light on this harrowing chapter of US-Chinese history.

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