Allie Woo

Nellie Wong (1934–2026) was an American poet and activist, born in Oakland, California, to Chinese immigrant parents. Her experiences growing up during World War II, witnessing the internment of Japanese American neighbors, deeply influenced her perspective on racism and the Asian American experience. Wong's career as a writer and activist spanned decades, focusing on feminist and socialist causes.

Wong began writing poetry in her mid-30s, encouraged by feminist classmates at San Francisco State University after a professor dismissed her work. She co-founded the feminist literary group Unbound Feet and became involved with the Freedom Socialist Party and Radical Women. Her poetry often drew from her life experiences, including workplace sexism and racism, her family history, and Asian American identity. She traveled internationally, speaking at conferences and reciting her poetry, and also taught creative writing and Women's Studies. In her later years, she performed with The Last Hoisan Poets, aiming to preserve the Hoisan-wa dialect.

Wong was a committed activist, deeply involved in feminist and socialist movements. She was an active member of the Freedom Socialist Party and Radical Women, organizations focused on social justice and liberation. Her activism extended to co-founding the feminist literary and performance group Unbound Feet in the late 1970s with other Chinese American women writers. This group aimed to address issues of race, sex, and class through their creative work and performances. Wong also played a significant role in organizing the Merle Woo Defense Committee in 1983, raising funds and awareness for a discrimination case filed by a lesbian Korean-Chinese American feminist. Her commitment to activism was a driving force throughout her life, informing both her personal actions and her artistic expression.

Wong's poetry is characterized by its direct engagement with personal and societal struggles. She frequently stated that her poems originated from her experiences in the workplace, where she encountered significant sexism and racism. Beyond her professional life, her work delves into her family history and the complexities of Asian American identity, exploring the roots and journeys of Asian immigrants in America. Themes of feminism, the fight against racism, workplace injustice, and the search for self as a writer and activist are central to her oeuvre. Her early exposure to racism, particularly the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, left a lasting impact, shaping her awareness of racial prejudice and the specific challenges faced by Asian Americans.

Nellie Wong authored several collections of poetry, including 'Dreams in Harrison Railroad Park' (1977), which achieved significant success, and 'Nothing Like Freedom' (2024). Her work has been featured in numerous anthologies and publications. In 1981, a documentary film titled 'Mitsuye & Nellie, Asian American Poets' was produced, exploring the experiences of Wong and fellow poet Mitsuye Yamada. Wong's contributions have been recognized through various awards, including a Reginald Lockett Lifetime Achievement Award from PEN Oakland in 2022. Excerpts of her poetry are also permanently installed at public sites in San Francisco, testament to her lasting impact on literature and public discourse.

“A lot of my poems come from the workplace; that's where I've experienced a great deal of sexism and racism.”

“I care about the roots of Asian American culture and how and why they came here [...] It's something every Asian family has experienced.”

“You don't have to listen to him!”