"Voices: Chinese Women of the Delta", will focus on the Chinese women's sacrifice and contribution through the recollection of descendents.
The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta has a rich and long history of the presenceand contribution of the Chinese. In the 19th century, the Chinese carne to buildthe levees, drain the swamps and stayed to transform the wild wetlands into the mand contribution of the Chinese. In the 19th century, the Chinese carne to buildthe levees, drain the swamps and stayed to transform the wild wetlands into the most productive farmland in the U.S..

Scattered along the Sacramento River is a series of small towns that include Locke, Walnut Grove, Courtland and lsleton.

These enclaves were a haven for the generations of Chinese immigrants of the Delta. The history of the Chinese immigrants in America is more than one hundred fifty years. However, the acknowledgement of their contributions pale in comparison to the struggles, hardships and discrimination they suffered. lt is undeniable that the Chinese men who immigrated accomplished feats beyond comparison.

Hidden within the Chinese American (CA) immigration story is that of Chinese women. Marginalized and discriminated against, Chinese women suffered in silence within the male-dominated Chinese culture. Invisible and voiceless, their own community gave them little consolation or support. Away from their homeland Chinese women were viewed as aliens without rights or standing. To deny entry, women were labeled as prostitutes to prevent perpetuation of the race. The racism persisted especially when there was no longer any use for Chinese labor. To truly reflect the CA immigrant history, it is important to share the forgotten and untold stories of the resilience of Chinese women.

Gone are the Chinese women who endured the hardships and supported the CA immigrant communities. This documentary project, "Voices: Chinese Women of the Delta", will focus on the Chinese women's sacrifice and contribution through the recollection of those descendants that remain.

Min Zhou, an award-winning filmmaker and journalist, to direct the documentary film titled: "Voices: Chinese Women of the Delta." Min has devoted her career to researching the Chinese American immigrant experience and producing short documentary films relating to Chinese railroad workers and the Chinese American WWII veterans (Land of Luck and others).

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