Just before I went to the Mississippi Delta in fall of 2007 for the first time to give a talk about my memoir, Southern Fried Rice, and to spend two weeks visiting people up and down the Delta to hear their stories running grocery stores, I learned of the horrific and "senseless" cold blooded murder of a Chinese grocer, Alfred Quong, and his employee, Sopiah Jung, by two local teen-aged boy. His daughter, Cindi, was devastated by this terrible event, but later made a moving and compassionate 10-minute documentary, Leadway, about the tragedy and as a tribute to her father. On my trip from Jackson to Cleveland where I was to speak, my hosts, the Sidneys drove past Shaw, which sent chills down my spine. (To view documentary click on Title below) Leadway documentaryThis tragedy is one that many Chinese merchants, whether grocer, laundryman, or restaurant owner, all over the country have suffered in one way or another for decades. These merchants are often defenseless against assaults, robberies, and homicides and offer easy targets.
Checking newspaper archives for the MS. Delta, I found many incidents where Chinese grocers were victimized. To be a Chinese grocer was not only hard work, but also a very dangerous way to make a living.
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