Valley Forum: A perspective on Sonoma's Chinese labor past

Imagine if you lived in Sonoma about 150 years ago. You would see the Mission and Gen. Vallejo’s house, but not City Hall or the Plaza because they had not been built yet. You might be surprised to learn that, if you were walking around Sonoma, you would see many Chinese men. At that time approximately 25 percent of Sonoma’s population were Chinese immigrants.

They might smile and bow their heads, but there would be no conversation because they didn’t speak English. Without recognizable names, each and every one was referred to as “John Chinaman.”

Buena Vista Winery was among the earliest wineries founded in California. It was built in 1857 using a large labor force from China. Thanks to Chinese labor, the winery owners were able to clear the land, plant the grapes, set up irrigation systems and build caves and wine cellars. The work they did was backbreaking and took great strength and perseverance. Just to clear the land, they had to remove huge, old oak trees and to create the wine cellars they dug caves in solid rock using only pick axes. The accomplishments of the Chinese laborers formed the roots out of which grew Sonoma Valley’s world-famous wine.

Life was very difficult for these men: They came to California to find a better life and help their families back home. The Chinese labor force was known as more reliable and hardworking, however they earned only $1 a day, when the average wage was $3 per day. Local historian Fred Allebach has said their living conditions were very poor and they could not afford a decent place to live; sometimes 20 to 30 people all lived in the same room.

With all of these difficulties many people wonder why didn’t they go back home to China? Many came to America to try to make their fortune in the Gold Rush or railroad, but were barely able to survive. Local historian Gordon Phillips believes it had a lot to do with the culture and beliefs of the Chinese people. Many of the men were too ashamed to go home, because they had no money to bring back. Returning to China empty-handed meant failure; they could not bring glory to their ancestors. So, they stayed in America hoping to change their fortunes.

Many lived out the rest of their lives in Sonoma Valley and died here, without ever again seeing their loved ones in China. However, you will not see any markers for them in our local cemeteries because they are non-Christian and not white.

In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was created and these Chinese men who had lived and worked here were forced to leave because of bigotry.

I believe our history is our future. A person with no knowledge about the history of our country is like an orphan having no sense of where they came from or a family to learn from. The truth is America has been built by all people and all colors, but much of that history was erased or forgotten. However, communities all over America are discovering their real histories and are shining a light on our proud heritage, like we are doing here in Sonoma. We do this to make right mistakes from the past and to teach our children the truth about our county and both the good and the bad things we did as a nation. For a long time, many people have disregarded or hid things like: The White House was built by slaves or that Japanese Americans were sent to live in internment camps during World War II for no other reason than being of Japanese descent. But now people know the truth about these parts of our shared story and why it is important to never forget the lessons to be learned from our past. That is why we now have the Black History Museum at the Smithsonian and the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC.

This is why we are building a “ting,” a Chinese-style gazebo, in the City of Sonoma, so that people will know the true history of Sonoma Valley and learn about the huge contribution these nameless Chinese laborers made in making Sonoma what it is today; an agricultural leader, world renown for our fine wines and beautiful valley.

In the Chinese New Year, we celebrate our history with lions and dragons, in true Chinese fashion. The beating of gongs and drums resound to the skies. I think it may wake the spirit of these once forgotten Chinese laborers, they will smile from above as we honor them and celebrate Chinese New Year.

Jack Ding is a member of the Sonoma Sister Cities Association Penglai, China Committee. The group is raising funds to build a ‘ting,’ or Chinese-style gazebo, to honor the Chinese laborers of Sonoma Valley’s past, at Depot Park. He shared this perspective Feb. 17 at the Sister Cities’ Chinese New Year celebration at Jacuzzi Winery.