The Walk of Remembrance helps us learn from a past that parallels the present.

Have you ever wanted to talk directly to someone who made the journey from China to Point Alones, the historic Chinese fishing village in Pacific Grove? This weekend, you can. 

Sara Rubin here, to advocate for the power of storytelling. Fifth-generation Chinese American Bowen Lyam Lee, a professional storyteller and educator, will become her great-great-grandmother to tell her first-person story of immigration from Toisan to Pacific Grove, where she lived in the fishing village; audience questions are welcome. 

Story and imagination can be among the most powerful tools in comprehending the past, and also the future. The annual Walk of Remembrance and related events this weekend invite us to wield those powers, not just in understanding the past, but applying the still-relevant lessons of that past to the present, and to the future. 

Lest I get too caught up in the power of imagining the emotional lives of people we never knew, I should lay out some of the facts underlying this annual tradition. In 1851, Cantonese fishermen took a dangerous voyage across the Pacific Ocean to California. They shipwrecked at what is now Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, and built a life there. In 1859, a baby girl named Quock Mui was born—the first documented Chinese American born in the Monterey Bay area. 

Quock Mui’s great-granddaughter, Gerry Low-Sabado, committed much of her life to restoring the suppressed stories of her ancestors, including attention to the mysterious 1906 fire that destroyed the established village at Point Alones. Part of Low-Sabado’s legacy included creating the annual Walk of Remembrance, bringing participants to the site of the former village. In 2022, the City of Pacific Grove issued a formal apology for the destruction of the village, 116 years after it burned down.

In addition to the walk (at 1-3pm Saturday, May 10), this year’s lineup spans multiple days at multiple venues, addressing relevant themes through performance, panel discussions and guided tours. Events kick off tomorrow, May 9, with a panel titled “Immigrant Voices: Humanizing Our Stories” at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. With immigrants today facing active threats for their simply being in the United States, the topic is, sadly, urgent. 

There’s a chance on Saturday to watch a 2024 documentary about the fishing village, screened at Hopkins Marine Station at 3pm. On Sunday from 10am-noon, docents at Point Lobos lead tours focused on the Chinese history of the area. 

Events are free, but organizers recommend reserving space in advance. If you attend any or all of this year’s Walk of Remembrance events, I’d love to hear your thoughts.