Qian Julie Wang on growing up undocumented in New York City
Qian Julie Wang was born in Shijiazhuang, China. At age 7, she moved to Brooklyn, New York, with her parents. For five years thereafter, the three lived in the shadows of undocumented life in New York City. Qian Julie's first book Beautiful Country is a poignant literary memoir that follows the family through those years. A graduate of Yale Law School and Swarthmore College—where she juggled classes and extracurriculars with four part-time jobs—Qian Julie is now a litigator. She wrote Beautiful Country on her iPhone, during her subway commute to and from work at a national law firm. Qian Julie’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and The Cut. Qian Julie has one of the most incredible life stories you have ever heard. But Qian Julie's personal philosophy and inspired worldview may well be the most extraordinary thing about her. Qian Julie tells Gabe what it was like for her and her family to give up everything in China and move to Brooklyn when she was seven years old.
Produced by Lit Hub
Visit Qian Julie Wang's website and follow her on Twitter and Instagram
Buy Julie's memoir Beautiful Country
Read Qian Julie in New York Times
Watch Qian Julie on YouTube
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Email Gabe Hudson: gabehudsonsays@gmail.com
