Judge Julie Tang: In Feb 1972 I went to work for a man called Lingchi wang Professor of UC Berkeley).

California Superior Court Judge Julie Tang: In Feb 1972 I went to work for a man called Lingchi wang Professor of UC Berkeley). I knew nothing about him except he was a volunteer at an agency he started called chinese for affirmative action. When I saw him I instantly knew this man is a superior being. He was working for free in a little office on Columbus Ave (SF). He had raised enough money to hire an office and employ a secretary. But nothing more. Everything was donated including Lingchi.

I was the only paid Secretary.

I went to work quite diligently because I agreed 100% with what he was doing – starting an organization that would fight for the civil rights of Chinese Americans along with all other minorities.

I did dictation and typed all his letters. I took minutes of meetings and also prepared a monthly newsletter to members. His goal – to get 3000 members each paying $10 yearly membership dues. I even started to contact local organization to have meetings with them about their affirmative action policy.

I left after 8 months to start graduate school. But Lingchi stayed on as a volunteer collecting no salary. He brought in a lot of donated funds and set up more staffing. He also started a Chinese Media committee that tried to hold Hollywood accountable for the chinese stereotypes on screen. I typed up a lot of letters to Hollywood including some Asian movie stars.

I developed so much respect for Lingchi and his work after that job. He changed my life forever. I would probably never have done the kind of civil rights works that I did had I not learned from Lingchi what that all meant.

And yes I later learned there was a bounty on his head issued by the chinese six company in San Francisco. It was too late for me to divest myself from his affiliation. Glad I’m still alive.