Upend
Upend by Claire Meuschke, published by Noemi Press in 2020, is a poetry collection that spans 113 pages and is presented in English. This work loosely navigates the archived immigration trial of Hong On, a biracial Alaska Native-Chinese man, during the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1912 on Angel Island, California. The author, who is Hong On’s granddaughter, explores themes of U.S. government-designated recreational spaces, genocide, and intergenerational trauma through a personal lens.
Readers will find a thoughtful examination of identity and heritage as the speaker reflects on her Alaska Native great grandmother, who is identified as “Unknown: Indian” on Hong On’s birth certificate. The collection delves into the complexities of cultural history and the lingering effects of imperialism, offering insights into the Asian American and Native American experiences. Through this exploration, Meuschke presents a nuanced perspective on the intersections of race and identity within the context of American history.
Official synopsis Publisher
Poetry. Asian American Studies. Native American Studies. California Interest. Longlisted for the 2020 PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry Collection. The book loosely navigates the archived immigration trial of Hong On, a biracial Alaska Native-Chinese man, in 1912 on Angel Island, CA, during the Chinese Exclusion Act. Hong On was born in San Francisco, CA, in 1895 and was orphaned shortly after. The concepts of U.S. government-designated recreational spaces, genocide, and intergenerational trauma are examined by Hong On’s granddaughter, the author, who sees imperialistic residue in product, place, and color naming. At the core of this book is the speaker’s Alaska Native great grandmother who is named “Unknown: Indian” on Hong On’s birth certificate.
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