This is a really great story on the new Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke --widely known as the nation's first Chinese American governor -- and his fascinating family history, from China to the United States: Family Secrets.
Like many Chinese immigrants, trying to get around the over institutional racism of the Chinese Exclusion Act, Locke's grandfather entered the United States as a "paper son," claiming he was born here but the birth records were destroyed.
As Commerce Secretary, Locke will oversee the decennial census, which takes place a year from now. As defined by the Constitution, the census is supposed to be a count of all residents of the United States -- "actual enumeration," not just citizens. A challenge, for sure.
It's his job to make sure the census count reflects a true portrait of America. Considering his own family's history of immigration, it's significant that Gary Locke is the man for the job. That's a true American story. More here: A Champion for the Census?
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