Qian Julie Wang is a New York Times bestselling author and a civil rights litigator who has an extraordinary life story. Born in China, she immigrated to the US with her parents at the age of seven and lived as an undocumented immigrant for five years in Brooklyn.
She faced poverty, discrimination, and the constant fear of deportation, but she also found hope and joy in books, writing, and education. She eventually became a naturalized citizen, graduated from Yale Law School, and established her own law firm dedicated to advancing the rights of marginalized communities.
She recently published her debut memoir, Beautiful Country, which recounts her childhood experiences and has received critical acclaim and recognition from various sources, including President Obama. In this blog post, we will explore Qian Julie Wang’s remarkable journey and achievements, and how she inspires us all with her courage, resilience, and compassion.
From China to America: A Childhood of Struggle and Survival
Qian Julie Wang was born in Shijiazhuang, China, in 1987, to academic parents who were persecuted by the government for their political views. Her father, a professor of English, fled to the US when she was five, and she and her mother followed him two years later, in 1994.
They arrived in New York City with temporary visas, but soon became undocumented after their visas expired. They settled in a small, rat-infested apartment in Brooklyn, where they lived in hiding and isolation. Qian Julie Wang’s parents worked long hours in sweatshops and factories, earning less than minimum wage and enduring harsh conditions.
They often struggled to afford food, rent, and other basic necessities. They also faced constant threats of violence, exploitation, and deportation from their employers, landlords, and immigration authorities.
Qian Julie Wang’s childhood was marked by hardship and deprivation, but also by resilience and determination. She attended a public school in Chinatown, where she learned English and excelled academically. She also developed a passion for reading and writing, which became her escape and solace from the harsh realities of her life.
She taught herself to read English through picture books, and later devoured classics such as Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, and Harry Potter. She also wrote stories and poems in her notebooks, expressing her thoughts and feelings. She hid her talents from her teachers and classmates, fearing that they would expose her as an undocumented immigrant or accuse her of plagiarism. She also faced bullying and racism from some of her peers, who called her names and made fun of her accent and appearance.
Despite the challenges and obstacles she faced, Qian Julie Wang never gave up on her dreams and aspirations. She worked hard to overcome her disadvantages and to pursue her education.
She also helped her parents with their work and household chores, and supported them emotionally. She showed remarkable courage, maturity, and compassion, even at a young age.
She also maintained a sense of humor and optimism, finding joy and beauty in simple things, such as watching cartoons, playing with her friends, and celebrating holidays. She also cherished her cultural heritage and identity, learning Mandarin from her parents and reading Chinese books and magazines.
From Undocumented to Citizen: A Journey of Transformation and Empowerment
Qian Julie Wang’s life changed dramatically when she and her mother moved to Canada, where they had a better chance of obtaining legal status and citizenship. Her father joined them later, after he was granted asylum in the US.
Qian Julie Wang adjusted to her new environment and continued to excel in school. She also became more confident and outspoken, sharing her opinions and talents with others. She also developed a sense of social justice and activism, participating in various causes and movements.
She eventually returned to the US to attend Swarthmore College, where she majored in English literature and graduated with honors. She then went on to Yale Law School, where she earned her juris doctor degree in 2012. She became a naturalized US citizen in 2016, shortly before the presidential election.
Qian Julie Wang’s journey from undocumented to citizen was not only a legal and political transformation, but also a personal and emotional one. She had to overcome many barriers and prejudices, both external and internal, to achieve her goals and to claim her place in society.
She also had to reconcile her multiple identities and experiences, and to find her voice and purpose. She decided to write her memoir, Beautiful Country, in order to share her story and to inspire others who may be facing similar challenges.
She also wanted to raise awareness and empathy for the millions of undocumented immigrants who live in the US, and to advocate for their rights and dignity. She wrote the book on her phone during her commute to her law office, finishing the first draft in 2019 and publishing it in 2021.
The book received rave reviews from critics and readers alike, and became an instant New York Times bestseller. It was also selected as a Today Show Read with Jenna pick, and named as a best book of 2021 by various sources, including President Obama, NPR, Newsweek, and more.
From Lawyer to Author: A Career of Passion and Impact
Qian Julie Wang is not only a successful author, but also a respected lawyer who has dedicated her career to advancing the civil rights of marginalized communities. She has worked as an associate at Kirkland & Ellis and as an appellate litigator at the New York City Law Department, where she handled complex and high-profile cases involving constitutional, education, employment, and contract disputes.
She also clerked for Judge Richard A. Paez of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, one of the most influential and progressive federal judges in the country. In 2020, she turned down an offer of partnership at Robins Kaplan, a large national law firm, to start her own boutique firm, Gottlieb & Wang LLP, with her husband and fellow lawyer, Marc Ari Gottlieb.
The firm focuses on special education, disability, and civil rights impact litigation, representing clients who have been discriminated against, mistreated, or denied access to quality education and services.
Qian Julie Wang is known for her exceptional skills and results as a litigator, as well as for her unique gift of storytelling, which she uses to persuade and connect with judges, juries, and even opposing counsel. She has won numerous awards and recognitions for her legal work, including being named as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers and a Top Woman Attorney by New York Magazine.
Qian Julie Wang’s career as a lawyer and an author reflects her passion and impact as a leader and a changemaker. She uses her talents and experiences to make a positive difference in the world, and to empower others to do the same.
She is also a role model and a mentor for many young people, especially those from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds. She is involved in various organizations and initiatives that support and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession and beyond.
She also speaks and writes frequently on topics such as immigration, education, and social justice, sharing her insights and perspectives with various audiences and platforms. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their two rescue dogs, Salty and Peppers. She is currently working on her second book, which will be inspired by her experiences as an Asian-American woman working in corporate law.
Qian Julie Wang Books?
Qian Julie Wang is the author of one book, a memoir titled Beautiful Country: A Memoir of an Undocumented Childhood. It was published in 2021 and became an instant New York Times bestseller, as well as one of President Obama’s favorite books of the year.
The book recounts Qian’s experiences as an undocumented immigrant in New York City, from her arrival at age seven to her eventual path to citizenship. It has received critical acclaim for its lyrical prose, vivid storytelling, and powerful message of resilience and hope.
If you are interested in reading Qian’s book, you can order it from your local independent bookstore or online. You can also follow her on Goodreads or visit her website for more information about her life and work.
How Many Awards Has Qian Julie Wang Won?
Qian Julie Wang is a highly acclaimed writer and civil rights lawyer. She has won several awards for her memoir, Beautiful Country: A Memoir of an Undocumented Childhood, which was published in 2021. Some of the awards she has received are:
Alex Award, Best Book, 2022
New York Times Notable Book of 2021
One of President Obama’s Favorite Books of 2021
NPR Best Book of 2021
She has also been praised by critics and readers for her lyrical prose, vivid storytelling, and powerful message of resilience and hope. Her book is a Today Show Read With Jenna pick and an instant New York Times bestseller.
Qian Julie Wang Net Worth
Qian Julie Wang is a Chinese-American writer and civil rights lawyer. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Beautiful Country, which recounts her experiences as an undocumented immigrant in New York City. Her net worth is not publicly available, but she is likely to have earned a significant income from her book sales, legal career, and speaking engagements.
Controversy And Activism Of Qian Julie Wang
Qian Julie Wang is a writer and civil rights lawyer who has been involved in some controversy and activism related to her identity and work. Some examples are:
She faced criticism from some Chinese-Americans for revealing her undocumented status and writing about her childhood in her memoir, Beautiful Country. Some accused her of exaggerating her hardships or betraying her community. Wang responded by saying that she wanted to share her truth and challenge the stereotypes and stigma around immigration.
She is an active member of a synagogue and its Jews of Color community. She converted to Judaism in 2019 and married Marc Ari Gottlieb, a fellow lawyer and Jew of Color. She has spoken about her experiences as a Chinese-American Jew and the need for more diversity and inclusion in the Jewish community.
She is the managing partner of Gottlieb & Wang LLP, a law firm dedicated to advancing educational civil rights for marginalized populations. She has represented clients in cases involving special education, disability rights, racial discrimination, and school bullying. She has also filed amicus briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court on issues such as affirmative action and LGBTQ rights.
Conclusion
Qian Julie Wang is a memoirist and a lawyer who inspires us all with her courage, resilience, and compassion. She has overcome incredible challenges and achieved remarkable successes, while staying true to herself and her values.
She has also used her voice and her power to advocate for others and to create positive change in the world. She is a testament to the American dream, and to the human spirit. Her memoir, Beautiful Country, is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about her life and her work, and to be moved and motivated by her story.
Qian Julie Wang is a woman who has made history, and who continues to make history, every day. She is a woman who deserves our admiration and our gratitude. She is a woman who we can all look up to and learn from. She is a woman who we can all call our hero.
