WWU professor writes story of forced expulsion of Chinese

Christopher Wise, an English professor at Western Washington University, has been one of the organizers for the Bellingham community's recognition and numerous events about the forced removal of the Chinese from the Puget Sound region around 1885.

"Emerald Bay," a ballet staged by Bellingham's Northwest Ballet, is based on a story written by Wise, and features historical figures such as Mark Twain, Goon Dip and Dirty Dan Harris. The ballet, which has already been performed in Seattle and in Mount Vernon, is on stage Friday through Sunday, June 10-13, at Mount Baker Theatre.