In 1939, the Dongs, a Chinese American family in Coronado, California, were unable to rent a house due to racially restrictive housing laws. Emma and Gus Thompson, a Black entrepreneurial couple, allowed the Dongs to rent and eventually buy their Coronado property. To thank the Thompsons, the Dongs are donating $5 million to Black college students using proceeds from the sale of the house. The Dong family will also work to have San Diego State University’s Black Resource Center named after Emma and Gus. The Dong family's Coronado properties, including the Thompsons' original home and an apartment complex, are estimated to be worth $8 million. The Dongs plan to donate $5 million of the proceeds. The gesture is seen as a way to honor and recognize the impact of one family's help in the face of racial discrimination. The Dong family's decision to give back to the Black community is seen as an example amid the national conversation about reparations. The donation coincides with California lawmakers' introduction of 14 reparations bills. The Dong family's decision holds up a mirror to society, challenging the ongoing debate on reparations.
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