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Oral history.; Ms. Vera Penney Gong was born on May 19, 1950, in San Francisco, California after her family had emigrated from China. Ms. Gong grew up in Clarksdale, Mississippi where her family owned a grocery store. As she was growing up, Ms. Gong was part of a large Chinese population in Clarksdale; she attended a Chinese church as well as Chinese school in the summer to learn Chinese language and culture. During her childhood, Ms. Gong suffered some personal experiences of being the target of racism. Ms. Gong earned her degree from Delta State University and began working in a clerical position in the registrar's and admissions office for the university. Gong discusses the Chinese community in Clarksdale and her impressions of Delta State University and the city of Cleveland.