NYC to recognize Chinese American railroad workers

By Shirley L Ng

The Details:

A resolution to recognize the hard work of Chinese immigrants that built the Transcontinental Railroad was announced Tuesday at City Hall. 

Brooklyn Councilmember Susan Zhang introduced the resolution to recognize May 10 as “Chinese American Railroad Workers Memorial Day.” Supporters from the Chinese community, Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse, President of the Lee Family Association, Kenny Lee, and railroad descendant, Kenneth Wong, and Joe Luo of the American Association of the Cantonese joined Zhang.

“We cannot erase the history of the immigrants that contributed to this country,” said Zhang. She spoke about how the Chinese were paid the least, a dollar a day while other immigrant groups received $1.50 a day. The Chinese worked the most grueling part of the railroad, blasting through mountains to forge tunnels, laying tracks on treacherous land and also endured racism. 

The golden spike ceremony that signaled the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad took place May 10, 1869. It connected the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads at Promontory Summit, Utah. Chinese workers connected the East and West Coast of the United States.  

The railroads hired more Chinese than any other group of people. Yet Zhang said their important historical contribution is missing from history books including their exclusion from the celebratory iconic black and white photo taken by Andrew J. Russell when the railroad was completed.

According to the US Department of Labor, approximately 12,000 Chinese made up the Central Pacific Railroad, which counted for almost 90% of the railroad work force. Almost all of the Chinese workers came from the Toisan region of China.

In a written statement a few days ago, Zhang wrote, “I’m asked why I’m choosing to pass this resolution now – there’s no better time in my opinion. The conversation around immigration in America has become polarized, often demonizing immigrants. I want our City and Country to remember: immigrants came to America and dedicated their lives to building better lives for themselves, their families, and America. Asian Americans are a major part of American History and can’t be forgotten.”

Descendant Kenneth Wong told AsAmNews, “I feel a sense of pride to be here that my great grandfather was a railroad worker. My father told me the story about my great grandfather since I was a little boy.”

AsAmNews asked Councilmember, Mercedes Narcisse why she felt it was important to pass the resolution recognizing May 10 as the “Chinese American Railroad Workers Memorial Day.”

Narcisse replied, “To send a strong message, to whoever is listening, from the White House, to the state, to the city, that we have history. Our ancestors fought hard for the city of New York to be what it is. The Chinese Americans are here and their descendants are here.”

During the press conference, Zhang also honorably mentioned the 250 Chinese railroad workers that built the Brooklyn-Rockaway Branch of the Long Island Railroad in 1875.

The resolution for the Chinese American Railroad Workers Memorial Day will be heard on Thursday, April 10.