Chinese Railroad Workers History Center opens in SF Chinatown to recognize stories of laborers

>> IT IS A MONUMENTAL DAY FOR THE CHINESE COMMUNITY. THE CHINESE RAIL WORD -- RAILROAD WORKERS -- IT IS NOW OPEN. >> THE PURPOSE IS TO NOT FORGET THE CHINESE WORKERS' CONTRIBUTIONS. >> THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS CANNOT BE OVERSTATED YET THEY ARE LARGELY OVERLOOKED THROUGHOUT HISTORY. >> THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD RECTIFYING THAT THROUGH EXHIBITS, ARTIFACTS AND REPLICAS OF TRAINS. TODAY'S OPENINGS OF A MUSEUM. THE 154TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOLDEN SPIKE. THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD. >> THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOLDEN SPIKE BRINGS TOGETHER CULTURES FROM THE EAST AND WEST AND NOT JUST IN THE U.S. IT IS ALSO THE EAST AND WEST WITH CHINA TO THE UNITED STATES. >> THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF FREMONT IS A GREAT-GRANDSON OF A CHINESE. . RAILROAD WORKER >> MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER LIVE TO 114 AND WAS ALIVE LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO HEAR HIS STORIES. >> STORIES ABOUT HOW DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT THE WORK WAS AND HOW MUCH DISCRIMINATION WORKERS FACED. HER GREAT-GRANDFATHER ALSO HELPED BUILD THE RAILROAD WHEN HE ARRIVED IN 1866. >> MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS ONE OF THE CHINESE RAILROAD WORKERS WHO HELPED BUILD THE CENTRAL PACIFIC. HE CAME TO SAN FRANCISCO. HE WORKED ON THE RAILROADS, RISKING LIFE AND LIMB. >> FOR MANY, THIS HISTORY CENTER REPRESENTS RESILIENCY. THEY SAY IT BRIDGES THE PAST TO THE FUTURE. >> ESPECIALLY WHERE MANY OF US HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED WITH ASIAN HATE. WE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER AND SAY IN SOLIDARITY WE ARE NOT THE MODEL MINORITY.

Channel: ABC7 News Bay Area

Views: 4,899

Keywords: news, chinese american railroad workers, Chinese Railroad Workers History Center, san francisco chinatown, transcontinental railroad, golden spike railroad, asian american history

Id: nV8YLV2jS4c

Length: 2min 7sec (127 seconds)

Published: Thu May 11 2023