Chinese laborers were among the first Asians to migrate to the U.S. in the mid-1800s, lured by promises of work on the transcontinental railroad—a project that shaped America's infrastructure but left a legacy of exploitation. 🛤️
Filmmaker and professor Valerie Soe highlighted how post-Civil War economic turmoil fueled anti-Asian sentiment: \"People were looking for someone to blame… The Chinese had outlived their usefulness, so they became the target.\" Racist slogans like \"The Chinese must go\" were weaponized, laying groundwork for systemic discrimination that echoes today.
✨ This dark chapter reminds us how marginalized communities are often scapegoated during crises—a pattern repeating in modern anti-Asian hate crimes. Understanding this history is key to bridging divides and building solidarity. 💡
