On May 10, 2019, CHSA Board Emeritus, historian and railroad worker descendant Connie Young Yu represented CHSA at the Spike 150 celebration. Her speech opened the event at Promontory Point, Utah, celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the U.S. Transcontinental Railroad. Connie’s speech paid homage to Chinese railroad workers and called for the reclaiming of immigrants’ rightful place in history. Her presence also fulfills a mission begun 50 years ago by CHSA President Phil Choy at the Centennial. Below we’ve rounded up press coverage of this historic event:
NBC News: “Thousands gather to reclaim Chinese railroad workers’ place in history” by Chris Fuchs, May 10,2019
Digital Journal: “Chinese-American pride marks 150th anniversary of railroad” by Karen Graham, May 10, 2019
KUER.org: “The Lesser-Told Stories Of The Golden Spike: 150 Years Later” by DAYSHA EATON, JUDY FAHYS, ROCIO HERNANDEZ & NICOLE NIXON, May 10, 2019
Deseret News: “Spike 150: Thousands travel from around the country and world, each with a different connection to the railroad” by Lauren Bennett, May 10, 2019.
Reuters: “Chinese-Americans look back at railroad 150 years on” (video)
Reuters: “Chinese-American pride celebrated in 150th anniversary of Transcontinental Railroad” by Terray Sylvester, May 10, 2019.
AP: “Utah event celebrates Transcontinental Railroad anniversary” by Brady McCombs, May 10, 2019.
KSL.com: “Golden Spike 150 ceremony: How Utah celebrated the transcontinental railroad anniversary” by Carter Williams (with video of event replay)
SingTao TV: 華工鐵路150周年實錄系列報道(三)美國橫貫鐵路完工150周年的紀念活動 (YouTube video, Cantonese)
China Daily “US railroad’s China connection” By Linda Deng, May 13, 2019
New York Times: “Chinese Railroad Workers Were Almost Written Out of History. Now They’re Getting Their Due.” by Karen Zraick, May 14, 2019
Buzzfeed News: “Historic Transcontinental Railroad Photo Has Finally Been Corrected — 150 Years Later” by Alan Chin, May 14, 2019
The New York Times: Opinion | A 150-Year-Old Lesson in Building National Unity ‘If Not in Spirit, in Fact’ by Sarah Vowell, May 22, 2019
South China Morning Post: “The Chinese who built America’s Transcontinental railroad are recognised, at last” by Alan Chin, May 23, 2019
The Star: “Recognised at last” by Alan Chin, May 26, 2019
CBS News Sunday Morning: “Building the Transcontinental Railroad, the moonshot of the 19th century” produced by John Goodwin, June 16, 2019