🚂 Who really built the railroad that connected America? The story of the transcontinental railroad is one of ambition, innovation, and incredible achievement — but behind that achievement were thousands of Chinese immigrants whose contributions helped transform the American West. As the Central Pacific Railroad pushed east from California, labor shortages led executives to recruit workers directly from China. Within just a few years, Chinese workers made up more than 12,000 of the roughly 15,000 workers on the Central Pacific line. Their labor was essential — yet they were often paid just a fraction of what white workers earned. In this clip, Professor Julia H. Lee reveals the story behind this massive workforce and the inequality they faced while helping build one of the most consequential infrastructure projects in American history. 🎬 Narrated and hosted by Dom Flemons, the Curiosity Original series The Real Wild West uncovers the ambition, greed, fame, fortune, and people who...