Marilyn Chin headlined the special poetry reading at the National Postal Museum in Washington, DC, commemorating one of the most iconic events in America’s history – the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad 150 years ago, on May 10, 1869. She was joined by Paisley Rekdal (Utah’s State Poet Laureate) and Regie Cabico, who shared their recent work about the Transcontinental Railroad and its legacy.
Poetry After Hours: Poetry Im/migration, Labor and Trains highlights the role the construction of the railroad plays in the heritage and identity of Asian Americans. More than 40,000 Chinese immigrants arrived in California during the 1850s. By the time the railroad was finished majority of the workers for Central Pacific were Chinese immigrants. Despite hard work they continued to experience discrimination for generations after the completion of the project.
The USPS has issued a postal stamp dedicated to the Golden Spike celebration.
Sat, May 11 at 6:00 PM
National Postal Museum
2 Massachusetts Avenue Northeast
