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Wu Tingfang, a prominent diplomat and lawyer, is seen surrounded by American officials, highlighting his efforts to protect overseas Chinese rights during the late 19th century.

Five Counties Immigrants and Their Struggle Against 19th-Century Racism

In May 1869, as the golden spike was driven into the final rail of America’s first Transcontinental Railroad, marking a historic moment that symbolized progress and unity, a painful omission cast a long shadow over the celebration. The Chinese laborers who had built the most treacherous stretches of the Central Pacific Railroad were nowhere to…

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A docked ship with mooring ropes, symbolizing the perilous sea voyages undertaken by Chinese labor migrants after the end of slavery.

How the End of Slavery Impacted Chinese Labor Migration

The abolition of slavery in the mid-19th century reshaped global labor markets, driving a surge in Chinese labor migration to replace enslaved workers in plantations, railroads, and mines. Facing poverty, war, and political turmoil, thousands of Chinese laborers embarked on perilous ocean journeys, enduring exploitation, deception, and harsh working conditions under the coolie trade. This…

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