living
This article focuses on a few of Chinese American’s contributions to
our lifestyle, business, and culture. For example, did you know?
• According to a comprehensive new nationwide survey by the Pew Research Center, “Asian Americans are
the highest-income, best-educated and fastest-growing racial group in the United States. (Refer to article
at http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/06/19/the-rise-of-asian-americans).
• In 2015, the top 10 U.S. cities with the greatest Chinese American population were: New York; Los Ange-
les; San Francisco Bay; San Jose, CA; Boston; Washington, DC; Chicago, Seattle; Honolulu; and Houston.
(Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2013-2015 American Community Survey (IPUMS)
• In the mid 1800s, thousands of Chinese workers employed by Central Pacific Railroad made possible the
western half of the first transcontinental railroad. The US Department of Labor has honored the Chinese
workers in its Hall of Fame for their remarkable contributions that made the first transcontinental railroad
line possible. Their greatest challenge was to forge through and over the Sierra Nevada summit that had
previously proved insurmountable. Soon after the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, Sci-
entific American journal published an article giving special attention and praise to the role of the Chinese
for their contributions to the marvel of construction and technology of the railroad. (https://www.forbes.
com/sites/forbesasia/2014/05/12/the-chinese-helped-build-america/#5f98cbee39bc).
34 iF Magazine | April 2018