Why You Wouldn’t Survive as a Chinese Railroad Worker in the Wild West

Get early episodes & ad-free audio on Patreon: https://patreon.com/DrowsyHistorian In this episode of Drowsy Historian , you are not a tycoon, a pioneer, or a name carved into the history books. You're one of the thousands of forgotten Chinese laborers brought to the American West in the 1800s — tasked with blasting through mountains, laying rail across barren wilderness, and enduring the contempt of a country that needed your labor but never wanted your presence. You will not be celebrated. You will not be photographed. And when the tracks are finished, you will be discarded. Told in second-person narration, this immersive sleep history video traces your life from recruitment to quiet erasure. With vivid detail and a slow, weary tone, we examine the physical hardship, racial violence, and historical amnesia that shaped one of America’s most brutal infrastructure projects. This is not a tale of triumph — it’s one of survival without recognition. So lie back. Breathe slowly. And drift off into a forgotten history that built a nation — and was buried beneath it. 🛏️ Drowsy Historian’s Favorite Sleep Tools Looking to upgrade your nighttime routine? These are a few things I personally use or recommend: • Sleep Earbuds for Enhanced Immersion → https://amzn.to/4pVFoJy • Blanket Soft Enough to Make the Plague Feel Tolerable → https://amzn.to/3GSOq8f • Weighted Blanket for Pretending You’re a Mummified Pharaoh → https://amzn.to/4kVJCgE • Sleep Mask Headphones For Total Historical Escape → https://amzn.to/4nWsNVn • Book Light for Reading About Plagues at 2AM → https://amzn.to/4eSg0iu • White Noise Machine for Blocking Out the 21st Century → https://amzn.to/3GJ9jTw These are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the show while staying cozy. #SleepStory #HistoricalNarration #ChineseRailroadWorkers #DrowsyHistorian #RailroadHistory #SleepHistory #ASMRHistory #DarkHistory