Canton Avenue: Brooklyn Honors Chinese Immigrant History

What does it mean when your community's history finally gets a street sign? For hundreds of Chinese residents in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, the answer came on October 2, 2026 — with drums, gongs, Cantonese opera, and confetti. A section of Bay Parkway between 85th and 86th streets was officially co-named "Canton Avenue," recognizing the contributions of Chinese immigrants — starting with the nearly 12,000 workers who built the Transcontinental Railroad over 150 years ago.

Who Built the Railroad — and Who Was Left Out

Records show that Chinese workers made up about 80% of the Transcontinental Railroad's workforce at the height of construction. They did the most dangerous jobs: blasting through rock, digging tunnels, and building bridges in extreme weather. An estimated 1,200 died from accidents, avalanches, and explosions. Yet when the railroad was completed on May 10, 1869, Chinese workers were left out of the iconic photograph marking that moment. Joseph Luo, 64, a fifth-generation descendant of a Chinese railroad worker and president of the General Assembly of the American Association of Cantonese, told Documented that his great-grandfather came from Taishan, Guangdong province, in 1864 to help build the railroad. "Their hard work and sacrifice should always be remembered," Luo said.

City Councilmember Susan Zhuang, whose district includes Bensonhurst and roughly 180,000 residents — about half of whom are Cantonese speakers — spoke at the ceremony alongside City Comptroller Mark Levine. "We are doing more than adding a name to a street sign. We are making history visible," Zhuang said. She noted that after the railroad's completion, Chinese workers faced severe legal and social hostility that forced many to leave the US. Those who stayed, and those who came later, helped build the Long Island Rail Road and shaped New York City's neighborhoods.

Lilan Zhao, who immigrated from Guangzhou in 1987, remembered walking Bensonhurst's streets with her two children and seeing almost no other Cantonese speakers. "Now it's so different. It has become another Chinatown," she said. Her husband's grandfather was also among the early Chinese immigrant workers who came to the US. For Zhao and many others at the ceremony, the co-naming was personal: "I'm so happy that today, the contributions and history of Chinese immigrants are being recognized."

What This Means for Immigrants Today

The Canton Avenue ceremony is a reminder that immigrant communities have shaped the US for generations — and that recognition, even when it comes late, matters. If you are a Chinese American or immigrant with family ties to this history, local organizations in Bensonhurst can connect you with community resources, legal aid, and documentation support for immigration matters.

What to do

• If you are an immigrant with questions about your status, work permit (EAD), or green card application, contact a licensed immigration attorney or a nonprofit legal aid organization in your area.
• If you are a DACA recipient or TPS holder, check USCIS.gov for the latest renewal deadlines and filing requirements — missing a deadline can affect your status.
• If you face removal proceedings or an ICE arrest, you have the right to remain silent and the right to speak with an attorney before answering questions.
• Community organizations in Bensonhurst and across New York City offer free or low-cost immigration legal services — ask at your local library or community center for referrals.