Bobby and Kavi play a card game modeling the 19th-century wage gap between white and Chinese railroad workers. The white player gets higher pay, free equipment, and free food while the Chinese player faces penalties and lower earnings. By the end, Bobby reaches $300 while Kavi falls behind, dramatizing how systemic barriers kept Chinese workers poor.
All right, so this is our card game. So I'm going to be representing the white railroad workers, and Kavi is going to be the Chinese railroad workers. So the first one to get to $300 first wins. Okay, so I'll go. I get a payday, I get $35. I lost $5 because the Chinese immigrants had to pay for equipment. So food's provided for me, so just nothing. Kavi gets some money, $25 for him. I get another payday. I'm at $70. Bobby has to pay another $10 for food.
I'm at $10.
Okay. I get free equipment, so that's $0. Get some more money. $40. $70. Another payday. I'm at $105. I lost my turn. That represents the 1960s. '67 strike, which they didn't end up getting any money. So I get to go twice, so I get free equipment and more equipment, I guess.
And I lost my strike.
Okay, so I get another payday. I'm at $140 and free food.
Get payday. I'm at— I'm at 70. Another payday. I'm at 175. I'm at 100.
Free food.
130. I'm at 175.
More free food.
160. I'm catching up. 175 over here. More free equipment. Ah, damn it.
Lost $5 for equipment. All right, uh, free food.
I'm at $155, but minus $10, $145 for food.
Okay, free equipment. Well, I lost my turn, went on strike. Uh, what am I? I'm still $175, so, uh, equipment provided. And more money, so $210. I'm at $170. Okay, I get a bonus of $5, so $215.
I'm at— got a payday, so I'm at $200.
Uh, free, free food.
Another payday, so I'm at $230.
Okay, another payday, so I'm at $245.
I'm at $260.
Okay, I'm at $290. Ooh. I lost $10. Minus $10. What are you at now? Um, $220. $220. Got a bonus of $5, so $295.
I'm at 210.
Okay, and then payday, $35, so I win. So this represents like the unfair barrier in pay between white workers and Chinese workers.
Yes.
