HISTORY BIT: PULLMAN PORTERS
Sunday, February 22, 2009
In an era when America traveled by train, one of the best jobs a black man could land was working as a Pullman porter. It also was one of the worst. The hours were grueling — 16 hours a day, seven days a week. The first Pullman porters, hired after the Civil War, were former slaves. Their ranks swelled until they reached 20,000 in the early part of the 20th century, making them the largest group of African-American men employed in the country.
Last Tuesday, Amtrak honored the legacy of Pullman porters, who fought bigotry to form the first-ever black labor union in the country in 1925, achieving better wages and shorter hours. Little is known about the extraordinary accomplishments of these men, who were the foot soldiers in the early civil rights movement. They ushered in a new generation of leaders like Malcolm X and Thurgood Marshall, both porters themselves.
Check out the video clip above from NBC Nightly News on the Pullman Porters - the largest group of black workers in post-slavery America, who are finally being recognized as the early engine of the Civil Rights Movement.
19 Comments
1.
WOW
Sunday, February 22, 2009 /
Thanks , for posting this , it made me Cry , Blacks have come a long way , I hope Black young ppl will find this , information and HONOUR it .
2.
younghustla
Sunday, February 22, 2009 /
I am proud to be the first person to show the Pullman Porters love.
3.
i.trustless
Sunday, February 22, 2009 /
I think this is awesome.
A little overdue, but either way its good that they finally recognized these amazing hardworking African American men.
4.
My V-O-T-E mattered
Sunday, February 22, 2009 /
This is long overdue, but I’m glad they are being recognized for their contribution to American history.
5.
B-more Babe by way of Illadelphia
Sunday, February 22, 2009 /
*Claps, Claps, Claps* I love this site. Glad these wonderful men are being recognized!
6.
cc
Sunday, February 22, 2009 /
If you are in the Chicago area, visit the A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum.
Website: http://www.aphiliprandolphmuseum.com/
7.
Sarah Vaughan
Sunday, February 22, 2009 /
That was something I didn’t know but needed to know…very nice post!!!
8.
HOLLEYWOOD
Sunday, February 22, 2009 /
THANKS FOR A VERY INTERESTING POST J DAKAR!! KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU DO! ANGEL MUCH LOVE FOR STARTING CL!! YOU GO GIRL!!
9.
Rae
Sunday, February 22, 2009 /
This was a good post, and a history lesson that more should know about. HBO actually made a movie about this a few years ago called “10,000 Men Named George”. Check it out!
10.
cali_systa
Sunday, February 22, 2009 /
Give Thanks!
11.
YaChi
Sunday, February 22, 2009 /
First blacks to form unions for better wages and shorter working hours…………that’s sweet baby. Good job CL!!!
12.
HMMM
Sunday, February 22, 2009 /
This is amazing. It’s always refreshing to see what our history truly is. Accomplishment, endearment, and the strength to persevere. I’m so proud of my race, because if any other race were to have been placed under any of the horrid things we’ve had to, they probably would’ve been extinct. We always, ALWAYS, overcome!
13.
theComplex
Sunday, February 22, 2009 /
Thank you so much for posting.
14.
the girl
Sunday, February 22, 2009 /
great post!
and he is looking good for his age too!
15.
Inspired By Change
Sunday, February 22, 2009 /
Once again job well done, j Dakar and CL. Thanks for the post!
16.
Yank
Monday, February 23, 2009 /
This post is God giving for many African Americans, along with other Americans today. The year of 2009 is shedding more positive, influential light on the gifts African American people bring to this country. Learning about these types of achievements make me want to do better.
17.
Umakmesmile
Monday, February 23, 2009 /
good post, Dakar!!!
18.
Kellz
Monday, February 23, 2009 /
I never knew about this or the past event but it’s really interesting. There’s a lot of things prior to Malcolm and Martain that sparked the civic rights movement that most ppl don’t know about. It’s good to hear about something else! Thanks J!
19.
BEAUTIFUL!!!
Saturday, February 28, 2009 /
10,000 Men Named George is an excellent movie to refer to when learning about this. Real Talk It actually should be required movie in the education system.