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Pullman Porters and the Rise of Protest Politics in Black America, 1925-1945

Chinua Achebe

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Published in Pullman Porters And The Rise Of Protest Politics In Black America 1925 1945 (The John Hope Franklin In African American History And Culture)

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The Pullman porters were African American men who worked as porters on the Pullman railroad cars. They were a highly visible and influential group of workers, and their activism played a major role in the rise of protest politics in Black America during the 1920s and 1930s.

Pullman Porters and the Rise of Protest Politics in Black America 1925 1945 (The John Hope Franklin in African American History and Culture)

Pullman Porters and the Rise of Protest Politics in Black America, 1925-1945 (The John Hope Franklin Series in African American History and Culture)

by Beth Tompkins Bates

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2376 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	302 pages

The Origins of the Pullman Porters

The Pullman porters were first hired by the Pullman Palace Car Company in the late 1860s. At that time, most African Americans were working in menial jobs, such as farm laborers and domestic servants. However, the Pullman porters were able to secure relatively well-paying jobs, and they quickly became one of the most respected groups of African American workers.

The Pullman Porters Union

In 1925, the Pullman porters formed their own union, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP). The BSCP was the first successful African American labor union, and it quickly became a model for other unions. The BSCP fought for better wages, working conditions, and benefits for its members, and it also played a major role in the civil rights movement.

The Pullman Porters and the Great Depression

The Great Depression hit the Pullman porters hard. Many of them lost their jobs, and those who kept their jobs saw their wages and benefits cut. The BSCP fought to protect its members during the Depression, and it also worked to organize unemployed Pullman porters.

The Pullman Porters and the Civil Rights Movement

The Pullman porters were active in the civil rights movement from its early days. They participated in sit-ins, boycotts, and marches, and they worked to register African American voters. The BSCP also helped to fund the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which was a major turning point in the civil rights movement.

The Legacy of the Pullman Porters

The Pullman porters were a major force in the rise of protest politics in Black America. They fought for better wages, working conditions, and benefits for themselves, and they also played a major role in the civil rights movement. The legacy of the Pullman porters continues to inspire activists and organizers today.

The Pullman porters were a group of African American men who worked as porters on the Pullman railroad cars. They were a highly visible and influential group of workers, and their activism played a major role in the rise of protest politics in Black America during the 1920s and 1930s. The Pullman porters fought for better wages, working conditions, and benefits for themselves, and they also played a major role in the civil rights movement. The legacy of the Pullman porters continues to inspire activists and organizers today.

Pullman Porters and the Rise of Protest Politics in Black America, 1925-1945 (The John Hope Franklin Series in African American History and Culture)

by Beth Tompkins Bates

4.9 out of 5