REQUEST OF EXPLANATION OF A PHRASE TAKEN FROM THE BOOK "ROSA PARKS",BY KEITH BRANDT AND JOANNE MATTE

The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was an organized labor union that represented the men who served as porters on rail cars. They formed in 1925 to represent Porters, at that time Porters were the men who assisted passengers at railway stations, they handled the luggage, served meals in the dining cars and set up the sleeping compartments.

Train Travel was a major form of transportation for many Americans. George Pullman wanted to make train travel as comfortable and luxurious as possible. All of the men hired as porters were African American (only men could be porters) they were paid meager wages and relied on tips from the passengers. Despite the low wages, at the time it was a respectable job for men who were denied work in other areas.

When my family came home to the United States from Iceland, we flew in a transport with prop engines (before commercial air travel to/from Iceland) Dad was an Air Traffic Controller at the airport in Iceland. We would take the train from New York to Baltimore...it must have been our final trip home because I was old enough to remember the porter. That was the first and only time I remember a porter. He was a large man in a spotless white jacket and brought a glass of milk to the table.

Anyhow, thats the abbreviated version of the Porters who were employed by George Pullman. I hope that helps.

My grandfather worked for the railroad for 44 years. He was a telegrapher and station master, so he was well-known, and well-liked. We had passes to ride the trains, which my grandmother frequently took advantage of--she didn't drive. The porters all knew who we were, and they would bring us sandwiches and glasses of milk. I don't know if my grandparents settled the bill later--hey, I was just a kid. I knew I liked the porters, who always smiled and said hello when they saw us, and treated us very well.