Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Exhibit: Working on the Rails: African Americans<br />
and Domestic Train Service<br />
Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.<br />
Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.<br />
Through September 29, 2012<br />
This exhibit is a brief display of photos<br />
and flash backs of the experiences and<br />
the legacy of the Pullman porters and<br />
the thousands of black railroad workers<br />
involved in rail car maintenance, baggage<br />
assistance, food service and room<br />
service on the trains. Beyond the stylish<br />
interiors of the Pullman car, the luxury<br />
and comforts provided by Blacks, these<br />
moments in time for the Pullman Porters,<br />
attendants, dining car cooks and waiters,<br />
maids, and baggage handlers portray a<br />
human story of racism and exploitation,<br />
but also represent the quiet struggles,<br />
new strategies for improvement, and<br />
union options to create a better future for Blacks.<br />
These jobs also represented full employment and steady work for Blacks at a time<br />
when there were few real jobs for African Americans. However, the porters were<br />
also required to work a minimum of 400 hours a month, to travel all over the country<br />
at a moment’s notice, to pay for their own suits and uniforms to work without<br />
opportunity for promotion, and they had no permanent sleeping quarters on the<br />
train. They also had to come in early, without pay, to set up the Pullman sleeper<br />
quarters and layout supplies and materials, prepare the beds and get ready for the<br />
travel assignment. Poor working conditions and low pay finally led to formation of<br />
the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, and the appointment of A. Philip<br />
Randolph as their president in 1929. Under Randolph’s leadership, the union would<br />
go on years later in 1937 to win more money, greatly improved working conditions,<br />
and major changes in their contract. A Philip Randolph, a <strong>New</strong> York activist, with<br />
connections in Washington, DC, continued as union president and also worked<br />
with Martin Luther King on the March on Washington in 1963-1964, and assisted<br />
with other civil rights projects.<br />
Back in <strong>New</strong> <strong>Mexico</strong>, African Americans were here as Buffalo soldiers between 1866<br />
and 1891, some of whom would retire to various cities around the state. With the<br />
arrival of the railroads in 1880’s, they and others, who may have arrived by train,<br />
would come to take advantage of less prejudiced people and towns, to find new<br />
work, to set-up small businesses, and also to acquire inexpensive property or homesteading<br />
land including also Blackdom the all Black township near Roswell.<br />
FREE events at the African American Performing Arts Center<br />
Friday, September 14<br />
7:00 p.m.: Comedy Night<br />
Local Comedians bring their comedy<br />
to the stage.<br />
Saturday, September 15<br />
7:00 p.m.: Karaoke Night<br />
All are invited to show your talents<br />
through song<br />
Friday, September 21<br />
7:00 p.m.: Up and Coming Talent<br />
Showcase<br />
Local artists bringing their talents to<br />
the stage<br />
Saturday, September 22<br />
7:00 p.m.: “Party Night”<br />
Come and learn how to line dance<br />
(Country and other line dances)<br />
aaPac<br />
27