The History of Blacks in the Railroad Industry Part. 1

This country just observed Labor Day and usually when it is covered on the news Black labor is not mentioned. Pictures of Black workers are seldom shown. Black labor has made a tremendous impact on the progress of America going back to the period of enslavement when millions of enslaved Africans built this country with no pay and in the most horrendous conditions. The focus of this series of articles is on the railroad industry and how Blacks contributed to it in so many ways. Labor Day recognizes the social and economic achievements of American workers. Congress passed a law in June, 1884 to make Labor Day a legal holiday. Black workers in the railroad industry is a huge topic. These articles will introduce my readers to some of this history. I recently purchased a 500- page book entitled: “Railroads in the African American Experience.” It is a photographic journey by author Theodore Kornweibel, Jr. This book takes the reader on a trip from enslavement to Amtrak. It includes over 200 photographs. The author examines the significant contributions of African Americans. The author of this book traveled all over the country to write this history. He recounts that the story of Blacks in the railroad industry is filled with racism and abuse.

     Kornweibel makes clear that the history of railroads can’t be separated from the history of African Americans. For over a century, railroading provided the most important industrial occupation for Blacks. African American men and women have been essential to the daily operation and success of American railroads. Hundreds of thousands of Blacks toiled for decades on the nation’s railroads and their story needs to be told. There is a railroad museum in Pennsylvania and there are no references to the history of Blacks in the railroad industry in this museum. It will take a great deal of research and digging into history to find the entire story. Right here in Buffalo, New York we have the Central Train Terminal. There is history here in our city relating to Blacks who have for years used the Central terminal as a means of travel back and forth to the southern states to visit family. As a child traveling to Alabama years ago with my mother  I can remember the “Red Caps” carrying the baggage of passengers. Many people today do not know their history. This series of articles will include their history and the contributions of Black inventors to the success of the railroad industry.