They call me George : the untold story of black train porters and the birth of modern Canada / Cecil Foster.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Foster, Cecil, 1954- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Pullman porters--Canada--History.

Pullman porters.

Porters--Canada--History.

Porters.

Train attendants--Canada--History.

Train attendants.

History.

Canada.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

296 pages ; 23 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Windsor, Ontario : Biblioasis, [2019]

Summary:

"A historical work of non-fiction that chronicles the little-known stories of black railway porters-the so-called "Pullmen" of the Canadian rail lines. The actions and spirit of these men helped define Canada as a nation in surprising ways, effecting race relations, human rights, North American multiculturalism, community building, the shape and structure of unions, and the nature of travel and business across the US and Canada. Drawing on the stories and legends of several of these influential early black Canadians, this book narrates the history of a very visible, but rarely considered, aspect of black life in railway-age Canada. These porters, who fought against the idea of Canada as White Man's Country, open only to immigrants from Europe, fought for and won a Canada that would provide opportunities for all its citizens."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction

Leaving the station: Stan Grizzle's legacy of social change

The railways are always hiring: working in white man's country

"Did you ring, Sir?": modern luxury and black labour

The coloured commonwealth: reckoning with ah racist past

"I know nothing about that": legislating the colour line

The ending of empire: reimagining immigration

Pressuring parliament: a new kind of Canadian citizenship

A Creolized country: the black British of the West Indies

Permanent residence: social identity and the state

Demerits and deadheading: the rail companies' unreasonable demands

An uphill battle: pushing for policy changes

Fair consideration: the porters gain new ground

The porters' final fight: a multicultural country

Beyond the rails: the battle for black identity

Conclusion: a multicultural brotherhood fulfilling a dream

Afterword: appreciating the legacy

Endnotes

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Foster, Cecil, 1954-, author. They call me George.:

ISBN:

9781771962612

1771962615

OCLC:

1080209154

Publisher Number:

99981006707