Arkansas State press., 1943-10-29

~"Ns JQI0eu % lille III WI odds IHdb .
a Pullman Car" | showed him my ticket. Slowly he picked up
my bag, but instead of going to the car, he said: Wait,
and left me standing while he walked five cars up to where
the white conductor was standing and engaged IN a con-
versation, meanwhile looking and pointing at me. Finally
he came back and gruffly commanded = "rhis way" On
our way to the car, he suddenly turned to me and asked
"whard YOU Git dat ticket" That is exactly what he said
and how he said it. By this time I was hot. In fact was
boiling. To think that a colored man himself was of the
opinion that / had no right to ride in a Pullman Car. So
said rather heatedly, None of your damned business, just
take that bag to car No. 314."
During the past twenty-five years I have had occasion
to travel quite a bit. And I have been struck with dismay
and hurt by the attitude of some of the colored employees
on the railroads. I have gone into dining cars where the
walters seemed embarrassed and sore because | came In
when the car was fairly crowded. Many times there has been
a vacant seat at a table for four -- the other three being
occupied by white people and | have been told by a wait
er, probably at the order of the steward, "car crowded. OF
course | know why, both the steward and the waiter feared
that the white people would object to sitting at the table
with a person of color. Well often they do. There is no ques-
ton about that. 1t seldom if ever occurs to either Of them,
however, that | might not want to eat at the table with
some white people. For | have seen examples of terrible
table manners practiced by white folks in dining cars,
have seen devotees of the pitch and gulp" school, and 9th
ers adept in the Kansas City grip, | believe 1t Is called
where the knife is held like a dagger.
There is nothing to be ashamed of in being an employee
of a railroad whether it be porter, waiter, red cap or what
not. Personal service can be as ~dignified as any occupation
or profession. 1t is a pleasure to watch the men who man
the New York Centrars great Empire State Express. They
are highly intelligent, they speak in cultivated and subdued
tones, they carry themselves WIN Sucn pOlSe ana grace JhaI
even a Cracker from the deep south hesitates and chokes
when he tries to say George. You just don't hear this ap-
pelation on the Empire. And these men have no inferiority
complex in the presence of white people. And that is more
than can say of some Negro doctors, lawyers and teach
ers and social workers. And they don't become distressed
when a colored person enters the chair car or dining car.
They act perfectly natural. A pleasant Good Morning" or
"Good Evening, is their greeting to all passengers, black
and white alike. It is largely the attitude and the action Of
the porters and waters on the Empire which causes the
white passengers to forget their %prejudices and to accept
the presence of a colored passenger in a respectful and often
friendly manner.
You can be sure that If they acted as if they resented
the presence of colored travellers, the atmosphere Of super
iority and contempt would permeate the train. ! like the
Empire. I respect the men who work on il. For they are
gentlemen in the true sense of the word.