Book
They call me George : the untold story of black train porters and the birth of modern Canada / Cecil Foster.
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.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781771962612 (paperback)
- Physical Description: 295 pages ; 23 cm
- Publisher: Windsor, Ontario : Biblioasis, 2019.
- Copyright: ©2019
Content descriptions
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 275-288) and index. |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Pullman porters > Canada > History. Porters > Canada > History. Train attendants > Canada > History. Black Canadians > History. |
| Topic Heading: | BIPOC. |
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at Selkirk College.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Circulation Modifier | Holdable? | Status | Due Date | Courses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castlegar Campus Library | HD 6528 R362 C25 2019 (Text) | B001643675 | General | Volume hold | Available | - |
- Baker & Taylor
"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 forand won a Canada that would provide opportunities for all its citizens."-- - Perseus Publishing
<p><strong>A CBC BOOKS MUST-READ NONFICTION BOOK FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH</strong></p><p><strong>Nominated for the Toronto Book Award</strong></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Smartly dressed and smiling, Canadaâs black train porters were a familiar sight to the average passengerâyet their minority status rendered them politically invisible, second-class in the social imagination that determined who was and who was not considered Canadian. Subjected to grueling shifts and unreasonable standardsâa passenger missing his stop was a dismissible offenseâthe so-called Pullmen of the countryâs rail lines were denied secure positions and prohibited from bringing their families to Canada, and it was their struggle against the racist Dominion that laid the groundwork for the multicultural nation we know today. Drawing on the experiences of these influential black Canadians, Cecil Fosterâs </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">They Call Me George </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">demonstrates the power of individuals and minority groups in the fight for social justice and shows how a country can change for the better.</span></p> - Perseus Publishing
A historical work that chronicles the little-known true stories of black railway porters â the so-called âPullmenâ of the rail lines.
