Chicago and Richmond each have Pullman Porter histories

Following the Civil War, African American men employed as “Pullman Porters” — railway employees who assisted passengers on Pullman company trains — founded the first black labor union and distributed black newspapers. As early advocates of civil rights, they are credited with improving conditions for the working class. While the Pullman neighborhood in Chicago was designated a national monument this week by President Obama, Richmond’s Pullman history remains less-known and in danger of fading from public memory. Ethel Dotson, a tenacious community advocate, has fought to have buildings in the Pullman Historic District preserved as landmarks, but restoration efforts have stalled. Read more of this story on Richmond Pulse.