Description

After years of struggle in labor battles and negotiations, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters Union became the first African American-led union to sign a contract with a large American company. The union's West Coast headquarters were established at Fifth and Wood Streets in West Oakland. Soon families, benevolent societies and churches followed, and a true community came into being. Let the images reveal the story of the community built by Pullman Porters’ wealth in West Oakland during the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. The magic of the story is in the images. The photographs are of people you knew of: grandfathers, grandmothers, great aunts and uncles, your neighbor’s great-grandparents, or of great community leaders. Follow the Link: http://www.tomtramble.com/Advertisement.html