America''s First Freedom Rider - Elizabeth Jennings, Chester A. Arthur, Early Fight for Civil Rights

In 1854, traveling was full of danger. Omnibus accidents were commonplace. Pedestrians were regularly attacked by the Five Points’ gangs. Rival police forces watched and argued over who should help. Pickpockets, drunks and kidnappers were all part of the daily street scene in old New York. Yet somehow, they endured and transformed a trading post into the Empire City.

None of this was on Elizabeth Jennings’s mind as she climbed the platform onto the Chatham Street horsecar. But her destination and that of the country took a sudden turn when the conductor told her to wait for the next car because it had “her people” in it. When she refused to step off the bus, she was assaulted by the conductor who was aided by a NY police officer. On February 22, 1855, Elizabeth Jennings v. Third Avenue Rail Road case was settled. Seeking $500 in damages, the jury stunned the courtroom with a $250 verdict in Lizzie’s favor. Future US president Chester A. Arthur was Jennings attorney and their lives would be forever onward intertwined.

This is the story of what happened that day. It’s also the story of Jennings and Arthur’s families, the struggle for equality, and race relations. It’s the history of America at its most despicable and most exhilarating. Yet few historians know of Elizabeth Jennings or the impact she had on desegregating public transit.

About the author

By Jerry Mikorenda

Product details

• Authors: Jerry Mikorenda
• Publisher: Rowman and Littlefield
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.03.2020
• EAN: 9781493041343
• ISBN: 978-1-4930-4134-3
• No. of pages: 256
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; USA, 19. Jahrhundert (1800 bis 1899 n. Chr.), Amerikanische Geschichte, Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, USA Nordosten, Mid-Atlantic States, Social & cultural history, HISTORY / African American, History - U.S., HISTORY / United States / State & Local / Middle Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA), HISTORY / United States / 19th Century, HISTORY / Women, c 1800 to c 1900, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, Social and cultural history, United States of America, USA, Gender studies: women, History of the Americas, Gender studies: women and girls, Black & Asian Studies, HISTORY / African American & Black, Relating to African American / Black American people