Hey boy! Hey George!
The Pullman Porter: A Pullman Porter’s story
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About The Book
A powerful journey of a black man’s dreams and dilemmas, fears and perseverance. Cerebral and racy, historical and reflective, “Hey boy! Hey George!” The Pullman Porter chronicles Kirvin’s experience as a Pullman porter during WWII.
Some viewed Pullman porters as prestigious breadwinners, while others viewed them as glorified servants, but what was it really like to deliver a standard of excellence while trying to survive and earn a living under Jim Crow segregation laws? Experience Kirvin’s challenges firsthand, then decide for yourself.
Best aspect is that, of course, this is a primary source, written by someone who experienced the reality of Jim Crow, yet could benefit from being part of A. Philip Randolph’s union for Pullman porters. Few other avenues to middle class status were available to poor African-Americans in the early-to-mid-20th century, but the unionization of Pullman car workers created just such opportunity. Well-written and generally historically accurate.
What’s inside
Book excerpts
Chapter 2/Private Car and Forbidden Fruit
Days of Yore photos
About John Kirvin
Check out Chapter 2
An excerpt from: “Hey boy! Hey George!” The Pullman Porter
Chapter 2, Private Car and the Forbidden Fruit
“…..The beautiful redhead glared at me, “You know I can yell rape and they’ll get you even though you haven’t done a thing.” I sniffed the air and felt my throat go dry. My body tensed. What the heck was she trying to do? I stared at the beautiful white woman before me wondering why she and other women like her felt the need to endanger a colored man’s life? I gave her a somber glare. “There’s no privacy on this train for something like that to happen, Ma’m.” She flicked her hand in the air dismissing my objections. “Sure there is,” she said, in her southern drawl. “Right here in this room,” she pointed, looking at the berth and then back at me, smiling. This was more than I wanted to deal with. “But the other lady with Mr. Collins sleeps in here too.”
“Hmmp! Not tonight. If I know Susie, she’ll stick to Collins ’cause she wants him to buy her a coat. She’ll be sleeping with him tonight.” I started to worry. She seemed so serious and bold. “How do you know that, Ma’m? Suppose she decides to come in to get something? Please Ma’m, forget this idea! It’s not good,” I pleaded. The redhead waved her index finger at me. “When I make up my mind,” she said, “that’s it. Now, I know you porters sleep from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. You have a key to the door, so you better show up here at 2 a.m.” I didn’t know what to say, but the words came out. “I’m not in the mood for this,” I said, talking to her as if she was no longer a passenger. “Hmmp!” the redhead said under her breath. “You’ll have plenty of time to get in the mood, Porter.” She looked at her watch. “It’s only six-thirty. And really, John, don’t worry. I’ll see to it that we’re not disturbed.” I rubbed my hands over my mouth in frustration. “Ma’m why don’t you choose some other man from the bar? There’s some fine-looking white men who come to the bar.” She narrowed her eyes. “White men I can get anytime.”
Hey boy! Hey George! The Pullman Porter: A Pullman Porter’s story (Paperback) ~ Johnnie F. Kirvin (Author), Hey Carla Simone Kirvin (Foreword) – Buy now at Amazon.com
Chapters
Pages
This book feels like having your grandfather sitting you down and just telling you what his life was like. This is a very easy to read book with a very conversational tone. The author’s story is both sad at times and very humorous, and entertaining throughout.
The author discusses some very candid and humorous events during his time as a Pullman Porter, but also some of the uglier parts of his job. Although he does specifically describe his duties as a porter, this is not a dry accounting on the daily activities of a worker. Rather, his stories are very real and easy to picture in your mind.
About the author.
Johnnie F. Kirvin was born in Dallas, Texas in 1914. In his mid-twenties, he worked as a Pullman Porter, traveling from state to state, a position he took great pride in.
Kirvin encounters his fair share of controversy as he works aboard various trains in the midst of segregation: a beautiful white woman threatens to accuse him of rape if he doesn’t visit her berth in the middle of the night; Japanese-American passengers en route to internment camps; a Hollywood film crew that parties until they reach their film set in Mexico; Japanese soldiers riding to Arkansas; and a stop to an extremely segregated small-town shop, where the porters must plead with the owner just to buy some smacks. Ultimately, faith coupled with perseverance; enable Kirvin to confront his fears and various hardships. “It was during those days as a porter,” says Kirvin, “I learned to be ever-cautious and alert.”
Kirvin worked to support his mother and was later drafted into the Army until he was honorably discharged due to an injury. In his later years, he worked as a rehabilitation specialist for the Veteran’s Administration. An avid reader he has written many short stories and poems. Kirvin, a father of five, lived in Los Angeles with his youngest daughter until his passing in 2015.
Kirvin wrote “Hey boy! Hey George!” in 21 days, while waiting to be selected for jury duty. His legacy lives on.
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