Racism on the Train

December 5, 2019 by Catherine Onyemelukwe

Racism Alive and Active on the Train

Ike and me at the Igbo Conference in London two years ago

My Nigerian friend Ike Anya posted a story on Facebook this morning which made me laugh but also made me sad.

He was on a Cross Country train in UK. He says the catering staff “created extra work for himself.” Here’s his post:

“Caught in terrible traffic, I had to run like mad through the station, ticket barriers & just managed to get on the train. Thanks to my hosts, I have a seat reserved in first class. By the time I pushed through the crowded train & find my seat, hot and sweaty, disheveled, I stand & remove my coat.

I don’t want to sit yet. I want to regain my composure so I’m still standing in the aisle when this young man pushes the catering trolley out. I step aside into my seat recess so he can pass, but he pauses in front of me, frowns & then asks for my ticket. I’ve done this trip often; catering staff don’t check tickets..

Usually they just serve refreshments to newly boarded passengers in 1st class & check if passengers already there want anything more. Later in the journey, different members of staff will usually come through checking tickets. So when the young man asks for my ticket, I smile. I show it to him…

He examines it carefully & then almost as if disappointed, hands it back & pushes his trolley forward.

I let him take one or two steps forward and then I say: “Just a moment.” He stops & turns round. “Are you going to check the tickets of everyone in this carriage?” I ask, staring straight at him. “Er, yes” he stammers. I shrug & take my seat…

First class food trolley

First class food trolley

As he pushes his trolley forward, he looks back & sees me, eyes laser-sharp focused on him. So he asks the suited businessman in the next seat across the aisle for his ticket. The businessman is puzzled but shrugs & hands it over. Then he serves the man tea. Moving on to the next seat, he’s about to offer refreshment when I say loudly, “Excuse me, you haven’t offered me anything…”

He glows bright red. “I’m sorry sir, what would you like?”

I ask for a Coke & he nearly falls over himself giving me 3 cans, “because they are quite small sir”. “One is enough,” I say…

As he moves on to the next passenger, he offers them refreshments, believing I am concentrating on my Coke. But when he glances back, my head is poking into the aisle carefully observing him. So he asks that passenger for his ticket before pouring his tea….

The young man has not seen anything. He wants to be ticket inspector abi? His catering work is not enough to occupy him, eh? He will inspect tickets at every single destination until I get off this train. He has just appointed me his supervisor.”

Hard to translate the word “abi” that he uses. You can probably tell what it means. It’s used like “Really?” said with a tone of sarcasm, or “Is that so!”

Ike ended his story with “Nonsense & ingredients,” another popular Nigerian saying that is derived from an old TV show, The Village Schoolmaster! Is that right, Ike?

David Blight on Frederick Douglass

At the Westport Library tonight the author David Blight talked about his 2018 biography of Frederick Douglass, called Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom.
The book won many awards including the Pulitzer Prize for History. A reviewer in The Guardian said, “In stunning detail, with literary verve appropriate to his subject, Blight has written a scholarly biography that often reads like a novel by Melville.”

Harold getting ready to introduce the speaker

Harold Bailey, Chair of TEAM Westport, made the introduction. He said Frederick Douglass was for over a hundred years regarded as an interesting side character to the story of emancipation and rights of former slaves. But in recent years he has been revealed as a major player. “The narration about Douglass has been set straight,” Harold said.

David Blight was an entertaining speaker. He had already written three biographies of Frederick Douglass and hadn’t planned to write another. But through a chance meeting in Savannah Georgia twelve years ago, he was shown the trove of documents that Douglass’ children had compiled.
There were many scrapbooks with photos, and best of all, thousands of newspaper clippings and family letters. Even then, he debated with himself for months before realizing he just had to write another book featuring Douglass’ later years, less well known, that showed the depth of his influence on American history.
Blight said Douglass was an amazing master of words, not only a powerful orator but an intellectual writer as well. He used the Bible frequently, often returning to the Exodus story, saying he felt himself a permanent exile in his own country.
He believed he carried a responsibility to speak for his people. He wrote three autobiographies, and kept updating them. He wanted to know and tried to explain, “How did I get here from there?” Born in slavery, he escaped at age 20, educated himself and became an outspoken advocate for abolition.

The author signing books and lecturing at the same time!

Though he met President Lincoln who enlisted his assistance in emancipation, Lincoln and his people wouldn’t let Douglass campaign for his re-election. He feared the association was too “dangerous” for white northern voters.
I didn’t buy the book tonight. It would be a great birthday or Christmas gift! I did however get a picture of Blight signing books and people waiting in line.
Let me know if you’re reading Frederick Douglass, Prophet of Freedom, it or if you hear David Blight speak.

Author: Catherine Onyemelukwe

Author, blogger, speaker. Born in New York, grew up in mid west United States, lived in Nigeria for 24 years, back in U.S. since 1986. Advocate for racial justice.

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