Speed Reading discussion

Such a fascinating book. Though the author too time in the preface to explain his choice of the the words negro and colored, I cringe every time he uses it. Calling someone a"negrophobe" might have been the term at the time but the more accurate description is racist

Shawn, I feel the same way! Like many historians, the author may feel that it is best to use the terms that were common in the day. However, the term "negrophobe" was inaccurate even for the time. White people left children, elderly parents and valuables in the care of Pullman Porters when it convenienced them (obviously not an issue of phobia). An author's word choice can be problematic. The author documents the personal experiences of porters with an objective tone, which I take issue with because the legacy of the Pullman Porters is still being fought for. I hope that as I continue reading and we move toward the Civil Rights era that the tone will change.

Well the book club meeting will be interesting. There should be a lot of discussion about the book and the author.

It definitely gets better as you read and the language changes. I may have made an unfair early judgement. There are so many details the author touches on that capture the experiences of these men and the impact they made. I would like to learn a little more about the women along the railroad that assisted and cared for the men when they traveled through segregated states. I look forward to discussing the book more with everyone.

I'm loving the Pullman lingo, from here on out I'll be referring to cooks as Lizard Scorchers