Exhibition reclaims the Pullman Maid’s place in history to the forefront

An article in The Chicago Defender on an arts exhibit dedicated to Pullman maids interviews its curator, Miriam Thaggert, author of the book “Riding Jane Crow: African American Women on the American Railroad.” “For the most part, people have not valued our experience. First and foremost, we have to hear, narrate and record the stories of ordinary black women, not just celebrities. That’s why I was fascinated doing the research for my book. I was interested in the ordinary black women whose stories have not been recorded. I encourage women to talk to their mothers and grandmothers and document their stories so they can be passed on to future generations of women in the family. That has to happen,” says Thaggert.