They Call Me George: The Untold Story of Black Train Porters and the Birth of Modern Canada

They Call Me George: The Untold Story of Black Train Porters and the Birth of Modern Canada

Canadian novelist and scholar Cecil Foster published his book on sleeping car porters in 2019, 'They Call Me George'. In chapter three, "'Did you ring sir?': Modern Luxury and Black Labour", Foster describes what it was like to work as a sleeping car porter. There was a strict dress code (54), specific ways to make the beds (58), and many rules to follow. Foster quotes from a Canadian Pacific Railway pocket card for porters, with tips such as “cooperate in maintaining our high-class service. We’re proud of it. You’re on the team now—play the game” (57). After listing 13 other ‘tips’, the card concludes by stating that “these are the essential moves in playing a Good Game” (58).

Cecil Foster

Foster, Cecil. They Call Me George: The Untold Story of Black Train Porters and the Birth of Modern Canada. Biblioasis, 2019.

Biblioasis

2019

Biblioasis