The Road Taken, NFB Film

The Road Taken, NFB Film

In his 1996 documentary, The Road Taken, filmmaker Selwyn Jacob interviews former sleeping car porters. One man, Earl Brisco, discusses the tipping culture, where he made a large portion of his money. “If you don’t give that man good service or a smile and ‘hello,’ or ‘good night’ or ‘how are you doing this morning, sir?’ you ain’t gonna make no money.” Being polite was essential to them making a good living, with their tips dependent entirely on the mood and whim of the customer. Brisco states that the customers “want you to go out there and give service… By you giving them service,... people say, ‘Gee, well I went to Vancouver, I had porter so-and-so and the crew treated me royally.’” There was a clear power dynamic, one that mirrored that of centuries prior: Black folk serving white folk. Porters had to be at their very best to keep their reputation and support their families financially.

Selwyn Jacob

Jacob, Selwyn, director. The Road Taken. National Film Board, 1996. Documentary, 52 min. https://www.nfb.ca/film/road_taken/.

National Film Board

1996

Earl Brisco

National Film Board

Documentary