On July 16, 1854, schoolteacher Elizabeth Jennings Graham successfully challenged racist streetcar policies in New York City. He sued, too, but settled out of court, and the company agreed to let black people ride in the same cars as whites. See virtual visit videos with Museum Educators, archival images, lesson plans, suggested reading lists, and more! Elizabeth Jennings Graham, activist and educator was born free in New York City to Thomas and Elizabeth Jennings in either 1826 (according to her Death Certificate) or 1830 (according to an 1850 census). 1827. The railroad company was found culpable in the case. New York Transit Museum. Later in life, Graham opened a kindergarten for African American children in her home. Though Graham won the case, it took over two decades before racial segregation was totally abolished in New York. Graham sustained minor bruises. Your entirely tax-deductible contribution will enable the Transit Museum to continue creating innovative exhibits, accessible education programs, and unforgettable experiences. He was a co-founder of an organization that helped elevate the welfare of the African community. He was a co-founder of an organization that helped elevate the welfare of t… The school was one of the projects founded to promote the wellbeing of the black communities. A white police officer arrived and they forcefully threw her off the coach. Remarkably, Jennings was represented by a 24-year-old lawyer, Chester A. Arthur. New York City’s Black residents were expected to walk; public transportation was rarely available. For the American civil rights figure, see Elizabeth Jennings Graham. In her later years, she opened a kindergarten in New York. The specific day and month of her birth are unknown. Images courtesy of the Kansas State Historical Society and the New York Transit Museum. When the conductor failed in his attempts to physically eject her, he sought help. She ran it until she died. Growing up in New York exposed Graham to the politics of slave abolitionists and racial equality.
Elizabeth’s father Thomas Jennings hired an attorney and future president Chester A. Arthur to sue the Third Avenue Railway Company on his daughter’s behalf. Elizabeth Jennings Graham was born in 1827 to Thomas and Elizabeth Jennings in New York. He was also involved in many social and religious organizations and was one of the founders of New York’s Abyssinian Baptist Church. DO YOU KNOW HER STORY? Her parents were members of the New York vibrant African American community. In 1862 the couple had a son named Thomas who died of “convulsions” one year after his birth. She sued the driver, the conductor, and the Third Avenue Railway. Elizabeth was born free in New York City, in March of 1827. (1997) Kweisi Mfume, “A Shining and Powerful Dream”, African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African Americans and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Alma Stephenson Dever Page on Afro-britons, With Pride: Uplifting LGBTQ History On Blackpast, Preserving Martin Luther King County’s African American History, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, African American Newspapers, Magazines, and Journals, http://projects.ilt.columbia.edu/Seneca/AfAMNYC/Jennings2.html.
Just as Rosa Parks would a century later, Jennings took her case to court. HER NAME WAS ELIZABETH JENNINGS GRAHAM. Thomas Jennings, Graham’s father, filed a lawsuit against the railroad company. Thus, more than thirty years before the New York City subway opened, all transit lines in New York City were integrated by law. If a black person needed to ride on the other coaches, he or she needed permission form the white occupants.
It took another century for Rosa Parks to refuse ejection from a bus in the US. In the late 1850s she married Charles Graham. York’s First Black Episcopal Church Fights Racism (New York, New York: The complainant was represented by Chester Arthur. After the trial, Graham continued her career as a church organist and her career as a teacher. The conductor ordered them out of the coach. Then just a junior partner at Culver, Parker, and Arthur, he later became the 21st President of the United States. Growing up in New York exposed Grahamto the politics of slave abolitionists and racial equality. Elizabeth was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, England in July 18, 1926. Thomas was a weak and often sickly child. Sadly he died one year after his birth. For the fictional TV character, see Elizabeth Jennings (The Americans). Elizabeth Joan Jennings, poet, born July 18 1926; died October 26 2001. She was on her way to church to play the organ on July 16, 1854 when she tried to board a streetcar of the Third Avenue Railway Company which at the time did not allow African Americans as passengers. Her father was a respected figure in the African community. Graham got married to Charles Graham in 1860.
She had three other siblings.
It was then taken over by the black community in New York. In 1855 Judge Rockwell of the Brooklyn Circuit Court ruled: “Colored persons if sober, well behaved and free from disease, had the same rights as others and could neither be excluded by the rules of the company, nor by force or violence.” Jennings won her suit and was awarded damages. The focus was not on the financial gain that Graham got, but the recognition of the rights of the minority. These values were instilled into her from her childhood. Her progressive parents exposed her to formal education. The specific day and month of her birth are unknown. The case was heard and the jury gave its verdict. Like her father, Elizabeth Jennings Graham was involved in many social and religious organizations, most prominently as a church organist. Elizabeth Jennings Graham was buried in Brooklyn’s Cypress Hills Cemetery, along with her son and her husband. All donations are tax deductible. On a hot Sunday morning in July 1854, Elizabeth Jennings, a 24-year-old Black schoolteacher on her way to church, boarded a Third Avenue Railroad Company horsecar at Pearl and Chatham Streets in lower Manhattan. The court ruled that no New York resident was barred to board any public transport coaches on the basis of race. Though New York was an abolitionist state, racial segregation was rampant.
Consequently, the court ruled that it had been illegal to forcibly evict Graham solely because she was African American, and awarded her $225 in damages. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone!
At the time, all public transportation in New York City was privately owned. Blacks had their own buses which were often not serviceable. Graham was paid USD 225 in compensation for the injustice done to her.
Elizabeth’s father Thomas Jennings hired an attorney and future president Chester A. Arthur to sue the Third Avenue Railway Company on his daughter’s behalf. Elizabeth Jennings Graham was born in 1827 to Thomas and Elizabeth Jennings in New York. He was also involved in many social and religious organizations and was one of the founders of New York’s Abyssinian Baptist Church. DO YOU KNOW HER STORY? Her parents were members of the New York vibrant African American community. In 1862 the couple had a son named Thomas who died of “convulsions” one year after his birth. She sued the driver, the conductor, and the Third Avenue Railway. Elizabeth was born free in New York City, in March of 1827. (1997) Kweisi Mfume, “A Shining and Powerful Dream”, African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African Americans and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Alma Stephenson Dever Page on Afro-britons, With Pride: Uplifting LGBTQ History On Blackpast, Preserving Martin Luther King County’s African American History, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, African American Newspapers, Magazines, and Journals, http://projects.ilt.columbia.edu/Seneca/AfAMNYC/Jennings2.html.
Just as Rosa Parks would a century later, Jennings took her case to court. HER NAME WAS ELIZABETH JENNINGS GRAHAM. Thomas Jennings, Graham’s father, filed a lawsuit against the railroad company. Thus, more than thirty years before the New York City subway opened, all transit lines in New York City were integrated by law. If a black person needed to ride on the other coaches, he or she needed permission form the white occupants.
It took another century for Rosa Parks to refuse ejection from a bus in the US. In the late 1850s she married Charles Graham. York’s First Black Episcopal Church Fights Racism (New York, New York: The complainant was represented by Chester Arthur. After the trial, Graham continued her career as a church organist and her career as a teacher. The conductor ordered them out of the coach. Then just a junior partner at Culver, Parker, and Arthur, he later became the 21st President of the United States. Growing up in New York exposed Grahamto the politics of slave abolitionists and racial equality. Elizabeth was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, England in July 18, 1926. Thomas was a weak and often sickly child. Sadly he died one year after his birth. For the fictional TV character, see Elizabeth Jennings (The Americans). Elizabeth Joan Jennings, poet, born July 18 1926; died October 26 2001. She was on her way to church to play the organ on July 16, 1854 when she tried to board a streetcar of the Third Avenue Railway Company which at the time did not allow African Americans as passengers. Her father was a respected figure in the African community. Graham got married to Charles Graham in 1860.
She had three other siblings.
It was then taken over by the black community in New York. In 1855 Judge Rockwell of the Brooklyn Circuit Court ruled: “Colored persons if sober, well behaved and free from disease, had the same rights as others and could neither be excluded by the rules of the company, nor by force or violence.” Jennings won her suit and was awarded damages. The focus was not on the financial gain that Graham got, but the recognition of the rights of the minority. These values were instilled into her from her childhood. Her progressive parents exposed her to formal education. The specific day and month of her birth are unknown. The case was heard and the jury gave its verdict. Like her father, Elizabeth Jennings Graham was involved in many social and religious organizations, most prominently as a church organist. Elizabeth Jennings Graham was buried in Brooklyn’s Cypress Hills Cemetery, along with her son and her husband. All donations are tax deductible. On a hot Sunday morning in July 1854, Elizabeth Jennings, a 24-year-old Black schoolteacher on her way to church, boarded a Third Avenue Railroad Company horsecar at Pearl and Chatham Streets in lower Manhattan. The court ruled that no New York resident was barred to board any public transport coaches on the basis of race. Though New York was an abolitionist state, racial segregation was rampant.
Consequently, the court ruled that it had been illegal to forcibly evict Graham solely because she was African American, and awarded her $225 in damages. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone!
At the time, all public transportation in New York City was privately owned. Blacks had their own buses which were often not serviceable. Graham was paid USD 225 in compensation for the injustice done to her.