"Made Furious By Jim Crow”
June 4, 1904
Summary
A black woman from New York draws a “knife and made a long Johnson-street razzoo swipe” at the conductor after he demands she sit in the back according to Jim Crow laws.
Transcription
New York Negroes Objected to Color Line in Richmond Street Cars-Tried to Kill the Conductor-Declined to sit in Rear, Cried “To Hell With Jim Crow,” and cursed Him Long and Loud.
“Miss” Coles, of New York visiting colored friend in Richmond bumped suddenly into the Jim Crow car law on a main Street trolley yesterday. The bump was so hard that she lingers in the police court cage today awaiting the arrival of her friends with $20 in cash to redeem her person from hoc.
The visitor took a front seat, and the conductor told her as she sat comfortably clad in her diaphanous white silk wait that she would be compelled to back ups.
In the unmistakable twang of the Northern she demanded the reason.
“We have a Jim Crow law” said the conductor.
“To hell with the Jim Crow car,” said the passenger.
The conductor did his best to move her, but received only long and bitter curses for his efforts.
On the back platform she drew a knife and made a long Johnson-street razzoo swipe at his stomach.
He dodged in time.
On the street the insulted colored female from New York made the air break into blue bubbled from the multitude of her oaths.
Police sergeant Kerse arrested her and had her by the neck until she dropped the knife.
“I like little old New York,” said Crutchfield, who had never seen the town up to two years ago,” “But they certainly don’t look after their little niggers in the right way. If the had raised this one properly, she’d be in twenty dollars.”
Further comment is unnecessary, but it emphasizes the fact that those of the colored people who wish to keep trouble should walk and permit the company to have the entire possession of its street cars. Walking is good now. Stay off the street cars.
“Miss” Coles, of New York visiting colored friend in Richmond bumped suddenly into the Jim Crow car law on a main Street trolley yesterday. The bump was so hard that she lingers in the police court cage today awaiting the arrival of her friends with $20 in cash to redeem her person from hoc.
The visitor took a front seat, and the conductor told her as she sat comfortably clad in her diaphanous white silk wait that she would be compelled to back ups.
In the unmistakable twang of the Northern she demanded the reason.
“We have a Jim Crow law” said the conductor.
“To hell with the Jim Crow car,” said the passenger.
The conductor did his best to move her, but received only long and bitter curses for his efforts.
On the back platform she drew a knife and made a long Johnson-street razzoo swipe at his stomach.
He dodged in time.
On the street the insulted colored female from New York made the air break into blue bubbled from the multitude of her oaths.
Police sergeant Kerse arrested her and had her by the neck until she dropped the knife.
“I like little old New York,” said Crutchfield, who had never seen the town up to two years ago,” “But they certainly don’t look after their little niggers in the right way. If the had raised this one properly, she’d be in twenty dollars.”
Further comment is unnecessary, but it emphasizes the fact that those of the colored people who wish to keep trouble should walk and permit the company to have the entire possession of its street cars. Walking is good now. Stay off the street cars.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Megan Brooks
Citation
“"Made Furious By Jim Crow”,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed April 24, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/580.