Riding Jane Crow

Riding Jane Crow explores the complex experiences of Black women on nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century American railroads, highlighting their roles as passengers and workers amidst the rise of Jim Crow laws. Through stories of Black female intellectuals, middle-class travelers, vendors, and train maids, the book examines how railroad travel became a contested space for social progress and resistance. Thaggert reveals that while technological advancements symbolized progress, they often marginalized Black women, making their journeys a reflection of broader struggles for freedom and equality.