Jim Crow Terminals

I had to do a double take when I saw the title of this book --since when were airports segregated? How was that possible? I've read a slew of books about airports and never came across this aspect of them. I worked at airports for almost twenty years and was not aware of that part of their history. And just as I had to do a mental reshuffle when I read about how African-Americans were shut out of the All-American road trip until Victor Green began to publish his "Negro Motorist Green Book" from 1936 until 1966, I have a whole new outlook on air travel in the United States in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Jim Crow Terminals takes us through a quick history of U.S. airports and commercial air travel. Right away it's clear that the segregation occurs only in the terminals (restrooms, restaurants, waiting areas) and not on board the planes. And the overt segregation, in which signs directed people to "White" and "Colored" areas were only in the South. However, other states may have practiced segregation while pretending not to, by allowing Black customers to take seats in the restaurant but never taking their orders, for instance.

Most of the book is a detailed legal history of the battle to end segregation in air terminals. It's not casual reading for the most part although colorful details reward the patient reader from time to time, such as the presence of an Uncle Remus storyteller outside the restaurant at the Atlanta airport well into the 1960s. What stands out in the midst of all the legal wrangling is the reticence of the Federal Government to take action. Much of the funding for airports was federal and it would have been reasonable and no surprise for the government to attach strings to the money. But Eisenhower was reluctant to get involved in Southern issues (the same Eisenhower who sent the National Guard to Arkansas to enforce Brown vs. The Board of Education), it wouldn't be until Kennedy's administration that the feds finally felt enough pressure to take a stand. Even Kennedy had to be backed into a corner, I suppose because he felt he needed the support of the Southern Democrats.

It's a short book with a hefty bibliography and plenty of photographs. Well worth a look for American history and airport enthusiasts, and well-footnoted and documented for those doing research.

(Thanks to University of Georgia Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy.)

I have read about racial issues, civil rights news but never once did I ever think about racial issues in the airports. This book was an eye-opener. I commend those who stood up for their beliefs. This is a well written work on a segregated restrooms, restaurants, etc in the airports. The information on the court cases was very well informed. To also include instances of things that happened to Martin Luther King, Jr and Sidney Poitier just to name a few were shocking. To read how one black man told Mr. Poitier in order to eat in the restaurant, he must sit behind in prefer to in essence be hidden from the White customers took my breath away for a moment. This book must be read by all. Kudos to the people of that time that stood up. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced reading copy of this book in return for my honest review.