Title:  Tribute to the Pullman Porters


Site:  103rd Street and Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago (no longer extant)


Artist:  Bernard Williams


Assistants:  Chris Salmon and Julia Solwes


Community Participants:  D.J. Williams


Sponsors:  Chicago Public Art Group and Historic North Pullman Organization


Year:  1995


Scale:  13 x 68 feet


Materials:  Acrylic paint on concrete


Information:  Aptly sited on either side of a train underpass in North Pullman, this mural honors the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the nation’s first black labor union, as well as its spirited leader A. Philip Randolph. Randolph is featured on the south wall in a wall-high portrait and on the north wall, pointing an accusing finger at George Pullman. Also portrayed is Milton Webster, the Chicago director of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. The mural includes images of protesting porters holding picket signs. A porter proudly marches behind the stylishly hatted women and a representative of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers stares sternly from beneath his work helmet.