During the recent presidential campaign, cable television news stations covered nearly every aspect of the candidates twenty-four hours a day. Additionally, Journalists considered it their professional responsibility to provide commentary on the actions and motives of everyone associated with the political frontrunners. Even if we were not concerned about clothing allowances, we were oftentimes moved by the knowledge and insight these journalists provided. However, journalists have been providing social commentary for generations, particularly Black journalists. In the Black community, Black journalists conveyed information about church events and other social happenings, as well as events in the White community. Many Black journalists and editors used their circulations to influence public opinion and policy. Such was the case in Houston, Texas, during the 1920s.
After World War I, the availability, and affordability, of the private automobile led to a “revolution,” of sorts, in public transit, due to the rise of jitneys. The jitney was a private automobile that transported individuals along specific urban corridors. They operated somewhere between on-demand taxis and streetcars and/or buses. As a result, jitneys, as a business initiative became a real threat to local streetcar companies. By charging only 5 cents a ride, jitney operators were able to secure profits without incurring much overhead.
In Houston, as in many cities across the country, the affordable fares and increased mobility provided by jitneys offered the Black community improved access to jobs and social services that were previously unattainable because of Jim Crow restrictions. Blacks also found few barriers to entering the jitney business, and soon became a visible part of Houston’s transportation networks. Consequently, the Black owned and operated jitneys became a common sight on the city streets.
However, due to diminished profit returns, the Houston Electric Company (HEC), the local utility company, formally requested that Houston’s city council prohibit jitney services on, and near, streetcar lines. Initially, the city agreed to a partial reduction. Eventually, under threat of incomplete street improvement projects, Houston’s city council supported a vote to completely eliminate jitneys services.
What outraged Clifton Richardson, editor of the Houston Informer, a Black weekly, was the early removal of Black jitneys. In January 1923, Richardson used his editorial to alert his readers of the discriminatory actions of the city council and stated that the white jitney lines were not affected “in the least.” In the end all jitneys were affected, Black and White.
While Richardson vehemently opposed the reduction of Black jitneys, he finally whole-heartedly supported the ultimate demise of all jitneys. Because of his support of the HEC, Richardson believed he could now ensure equal treatment of all passengers, and that future expansions of the streetcar lines would extend to outlying minority communities. He was wrong. Segregation in Houston's transportation systems continued. Even with the introduction of buses in April 1924, blacks were not allowed to ride freely until 1932.
Richardson, in the tradition of other Black journalists of the pre-civil rights era, provided not only information about social events, but also political happenings as well. It is practically impossible to ascertain the political impact upon Richardson’s readers. Nonetheless, the city’s establishment recognized his influence, even as they falsely dangled the carrot of a free society in front of him.
References
Houston Informer, November 11, 1922; January 6, 1923; June 2, 1923; June 9, 1923; January 26, 1924.
Houston Press, November 2, 1922.
Houston Chronicle, June 7, 1940
