Frogtown in Saint Paul in Ramsey County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

From Service to Solidarity

A United Struggle for Equity and Prosperity

Photographed by McGhiever, June 12, 2019

1. From Service to Solidarity Marker

Inscription.
This artwork recognizes the labor struggles of African American railroad porters. Porters served white passengers on luxury train cars that crisscrossed America from the late-1800s to the mid-1960s. Despite racial insults, low pay and hard conditions, porters wore a smile—as required—to earn tips. For them, smiling was a tool of survival.

Porters on your left represent Service, performing their work with dignity and resilience. Porters on your right represent Solidarity, creating a strong union to demand change. These sculptures—smiling on one side, stern on the other—depict the conflicting emotions that arose from the porters' struggle to reconcile both worlds.

From Service to Solidarity honors the transformation of African American porters from targets of injustice to activists united together for a better future.

To learn more about the porters and their contributions, visit The Reading Room at BROWNstone in the adjacent building during standard office hours.

[Caption:]
Sculptures by Marjorie Pitz, 2017

Erected 2017.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans

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• Labor Unions • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 2017.

Location. 44° 57.354′ N, 93° 8.117′ W. Marker is in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in Ramsey County. It is in Frogtown. It is on University Avenue W. west of Avon Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 833 University Avenue W, Saint Paul MN 55104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Roots in Rondo (here, next to this marker); 10,000 Men Called George (here, next to this marker); Spreading the Word (here, next to this marker); Service, Not Servitude (here, next to this marker); United We Stand

From Service to Solidarity Marker (center right) and flanking sculptures image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, June 12, 2019

2. From Service to Solidarity Marker (center right) and flanking sculptures

(here, next to this marker); In for the Long Haul (here, next to this marker); Forward to Victory (a few steps from this marker); Welcome to Victoria Street Station (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Saint Paul.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 228 times since then and 15 times this year. Last updated on February 26, 2024, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 25, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.