Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Lost Memphis Cabs for "Colored Patrons" Only
Posted by Vance Lauderdale on Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 3:52 PM
It's hard to believe that there was a time in our city when whites rode only in "white" cabs, and African-American citizens could only ride in "colored" taxis, but here's the proof. A nice ad for the Nu-Way Taxi Company, which advertised "24-Hour Service for Colored Patrons." My oh my.
I can't say how long Nu-Way remained in business, but today the site of the cab company on Porter is occupied by New Mt. Olive Baptist Church.
Comments (4)
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Why is it hard to believe? Our city is still as segregated as it was then, we just legally can't be made to ride in separate cabs.
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"Hard to believe" meaning: I had never heard of it. Segregated drinking fountains and swimming pools? Yes. Separate seating areas in public places like theatres, bus stations, and train stations? Yes. Segregated seating on public transportation? Of course. But this was the first time I had encountered ads for black/white taxi services.
How would you know which company to call? All the other places posted signs. If you didn't read this ad, and you called a taxi, did they ask what color you were?
I've never heard of it either, but I suppose it makes sense. But then again, how many colored persons back then could even afford a taxi?
In the old days if there was an accident and you called for an ambulance the operator would ask, "What color is the person?" Black patient = send black funeral home as an ambulance. White patient = white funeral home. Not sure what would happen with an Asian patient ... did they play "rocks, paper, scissors" to decide? One day a white woman was in an accident near a black funeral home's ambulance service and died while waiting for a white funeral home. An African-American radio deejay saw everything unfold and announced it on his radio show. The beginning of the end for segregated ambulances!!
