The Road Taken

  • September 1996
  • 52mins

  • Documentary
  • Directed by

    Selwyn Jacob,

    Dale Phillips,

    Graydon McCrea,

    This 1996 documentary takes a nostalgic ride through history to present the experiences of Black sleeping-car porters who worked on Canada's railways from the early 1900s through the 1960s. There was a strong sense of pride among these men and they were well-respected by their community. Yet, harsh working conditions prevented them from being promoted to other railway jobs until finally, in 1955, porter Lee Williams took his fight to the union.