Reviewed by valerie h on Apr 25, 2021
Tagged:
Humor
History
Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving is a fascinating read.
Mo Rocco, a correspondent for CBS news, is the author. He has researched forgotten lives of people whose achievements have never been really recognized or appreciated.
My favorite Mobit was about Elizabeth Jennings (1827-1901). She's known as the Rosa Parks of New York. A century before Rosa Parks, Elizabeth Jennings, running late for organ practice at her church, boarded an almost empty horse-drawn street car. It was a car meant for whites.
The year was 1854. New York City had white cars and "colored" cars. A Black person could board a white car if no white passenger objected. The only person who objected was the Irish immigrant conductor who tried to throw her off the car. When she resisted, the conductor flagged down a police officer who threw her to the ground. A big mistake on their part.
Elizabeth ended up suing the street car company. Her lawyer, six weeks out of law school, was none other than Chester A. Arthur, later to become the 21rst president of the United States.
Elizabeth won her civil lawsuit. She was awarded damages, substantial for the time, and forever changed segregated public transit in New York City.
The book is filled with one historical nugget after another. The chapters are short, funny and easy to read. By the way, Mobituaries also covers the deaths of things: disco, famous trees, station wagons, McDonald's Collectible Drinking Glasses, shag carpeting and many more!
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