Hard Life Of Pullman Porters Gets Stage Debut  In the 1930s,
working as a Pullman porter was one of the few good jobs
available to African-American men, even though the pay was low
and racism was a daily fact of work life. Cheryl West's new play
tells the story of three generations of Pullman porters. Marcie
Sillman, of member station KUOW, talked to the playwright and a
former porter about the job and how West presents it on stage.
For most of the 20th century, if you wanted to travel in style
you were traveling on trains. If you really wanted to do it up
right, you shelled out big money for a private berth in
something called a Pullman car. Thousands of African-American
men found steady work as Pullman porters, but they also faced
low wages, terrible working conditions and racism.  Seattle-
based playwright Cheryl West tells their story in "Pullman
Porter Blues." It's a musical drama premiering at the Seattle
Repertory Theatre.  From member station KUOW, Marcie Sillman has
more.  MARCIE SILLMAN, BYLINE: W