Caroline LeCount was a renowned Black educator and civil rights activist in 1800s Philadelphia. But she was also sick and tired of foolishness on public transportation.
Caroline met her future fiance, Octavius Catto, when they were both students at the Institute For Colored Youth in Philadelphia in the 1850s. Their shared love of education and activism drew them closer and helped to devise their famous protest.
Philadelphia streetcars refused equal service to Black riders. Caroline wanted to challenge these unjust laws, and with the help of other women, she boarded streetcars in civil disobedience despite the risk. Octavius advocated on the legislative level, and in 1867, it became illegal to segregate streetcars throughout Pennsylvania.
In March 1867, Caroline attempted to wave down a streetcar to test if her activism had paid off. The white conductor refused to let her board. She didn’t give up, though. When Caroline showed proof of the law to authorities, the conductor was arrested and fined $100.
Carolina LeCount was the Rosa Parks of her time. She saw the mistreatment of her people in the streetcar system and took it upon herself to do something about it. How can we take a stand against oppressive anti-Black systems in our own way?