Robert Fox (activist) facts for kids

Robert Fox (1846-1933) was an African-American leader who started an important fight for civil rights in Louisville, Kentucky. This happened in October 1870 when he bravely entered a streetcar that was set up to keep Black and white people separate. Robert Fox was born in Kentucky to Albert and Margaret Fox. He worked as an undertaker, helping with funerals, and also ran a grocery store. He passed away in 1933.

Robert Fox and the Streetcar Protest

The Start of the Protest

On October 30, 1870, in Louisville, Robert Fox got on a streetcar. He was with his brother and business partner, Samuel, and their employee, Horace Pearce. They paid their tickets and sat down in the part of the streetcar that was usually only for white passengers. This was against the local rules at the time. These rules often meant Black men could only ride on the outside platform with the driver, or not at all. Black women were sometimes allowed to sit at the back of the car.

A white passenger complained, and the driver told the men to leave. But Robert, Samuel, and Horace refused to move. More drivers came, and the men were forced off the streetcar. An angry crowd of African Americans had gathered outside. They started throwing dirt and rocks at the streetcar. They insisted that the men should be allowed to ride. The Fox brothers and Pearce got back on the streetcar. This time, they held rocks to protect themselves. The three men were then arrested.

At their court hearing, the men could not speak for themselves. This was because the judge did not allow Black people to speak against white people in court. They were found responsible for causing trouble and had to pay a small amount of money. Soon after, Robert Fox took the streetcar company to federal court. He argued that the rules separating people by race were unfair. He said the driver's actions were wrong. A group of people in the court agreed that the company's rules were not right. They decided that Robert Fox and his friends should receive some money for what happened.

Standing Up for Rights

Even after the court's decision, the streetcar company kept its rules about separate seating. Because of this, Black leaders in Louisville organized "ride-ins" all over the city. This meant that African Americans would get on streetcars and sit in the sections meant for white passengers. When this happened, the drivers would often stop the cars and leave them. Sometimes, Black passengers even drove the streetcars themselves, while crowds cheered them on.

However, groups of white young people would sometimes get on the cars. They would try to force the Black riders off. In one event on May 12, a young African-American man named Carey Duncan got on a streetcar. He walked past the driver and sat down with the white passengers. The driver stopped the car and refused to move until Carey left the white area. The governor, the police chief, and other important people watched from the sidewalks. A large crowd gathered around the streetcar. They started shouting at Carey Duncan. Some people even climbed into the car and yelled mean things. Carey Duncan quietly refused to move. The crowd then pulled him from his seat and off the car. They started to hit him. At that point, the city police stepped in.

Carey Duncan was later told he had caused trouble. He was told to pay money, and the judge warned Black people in Louisville that more ride-ins would lead to problems. Despite these challenges, the actions of Robert Fox and others helped to challenge unfair rules and push for equal rights.