Amtrak Showcases the Great Migration Exhibit in Honor of Black History Month

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of Black History Month, Amtrak is featuring the Great Migration of African Americans exhibit on their MyBlackJourney.com  microsite.  The Great Migration exhibit chronicles the exodus of thousands of African Americans from the rural South aboard America's passenger trains to the Northeast and other regions of the country in search of better wages and job opportunities.

"America's passenger trains played a pivotal role in transporting African Americans from the Deep South to the Northeast, West and Midwest during the Great Migration of the early 1900s," said, Emmet H. Fremaux, Amtrak Vice President of Marketing and Product Development.  "As we celebrate Black History Month, Amtrak is pleased to bring this historical exhibit to a broader audience while educating and introducing train travel to a new generation of passengers." 

The exhibit includes audio commentary from noted author, historian and Professor Dr. Allen Ballard of the State University of New York at Albany (SUNY - Albany). Dr. Ballard's commentary includes his insights and personal knowledge of the Great Migration and excerpts from his book, One More Days Journey, The Story of a Family and A People which chronicles one family's journey during the Great Migration.  Additionally, actor and playwright Lamman Rucker, star of Tyler Perry's House of Payne shares his family's Great Migration train journey from Lynchburg, Virginia and Aberdeen, Maryland to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and various cities in New Jersey   Both Rucker and Dr. Ballard encourage visitors to the site to share their Great Migration stories on the MyBlackJourney.com interactive microsite as well as answer trivia questions for a chance to win a prize package including free Amtrak travel vouchers, tickets to Layon Gray's Off-Broadway play, Black Angels Over Tuskegee, an autographed copy of Dr. Ballard's book and other exciting prizes.    

The Great Migration exhibit was first unveiled last year during National Train Day at Amtrak's historic 30th Street Station located in Philadelphia.    The exhibit has also been on display in Washington, DC's Union Station.  To view the Great Migration exhibit online or to participate in the trivia sweepstakes log-on to MyBlackJourney.com microsite.

MyBlackJourney.com is a microsite that was developed by Amtrak to house information regarding popular African American cultural destinations.

About Amtrak®:

Celebrating 40 years of dedicated service as America's Railroad®, Amtrak is the nation's intercity passenger rail provider and its only high-speed rail operator. A record 30.2 million passengers traveled on Amtrak in FY 2011 on more than 300 daily trains – at speeds up to 150 mph (241 kph) – that connect 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian Provinces. Amtrak operates trains in partnership with 15 states and four commuter rail agencies.  Enjoy the journey(SM) at Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL for schedules, fares and more information. Join us on facebook.com/Amtrak and follow us at twitter.com/Amtrak.  

SOURCE Amtrak