Black History Month: Who was Rockford's Anna Wilson?
How much do you know about Rockford's Black history? In celebration and recognition of Black History Month, the Rockford Register Star has partnered with the Rockford Public Library's Local History Room to bring our readers a local Black history fact of the day.
Visit rrstar.com or the Rockford Register Star newspaper each day throughout the month of February to read about the people, places and events that played significant roles in shaping the rich fabric of Rockford's Black history.
February 9, 2024
![Chicago and North Western Railway] station. Circa 1880s](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/kNEz1WRrIeS0btQXjUKtig--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTc1Ng--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/rockford-register-star/4220b97122d60dd9d4ce8cde9f55e257)
In a landmark 1869 lawsuit, Anna Wilson, a Black female Rockford resident, challenged racial segregation on the Chicago and North Western Railway. Despite having a first-class ticket, she was denied access to the Ladies' Car. She won $200 (equivalent to over $4,000 today), exposing the railway's discriminatory practices against Black passengers.
Want to learn more about Anna Wilson? Visit the Rockford Public Library's Local History Room at rockfordpubliclibrary.org/local-history or in person at the Hart Interim Library, 214 N. Church St.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Black History Month: Who was Rockford's Anna Wilson?
