Jarvis Harris and Joe Foss are telling local audiences about their five-week, 4,600-mile tour of Black historical sites across the United States last fall. For additional insights into their journey and anti-racist work, please contact them at AcceptingOthers.com.
Taking the train is not the fastest route anywhere, but it is the most leisurely form of travel, with spacious seating, easy access to restrooms and a snack bar, a dining car, and the best place to watch the scenery go by in the observation car.
And remember, we were traveling using Amtrak’s USA Rail Pass, which allows 10 stops over 30 days for $500 each.
Joe wore his "Black History USA Rail Tour" hat in the observation car somewhere in Oregon.
Courtesy of Joe & Jarvis
Joe: For our fifth and longest overnight ride on Amtrak, we departed San Jose about 8 p.m. on Oct. 30 and had a scheduled arrival at Centennial Station in Lacey at about 6 p.m. on Oct. 31 for a single ride of almost 22 hours. I departed in Tacoma only another 40 minutes north from Lacey.
All of our Amtrak legs included several stops along the way and the Coast Starlight was no different; there were 17 additional stops as we headed toward home from San Jose.
Passing through Klamath Falls, Ore., this shot from our train window showed snow on Halloween.
Courtesy of Joe & Jarvis
As this journey was coming to an end, it was a great time to wind down our epic Black History USA Rail Tour and to debrief more with each other about this amazing experience we had just shared.
My wife Rita was also very supportive of my taking this long journey, as we had never spent five weeks apart in our 51 years of marriage. I too was ready to see my wife in person again and get back to life at home.
Jarvis and Michelle and Rita and I had spent time together on a few occasions, so our wives knew each other as well, which made it more comfortable for our wives while we partied on the road (not really!).
Although Rita and I missed each other, we were in touch via phone regularly and pictures were sent often to verify our being where we said we were. Plus, Jarvis and I were posting regularly on Facebook along the way for others.
Jarvis: Well, if you’ve ever been on a trip, you’ve probably shared some of these feelings: excitement, fatigue, reflection and anticipation. The last leg of this trip was pretty long. We’ve been pumped about this trip from beginning to end.
Yes, it’s going to be great to be home and see my wonderful wife, Michelle, whom I’ve missed. (Yep, I earned points with that last statement.) She’s a champion for allowing me to go on this epic adventure. I do love and appreciate her. At the same time, this extraordinary experience is coming to an end.
The scenery was a reminder of how vast, diverse and beautiful our country’s landscape is. It makes me once again think this is how the people should be seen.
Joe and I both share in the excitement of sharing this trip with others. We got a little practice along the way. We encountered many friends, family and people. I pray God Bless them for their involvement and inputs in adding to the joy and success of our journey.
We’ve already had short opportunities to share parts of our story and trip. We look forward to and are trying to put some of it in a format to continue this.
We shared various ways to help others get some of this history and knowledge. We talked about and have read several books and seen and learned of some movies or programs that added to our knowledge of Black/American history. I want to thank The JOLT for allowing us to speak to you in these stories and thank you for reading our words.
There’s so much information out there. At the same time, there are people that may have misinformation. I encourage you to fact check things. Talk to your children and teach them. I remember a saying from my younger days, “Each one teach one.”
Don’t be afraid or insulted by others when and if they correct you about some things. At the same time, understand we are all on different levels on this journey of life. We still have family and friends that have lived through and survived racial struggles or incidents. Talk with them and let them share their stories.
Part of my story is how as a young person, I didn’t realize I’d be doing some of the educational things I do today. I didn’t pay attention to some of the incredible things, people and events that were occurring during my own time.
There were teachers, adults and even family members that I could have gleaned more personal insight from. And not all of them looked like me, either. We should all want to know more about our history in order to learn! It also helps us not to take up precious time making some of the same mistakes.
There’s more! In our next couple articles to finish this Black History Month series, we’ll share some further thoughts on racism in America from both a Black and a white perspective.
Jarvis Harris, of Lacey, is a retired U.S. Army veteran and former Pierce County corrections officer who now dedicates his time to personal passions and volunteering. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he settled in Lacey during his Army service.
Joe Foss, of Tacoma, is a Navy veteran and retired business owner who has been actively engaged in projects addressing racism in America since 2012.
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