The Porter
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The Porter
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Porter is a dramatic series about the efforts of 1920s Black-Canadian railway porters to build a union and receive equal protections under the law. There are mature themes addressed, ranging from racism and classism to infidelity and death. There are violent moments, and blood is sometimes visible. It also features some sexual content, cursing (the word "f--k" is muted), and lots of cigarette smoking and drinking, presented in a historical context. The series sheds light on the important role of Black-Canadian porters, and their communities, in the fight for equity and inclusion in North America.
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What's the Story?
Inspired by true events, THE PORTER is a Canadian series that tells the stories of Black porters in the 1920s as they sought to unionize and fight for their civil rights. Best friends Junior Massey (Aml Ameen) and Zeke Garrett (Ronnie Rowe) are railway porters living in the Montreal community of St. Antoine, a.k.a. "The Harlem of the North." They're doing their best to support their families, and to make and save enough money to pursue their own ambitions, but like most porters, they are severely underpaid with no access to worker protections. When poor working conditions lead to the accidental death of a friend and co-worker, each man embarks on a very different journey in an effort to push for change. What they are each doing is dangerous, but Junior and Zeke are willing to take risks if it means securing a better life for themselves, their families, and Black railway workers on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border.
Is It Any Good?
This well-produced, highly stylized series tells the story of railway workers from Canada and the United States working together to create the world's first Black union. In doing so, it paints a picture of Black Canadian communities in the post-WWI era, most of which were tied to the rail industry. Meanwhile, the individual plot lines of the ensemble cast, all of which are dramatically entertaining, highlight the various efforts Black Canadians made to challenge the racist legal measures and social norms imposed on on them. Overall, The Porter is a solid series that sheds light on an interesting piece of North American Black history.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Black Canadian history. What led to the growth of Black communities in Canada in the early 20th Century? Did you know that Black Canadians men were specifically recruited to work for the railways? Why? Would the North American railway system have been able to thrive without them?
The Porter is based on real events, but how much of the stories featured here are factual? Even though it's a dramatic series, can we still learn from it?
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 5, 2022
- Cast: Aml Ameen, Ronnie Rowe, Loren Lott, Mouna Traoré
- Network: BET
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Activism, History
- Character Strengths: Courage, Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: January 7, 2023
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