Question 1 | HSBC-Mia-Bay-Absence-of-Physical-Barrier

Question 1 | HSBC-Mia-Bay-Absence-of-Physical-Barrier

Question 1

How did the absence of a physical barrier between White and Black passengers on buses, as described by Mia Bay, create a unique form of racial tension?

Answer

Bus segregation was primarily about logistical convenience, not social power.

Without physical separation, Black passengers were subjected to direct hostility from White passengers, reinforcing racial hierarchies and social power dynamics. 

The lack of physical barriers made bus segregation less significant compared to other forms of segregation, like trains.

Bus segregation was less emotionally impactful because there were no physical barriers between races.