Black men using public transit—whether as passengers or workers—often face hostile treatment that undermines their safety and sense of dignity. A new study from the University of Notre Dame shows how such experiences reinforce harmful stereotypes, making Black men seem threatening or invisible, and chip away at their self-worth.
“Black men traveling to work, school, or any other destination often find public transit more humiliating than liberating,” the researchers write. Encounters like these are particularly stressful, they note, because riders are trapped in confined spaces until the vehicle stops.
Diverse experiences
The study observed buses and trains in the Chicago area from 2010 to 2022. Researchers focused on routes crossing diverse neighborhoods, collecting data at different times of day and in various weather conditions.
They repeatedly saw non-Black passengers avoiding Black men. Common behaviors included refusing to answer questions, moving seats, or avoiding eye contact. Black men were also frequently singled out by police and other transit officials for extra scrutiny.
“Being treated as a threat or a nuisance is especially painful because it happens in public, in full view of others,” the researchers note. “Black men are stuck in a double bind: hyper-visible as potential problems yet invisible as fellow citizens, human beings, or people deserving of basic courtesy.”
Hostile environment
Black men working in transit also faced hostility. Whether controlling crowds at events or carrying out their daily duties, they encountered frequent challenges to their authority and open disrespect. The study found that even their uniforms didn’t shield them from racism.
Such encounters, the researchers warn, harm not only Black men’s mental and physical health but also their relationships, communities, and overall well-being.
The study calls for reforms. Transit authorities should strengthen protections for workers and passengers alike, they suggest, while avoiding measures—like heavy policing or K-9 units—that have historically been used to target Black communities.
These findings are part of a larger project examining how race, class, and gender shape interactions on public transit. The authors argue that improving the transit experience for Black men requires both better policies and a broader effort to confront the biases built into public life.
For many Black men, riding the bus or train is not just about getting from A to B—it’s about navigating a space where dignity is too often at risk.
