A Black American FedEx driver shared her experience with racism on TikTok. The driver received a warning from her employer that there are certain towns in the Midwest where she is not permitted to deliver packages. In @thatfedexdrivertrina’s now-deleted video, she described what delivering in these areas is like. Known as “sundown towns,” these communities have a history of racial segregation. The term came from the signs instructing Black people to vacate the town by sunset. @thatfedexdrivertrina’s account highlights that despite the passage of time, certain towns in the Midwest still uphold these discriminatory practices.
Sundown Towns In 2024
@thatfedexdrivertrina’s experience raises several significant concerns. Firstly, this incident highlights the safety risks faced by Black people in these regions. Restricting a Black FedEx driver’s delivery routes to certain communities raises concerns about the driver’s safety in those locations. Moreover, it exposes the persistence of racial discrimination in certain American communities.
The fact that a major corporation like FedEx must navigate these discriminatory boundaries indicates that systemic racism remains deeply rooted in some areas. Experts note that the persistence of sundown towns reflects broader societal issues. James Loewen, a sociologist and author of Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism, argues that these practices are part of a covert system of racial exclusion that continues to affect many regions in the U.S.
Loewen’s research indicates that while many sundown towns no longer display overt signs of exclusion, the underlying attitudes and policies often remain. This can manifest in subtle but significant ways, such as the experiences shared by @thatfedexdrivertrina.
Reactions And Comments From The Public
The TikTok video received significant public attention, with over 4,192 comments. Reactions varied from shock and disbelief to calls for corporate action. A poster named Johnnie Black asked, “Why don’t FedEx and these other delivery companies just pull out all together from those places and let them figure it out themselves?”
“UPS driver here delivering in small town La,” another user, Sasha Thumper, wrote. “This is real and I honestly worry about some of my coworkers in certain parishes. Those towns should be blacklisted from delivery.”
