Oakland’s First African American Cab Driver

Phillip Richard Springer (1874-1952) was the first black man in Oakland to own a taxicab. He was born in Barbados, in the British West Indies, and left home at age 16. At first, he operated under a jitney permit in Oakland, but he later had the license changed to a taxicab permit. By 1915, Springer’s Cab Company was well established. The Pullman Porters and West Oakland

Phillip lived at various addresses in West Oakland.

In the 1917 directory, he is listed at 835 Union Street with chauffeur as his occupation.

In the 1925 directory, he is listed along with his wife Edna at 879 Campbell Street with a taxi cab driver as his occupation.

From 1927 until he died in 1952, he lived at 957-35th Street with his family. The 1930 census reports that he owned his home and was a taxi cab driver at his own stand.

A Family Business

Helaine Springer Head knows the taxicab business inside out. That’s because she grew up in it. Her late father, Phillip Springer, was the

“the first black man to own and operate his own taxi business – Springer Cab – in Oakland in the early 1900s”

Helene Springer Head 1975

Before Springer died in 1952, he gave his wife and daughter a crash course in running the business, as it was up to them to carry on. They ran the company out of the family home on 35th Street.

Eventually, Helaine decided to strike out independently and acquired City Cab in 1964. She started with two cabs, and by 1975 she had three.

More Info:

• Cab Robbed – Oakland Tribune September 21, 1942
• Fire Hydrant Broken – Oakland Tribune March 31, 1947
• She’s a Big Wheel in her Cab Company- Oakland Tribune May 1975
• She Wheels Around in the Cab Business – Oakland Tribune May 1975

The End