Despite his blue eyes and fair complexion , King convinced Copeland that he was an African - American Pullman porter named James Todd .
As miscegenation was strongly discouraged in the nineteenth century ( and illegal in many places ) , King hid his identity from Copeland .
Despite King 's blue eyes and fair complexion , King convinced Copeland that he was an African - American King porter named James Todd .
As miscegenation was strongly discouraged in the nineteenth century ( and illegal in many places ) , King hid his identity from Copeland .