A DIFFERENT COLOR OF SKIN gives stories of African-Americans is compli- you a different perspective on ’s cated. “It’s a question of ambiguity; it’s past 200 years. In this bicentennial year, a question of difficulty. Even in the 21st it’s important to incorporate and honor century, race is still a difficult subject,” he that perspective and the extraordinary con- says. “The stories are there, but are un- tributions that African-Americans have heard.” Yet placing African-Americans made to Indiana in politics, law, education, into the mosaic of Indiana history is entertainment, sports, business, and the essential to fully understanding Hoosier everyday work of serving community and culture today. “Once you crank those family — often achieved only by overcoming stories into the picture, the whole story vicious and systemic racism. changes,” says Madison. Indiana’s preeminent historian James Here is an overview of some of those H. Madison, an profes- stories and their impact. —the editor sor emeritus, says revealing the oft-veiled

The Levi Coffin house in Wayne County where more than 2,000 fugitive slaves found refuge. Courtesy photo

The Underground Railroad Black History Bloomington was a stop on the Under- in ground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses used by slaves to escape to Canada and to free states in the North. Local Covenanters (a Scottish Presbyterian movement that opposed slavery) helped escaped slaves, as did black men and women in Blooming- ton. African-American barber Knolly Baker aided fugitives transported from IN DIANA Washington, Indiana, by his son-in-law, A Different Perspective William Hawkins. A fearless woman known as Aunty Myrears gave sanctuary By Douglas Wissing Mary Bateman Clark’s 20-year servitude to many refugees in her home on what Art by Shannon Zahnle contract, ruling it was wholly illegal as is now South Rogers Street. Given the she was being held “as a slave.” Clark and Fugitive Slave Law, these were auda- When Indiana moved to statehood in 1816, her husband, Samuel, had 12 children, 49 cious acts, and could have resulted in six there were already African-American slaves grandchildren, and 74 great-grandchildren. months imprisonment and a $1,000 fine, and involuntarily bound servants within its Clark also helped found Vincennes’s first and the rewards for capture motivated borders. It took two brave black women in black church, serving as a leader until her Monroe County’s active slave catchers. Vincennes — Polly, daughter of a slave, and death in 1845. Mary Bateman Clark, an indentured servant Despite these two victories for freedom, Black settlements in Indiana — to break the bonds with legal challenges. racist laws continued to be passed in the By 1860, Indiana had a considerable Winning two landmark Indiana Supreme state. An 1831 law required that an African- African-American population, mostly WCourt decisions in 1820 and 1821, the women American settling in Indiana post a bond gathered in their own thriving communi- contributed both unassailable legal prec- against becoming a public ward. Article XIII ties. At least 30 African-American farm- edents and higher moral standards to the of Indiana’s 1851 Constitution prohibited ing settlements dotted the state, such as young state. black migration into the state, and required Lyles Station, established near Princeton In one case, the justices ruled that the Hoosier African-Americans to enroll in the on 1,200 acres; Lick Creek near Paoli’s state constitution unequivocally prohibited onerous Negro Registers. As well, blacks Quaker community; and black settle- slavery, freeing Polly (who later won $25.16 couldn’t attend public schools, vote, serve in ments founded in abolitionist Wayne in damages from her former master). In the the militia, or testify against or marry white County, home of Underground Railroad second decision, the justices struck down people. leader Levi Coffin, who was white.

116 Bloom | February/March 2016 | magbloom.com magbloom.com | February/March 2016 | Bloom 117 After the Civil War, Hoosier African-Americans increasingly his extraordinary teams, led by the gifted Robertson brothers, Bailey lived in cities and towns, including Bloomington, where the original and Oscar, changed the African-American narrative with their fabled black neighborhood was on the east side, from Kirkwood to 10th 1950s winning seasons. Even when they were “five-on-seven,” play- Street and from Dunn to Lincoln streets. It was a vibrant community ing both the opposing team and racist referees, the Crispus Attucks that included a segregated black school, Center School, at 6th and Tigers were noted for sportsmanship and class. One of the stars of Washington streets; black churches; and a black pool hall. the 1951 Attucks team, Bob Jewell, went on to become Eli Lilly’s first black scientist. A lynch mob in Bloomington The Crispus Attucks teams opened the door for a long line of black There were racial tensions. On Saturday night, October 6, 1906, a Hoosier basketball stars, from IU’s All-American Bill Garrett, who lynch mob of 400 thronged outside the Bloomington jail yelling, broke the Big Ten color line before taking over Attucks’ coaching from “Hang him, hang him.” Black hod carrier “Spunk” Jones was accused Ray Crowe, to NBA players George McGinnis, Steve Downing, Shawn of shooting white lunch wagon owner Al Stevens to death on West Kemp, and Bloomington’s Jared Jeffries, the great-great-grandson of Kirkwood. Swelled by IU students returning from the Purdue-IU a freed slave who purchased land from the Covenanters. football game, the crowd demanded vigilante justice. Not long after Marshall “Major” Taylor was another celebrated Indiana-born three lawmen rushed Jones to safety in Martinsville, Indiana, the black athlete, breaking down racial barriers to set numerous world mob invaded the jail and battered the iron doors with a railroad tie. records in track cycling. In 1899, he won the world championship in The business district and Indiana University expanded in the early the one-mile bicycle sprint — a popular sport of the day. 1900s, pressuring the east-side African-American neighborhood. Charlie Wiggins was the daring “Negro Speed King” in car-crazy Black renters were evicted as real estate developers bought out Afri- 1930s . Undeterred by the racism that barred him from can-American owners, such as Samuel S. Dargan, the IU Law Library the Indianapolis 500, Wiggins organized the Colored Speedway As- curator who’d earned an LL.B. in 1909. African-Americans found sociation with its wildly popular Gold and Glory Sweepstakes, which themselves redlined into the neighborhood west of Rogers Street. he won four times. Also a highly skilled mechanic with his own south- “There was not a realtor in town who’d show us anywhere else side garage, Wiggins disguised himself as a janitor so he could secretly but there,” says Betty Bridgewaters. “People think that was the work on white driver Bill Cummings’ car at the Indy 500 and help him Dark Ages, but that wasn’t so long ago.” A member of the prominent win the race in 1934. Eagleson-Bridgewaters family, she knows the long, complex history of local African-Americans. The legacy of Indiana Avenue Undeterred by the redlining, the African-American community Black Hoosier musicians helped transform American music. embraced their new west-side neighborhood. The men worked at Indianapolis-born was an early luminary, performing on the nearby Showers Brothers Furniture Factory, in construction, vaudeville and Broadway stages and recording widely. His long col- and at the Monon Railroad yards, as well as in service and retail jobs. laboration with songwriter Eubie Blake yielded hits such as “I’m Just Some started restaurants; others operated barbershops, such as H. V. Wild about Harry.” Classically trained Crispus Attucks music teach- Eagleson, who moved to Bloomington to educate his children. Geor- ers such as LaVerne Newsome, Norman Merrifield, and Russell W. gia Deal was an early female entrepreneur, in 1919 becoming the first Brown carried the legacy forward, engendering an entire generation of several local black beauticians. of world-class musicians, many of whom performed on Indianapolis’ The black school moved, too. Founded in 1916 as a segregated famous Indiana Avenue. institution, the Banneker School on West 7th Street had three Lined with jazz clubs, restaurants, cafés, and theaters, Indiana classrooms where children in different grades took turns with the Avenue nurtured some of the 20th century’s greatest jazz musicians, teacher. Noted black educator T. C. Johnson initially led Banneker. including trombonist J.J. Johnson, Wes Montgomery, and orchestra After receiving his master’s degree from IU, Johnson administered leader Reginald DuValle, who tutored young in

“There was not a realtor in town who would show us anywhere but there [west of traditionally black Southern colleges before returning to teach at improvisation and musical technique. IU Jacobs School of Music Rogers Street],” says Betty Bridgewaters. Photo by Shannon Zahnle Indianapolis’ segregated Crispus Attucks High School. distinguished professor David Baker (see page 108) was another Attucks-trained jazz master who honed his sound in Indiana Avenue Crispus Attucks — A school like no other jam sessions. Coffin harbored more than 2,000 fugitive slaves, including the With its degree-spangled faculty that included doctors, lawyers, famous William Bush, who was so determined to escape slavery that and pioneering black officers of the United States Army, Air Force, (top to bottom) In 1899, Indiana’s he shipped himself to Coffin in a wooden box. When he emerged, his and Navy, Crispus Attucks set new standards for African-American Marshall “Major” Taylor won the world bushy hair inspired his new, post-slave surname. Bush became a suc- academic excellence. John Morton-Finney was one such teacher. championship in the one-mile bicycle cessful blacksmith in Wayne County, where he helped other escaping Son of a former slave, Morton-Finney was born in 1889. Growing up sprint. Courtesy photo; Crispus Attucks graduate and former NBA player slaves. in a literature-loving family, Morton-Finney readily took to learning Jared Jeffries speaking at a Bloom- The African-American hamlets of Chandlerville, Hensonburg, and — lifelong learning. Before dying in 1998, he had earned 12 degrees, ington Parks and Recreation event as Woodyard were located a few miles northwest of the Monroe County including an IU law degree and one from that Indiana University basketball coach Tom Crean and former Mayor Mark Courthouse. Into the 20th century, African-American farmers he earned at age 75. A World War I Buffalo Soldier, he was the first Kruzan look on. Photo by Christopher trundled their fresh fare to the Bloomington markets in horse wagons teacher hired at Crispus Attucks. Fluent in six languages, he taught Jacob; Noble Sissle in 1952. Photo by from their family farms of 80, 100, and even 120 acres along what is for 46 years. Morton-Finney was still practicing law at the age of 106. Carl Van Vechten. (near right) Sheet music for “I’m Just Wild About Harry” now 17th Street from Rogers Street to Indiana University Memorial Crispus Attucks garnered eternal fame by winning the state high from Noble Sissle’s long collaboration Stadium. school basketball championship three times. Coach Ray Crowe and with the great Eubie Blake. Courtesy Indiana University

118 Bloom | February/March 2016 | magbloom.com magbloom.com | February/March 2016 | Bloom 119 Leading entrepreneurs newspaper, the Indianapolis ily’s Book Nook. One evening Indianapolis also became a Recorder, and served as the when the Klan was marching center for African-American en- first African-American Greater past the Banneker School, trepreneurs, including Madam Indianapolis Chamber of Herman Campbell leapt out C. J. Walker, America’s first Commerce board chair. from behind a wall to lead the female self-made millionaire, Klan parade in a vast mockery. who amassed a fortune produc- Black excellence “Herman was goose-stepping,” ing beauty products for black in Bloomington Bridgewaters laughed. “He was women. In 1910, she moved her Bloomington has a long history of leading with high goose kicks.” Madam C. J. Walker Manu- black academic excellence. Bar- facturing Company to Indiana bershop owner H. V. Eagleson’s Segregation and the ’50s Avenue, where her monumental scholarly son, Preston Em- “The thing that forges people Walker Building and Walker manuel Eagleson, graduated with together,” says Bridgewaters, Theatre arose. It continues to an IU philosophy degree in 1896, “is a common goal or a common flourish as the Madame Walker and was the university’s first enemy.” Bridgewaters witnessed Theatre Center. black football player. In 1906, the florescence of the west-side George L. Knox was an il- Preston Eagleson became the black community, an ambient, literate Tennessee slave before first African-American to earn a leafy neighborhood of comfort- moving to Indianapolis, where graduate degree, starting the long able Victorian cottages, where he built a successful chain of Eagleson-Bridgewaters connec- neighbors helped one another barbershops. Knox’s wife, Au- tion to IU. Black students orga- raise their children. Old west- rilla Harvey, taught him to read nized Kappa Alpha Psi in 1911 side photos show plump babies and write. In 1892, within two — the only Greek-letter fraternity in Christening gowns, smiling years of becoming literate, he to be founded at IU. During WWI, girls in a goat cart, a proud boy purchased the black newspaper, the Kappa Alpha Psi house was in his new tin Hudson pedal car, the Indianapolis Freeman, and converted into barracks, as many (below left) Madam C.J. Walker became a millionaire by producing beauty products for a handsome couple in a horse- published — in 54 installments African-American men joined black women at the turn of the last century. (above) The 1915 Indiana University football drawn wagon, a husband and — his passage from slavery to the U.S. armed forces. team. Preston Emmanuel Eagleson, IU’s first black player, is pictured front row, second wife hugging in their backyard. from left. Photo courtesy Indiana University Archives; (opposite page, top) Lifetime Bloom- affluence. Bloomington’s African- ington resident Rose Duerson fought for equal rights at RCA, where she worked for 30 “I had pianos all around William Mays built his Mays American churches — Bethel years. Photo by Kendall Reeves in the war. We’d come out on me,” Bridgewaters says, recall- Chemical Company into one of AME Church, founded in 1870, the porches to watch them.” She ing melodies pouring from America’s largest black-owned and Second Baptist Church, tells the story of her mother, the her neighbors’ homes. “There businesses before dying at age founded in 1872 — were the Black social clubs blossomed. state’s native-born white men. legendary community leader was wonderful music up and 69 in 2014. Known as Indiana’s anchors of the black commu- They began in 1918 with the Jolly On the night of November 6, Elizabeth Bridgewaters. Watch- down the street,” she says. The most successful black business- nity. Longtime Second Baptist Bachelor Girls’ Club, followed by 1922, hundreds of people crowd- ing the approaching Klansmen, neighborhood women excelled man and a leading philanthro- minister Reverend Moses Porter the Just for Fun club for young ed Bloomington to attend a KKK the young Elizabeth ran into at cooking, tatting, and sewing. pist, Mays also owned the black led the congregation in 1913 to girls. Young African-Americans rally — the biggest downtown the house. Returning with her “You had to be excellent,” she build the current church at 8th played on the Black Diamonds crowd since WWI ended. Led brother’s pistol, she announced, says. “Excellent at whatever you and Rogers streets. Designed basketball team, and there was by three robed horsemen and a “If they put one foot on the step, did.” The Black Elks Club was by African-American architect a baseball team for hometown drum corps of IU students, more I’m going to fire.” a gathering place for both local Samuel Plato, it was the first boys, such as George “Anner” than 150 masked Klansmen Lifetime Bloomington resi- African-Americans and those at stone church built by African- Shively, who later became a carrying a burning cross and a dent Rose Duerson remembers the university, including black Americans in Indiana. In the two-time MVP and seven-time banner that read “We believe in (above) The African-American fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi was the only Greek-letter neighbors recognizing the shoes athletes such as IU and profes- 1920s, Bethel AME moved All-Star in the Negro National political and religious freedom” fraternity founded at IU. Pictured, the first house party in 1911. Courtesy photo of local Klansmen, including one sional football immortal George from its original League. Many African-American marched two abreast around the doctor’s distinctive two-tone Taliaferro, the first black player church on East men, including Reverend Porter, downtown Square before rally- band member, allegedly to Science, the largest African- saddle oxfords. “We told him,” drafted by the NFL. “The things 6th Street to its were avid hunters, making the ing at a field on Lincoln Street prevent him from receiving his American science organization Duerson says, “‘You ought to be that I could not do by my color, I new art deco– Second Baptist Church’s annual where a rapt crowd watched the IU band letter. A trial resulted in the country. In 1982, after ashamed of yourself, Doctor.’” had provided to me by the people styled limestone Wild Game Feast a grand “weird ceremonies” (accord- in a hung jury, and the local an emotional alumni meeting, Now 75, Duerson fought for on the west side. I am forever church at 7th and gastronomic gathering. ing to the Bloomington Evening judge dropped the refiled suit for IU finally awarded Halson V. equal rights at RCA, where she grateful,” says Taliaferro, now Rogers streets. World newspaper) well into the lack of evidence. After earning Eagleson Jr. his “I” sweater. worked for 30 years. “At some 88. “We were a dispersed com- The Ku Klux Klan night. a Ph.D. in physics from IU, Dr. There were other Klan point in life it hits you: It’s just munity,” says Bridgewaters, “but in Bloomington Two weeks later on the Halson Eagleson went on to a marches, some into the heart not right.” we were a tight-knit During the 1920s, the Ku Klux IU-Purdue game day, Klan- distinguished academic career, of Bloomington’s African- Betty Bridgewaters tells the community.” Klan swept through Indiana like affiliated IU students reportedly teaching at Morehouse College, American neighborhood. “We story of Herman Campbell, a Segregation in Bloomington a malignant virus, eventually kidnapped Preston Eagleson’s Clark College, and Howard Uni- weren’t afraid of the Klan,” says talented young black musician in was both explicit and implicit. recruiting 250,000 members, brother, Halson V. Eagleson Jr., versity, and serving as president Betty Bridgewaters. “Our men the neighborhood and the Blacks couldn’t sit with whites an estimated 30 percent of the an outstanding IU marching of the National Institute of had hunting rifles; they’d been manager of the Poolitsan fam- in the theaters — “colored” signs

magbloom.com | February/March 2016 | Bloom 121 directed them to the balcony. They couldn’t eat military in the fall of 1947, again living at in downtown restaurants or get their hair cut the segregated Mays boarding house at at a barbershop, even a black-owned one. At 418 E. 8th St. After his Army experience, the university, the housing was segregated; the Taliaferro could no longer accept that he Union Commons had one table for blacks, des- couldn’t eat in any local restaurants, even ignated with velvet rope and a hated “reserved” those close to campus. So he went to Presi- sign. African-American students could swim in dent Wells to complain. Wells called The the pools only on the day before they were to be Gables owner Pete Poolitsan. Threatening drained. to ban IU students from the restaurant, After WWII, newly empowered black vet- Wells convinced Poolitsan to let Taliaferro erans and industrial workers began to demand bring a friend to The Gables as a test case. change. Willard Ransom, the progressive scion After Taliaferro and another black football of an influential black Indianapolis family and star, Mel Grooms, frequented the restau- Harvard law graduate (the only African-Amer- rant for a few weeks without incident, The The Rev. Ernest Butler fought for equal rights in Bloom- Elizabeth Bridgewaters was Bloomington’s first black school-board ington and the country as a whole. Photo by Dirk Shadd ican in his class of 300), led the state NAACP. Gables and the adjacent Book Nook were member, elected while working in food service at IU. Courtesy photo integrated. Kresge’s until 1965 — after the Civil Rights “Until 1947,” Taliaferro says about Acts passed.” of the Bloomington Human Rights Commission. the segregated cinemas, “I couldn’t go to When the resurgent Ku Klux Klan wanted to the movies except on Friday, Saturday, The civil rights movement march in Bloomington in 1968, Rev. Butler organized and Sunday, and then I had to sit in the African-Americans have long contributed a blacks-only meeting at the Second Baptist Church. (left) Elizabeth Mitchell. Photo by Erin Stephenson balcony.” Not long after integrating The to Indiana’s political process. Indianapolis After hundreds voiced their opposition, Butler (right) Gladys DeVane. Photo by Shannon Zahnle Gables, the Indiana Theater manager voters elected James Sidney Hinton, a conferred with Mayor John Hooker, who success- asked Taliaferro to bring a date to a movie black Civil War veteran and Republican fully sought an injunction against the march. Rev. to desegregate his establishment. A white Party firebrand, to the Indiana General As- Butler was the voice of racial and economic justice, enameled sign reading “colored” that sembly in 1880. Three other black Hoosier wrenching and prodding Bloomington toward greater George Taliaferro later removed from the politicians served in Indiana’s legisla- tolerance. Princess Theater remains one of his most ture in the late 19th century: James M. Born on the west side in 1908, Elizabeth Bridge- treasured trophies. Townsend, Richard Bassett, and Gabriel waters was Bloomington’s first black school-board Resilience: Indiana’s Untold Story But most Bloomington restaurants still Jones. member. Mother of nine children and part of the didn’t serve African-Americans. In May The post-WWII civil rights movement illustrious Eagleson family, Bridgewaters was an IU 1950, The World Telephone declared “a gave rise to another generation of African- graduate with 87 1/2 hours of post-graduate classes. Many of the events described in this story will be portrayed on stage flash famine” after eight downtown restau- American politicians, including IU gradu- Nonetheless, the best job she could find at the age in September when the multimedia play, Resilience: Indiana’s Untold rants refused to open. The restaurateurs ate Richard Hatcher, who became one of of 56, when her husband became ill, was in IU food Story, written by Gladys DeVane and Elizabeth Mitchell, will be told the paper they were closed indefi- America’s first black mayors when he took service, a job that she held when elected to the school performed at the Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center Auditorium. nitely, “in the interests of public safety” office in Gary, Indiana, in 1968. Serving board in 1969. She served on the board for eight Like the African-American Hoosiers they celebrate, both women because of “an organized effort on the part until 1987, Hatcher was an international years, overseeing the hiring of the first black teacher, are resilient. “If you were left out of your family photo album, of a group of individuals to force their spokesman for civil rights. principal, counselor, and even school architect, as wouldn’t you be hurt?” asks Mitchell, historian and commentator patronage on restaurants in the business Julia Carson was a small woman with well as spearheading programs to help disadvantaged on WFHB’s African-American radio program Bring It On! “It’s like George Taliaferro in his playing days. He helped desegregate district of the city.” The “individuals” were a big heart. Daughter of an Indianapolis children. She later ran neighborhood redevelopment blacks got left out of Indiana’s family album. I want us to be in the IU and was the first African-American player drafted by the African-American IU students and faculty cleaning woman, Carson fought for the un- programs for the City of Bloomington and was a family album.” Growing up in segregated Indianapolis, Mitchell, 62, NFL. Courtesy photo supporters, some of whom picketed Nick’s derprivileged as township trustee and state candidate for mayor and state representative. After says, “Indiana to me wasn’t any different than Mississippi.” English Hut because of its discrimination legislator. Senator Richard Lugar said, “It serving on numerous city and state boards, Elizabeth DeVane, an actress, activist, and former Indiana University He was a leader of the nonviolent, direct-action policies. didn’t matter where she was, she talked Bridgewaters was awarded the Sagamore of the Kelley School of Business professor, was born in Oklahoma City in “eating crusade” that started in Indianapolis in In a showdown between Wells and the about justice.” In 1996, voters elected her to Wabash award by Governor Otis R. Bowen. 1939, spent her early years in Jim Crow Texas, and was educated 1947 to integrate public eating venues. Rather restaurant owners in a back room of Nick’s, the U.S. House of Representatives, where “Civil rights made us take a giant leap forward,” in segregated Oklahoma, before coming to IU for her Ph.D. All her than serve black patrons, some targeted restau- Wells explained that the Indiana Memo- she served with distinction until she died says Janet Cheatham Bell, educational consultant life she has resisted racial oppression with a fierce determination. rants temporarily closed. rial Union was prepared to serve meals to in 2007 at the age of 69. and author of The Time and Place That Gave Me “Perseverance — I won’t accept no for an answer if I think something In Bloomington, African-Americans were townspeople. Wells also pointed out that The Reverend Ernest D. Butler came to Life, her memoir of life in Bloomington and racially has to be done,” she says. also chafing at segregation. Under pressure from desegregating the Commons’ had not hurt Bloomington in 1959 as the pastor of the charged Indianapolis. “We went from menial jobs to As for that Hoosier family portrait, DeVane says, “I just don’t the NAACP and powerful African-American its business. The stick, then the carrot. Second Baptist Church. Leading equal- getting jobs we were actually qualified for.” Refer- want us in the picture, I want us to be in the front row of the family leaders, IU President Herman B Wells had al- Though most restaurateurs caved, lo- rights initiatives, he became an influential encing positives, such as President Barack Obama’s photograph.” ready made changes, ordering the removal of the cal African-Americans still faced intense member of the larger community. Butler election, and negatives, such as widening income Resilience: Indiana’s Untold Story, presented in partnership Union Commons’ “reserved” sign, and arranging racial discrimination. “There was a tacit marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. disparities and police brutality, Bell says cautiously with Ivy Tech Community College–Bloomington, will preview at for popular black football lineman J.C. “Rooster” agreement,” Betty Bridgewaters says. “I from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. He vis- about today’s racial climate, “It’s a lot better than I 8 p.m. on September 21. Regular performances will run at 8 p.m. Coffee to summarily integrate the university didn’t go into the Kresge’s for a Coke. They ited blacks in jail, agitated for black teachers anticipated.” But she adds, “We are wary because of September 22–24, with a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee on September 25. pool by jumping in. didn’t want us there and made it known.” and police officers, lobbied for fair housing, our experience.” All performances will be at The Waldron. George Taliaferro returned from the U.S. Rose Duerson agrees: “I couldn’t sit at and played a significant role in the founding *

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