DOCSLIB.ORG

Courage Under Fire : African American Firefighters and the Struggle for Racial Equality/ David A

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Courage Under Fire : African American Firefighters and the Struggle for Racial Equality/ David A University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014 1-1-2006 Courage under fire : African American firefighters and the struggle for racial equality/ David A. Goldberg University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1 Recommended Citation Goldberg, David A., "Courage under fire : African American firefighters and the struggle for racial equality/" (2006). Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014. 920. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1/920 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. University of Massachusetts Amherst Library COURAGE UNDER FIRE: AFRICAN AMERICAN FIREFIGHTERS AND THE STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL EQUALITY A Dissertation Presented by DAVID A. GOLDBERG Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in partial fulfillment Of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY February 2006 Department of Afro-American Studies COURAGE UNDER FIRE: AFRICAN AMERICAN FIREFIGHTERS AND STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL EQUALITY A Dissertation Presented by DAVID A. GOLDBERG Approved as to style and content by: JohrilH. Bracey , Jr., Chai/ Manisha Sinha, Member William Strickland, Member Jarqgs Green, Member Esther MA. Terry, Departmejrtmept Chair W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies © Copyright by David A. Goldberg 2006 All Rights Reserved DEDICATION To: All African Americans who have struggled for respect and equality in the fire service, my godson, Jordan Weinhaus; and the memory of Arthur "Smokestack" Hardy and my beloved grandmother, Helen Brenner. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to begin by thanking the members of my dissertation committee, John H. Bracey, Manisha Sinha, William Strickland, and James Green, for their support, guidance, and patience. I would especially like to thank Manisha Sinha for her unstinting support and words of encouragement throughout my graduate school career, and my advisor, John H. Bracey Jr., for his concise editorial help and for the many stories he has shared over the years that made coming into the office the best class I have ever had. I would also like to thank every member of University of Massachusetts- Amherst's Department of African American Studies, Esther Terry, Ernest Allen, Steve Tracy, John Bracey, Manisha Sinha, James Smethherst, Bill Strickland, Robert Paul Wolff, Nelson Stevens, and Michael Thelwell, for sharing creating a wonderful environment to work and learn in. I truly believe that I received the best education available in our field of study, and I thank you all for sharing your passion and knowledge. I also want to thank Clovis Semmes of Eastern Michigan University and Jo Ann Robinson of Morgan State University for their guidance and support over the years. This project could not have been completed with the financial support of the W.E.B. Du Bois Department of African American Studies and the Gilder-Lehrman. Likewise, I wish to express my appreciation to all of those who agreed to be interviewed for this project. While time does not permit me to name each person individually, special thanks are owed to James Crockett, David Glenn, Vincent Julius and Charlie Thomas, all of whom shared personal material with me, helped put me in touch in with others, and are pleasure to meet. among the nicest people I have ever had the v While traveling across the country to collect research, I was blessed to have Brian and Melissa Weinhaus, Volker and Lila Stewart, and Tiayana Marks graciously open their homes to me. I owe a particular debt of gratitude to the Anderson family - Aaron, Shannon, Miles, "Turbo," Chip, and Sonny - for putting me up rent-free for an entire year so I could finish writing. Their love, support, friendship, companionship, beer, and cheese made writing much less grueling than usual. I would also like to thank the following people for their friendship and support: Jeannine Marks, Daniel McClure, Shawn Alexander, Tricia Loveland, Tkweme, Stephanie Evans, Lloren Foster, Shelly Perdomo, Rodrick Anderson, Deborah Massachi, Andrew Rosa, and Eugenie Kang. I am particularly indebted to Shawn Alexander who shared research materials, provided technical assistance, and has been both a friend and inspiration. I thank Shawn and his lovely wife, Kelly, for their support and kindness. Daniel McClure, without whom I probably would have given up long ago, shared drinks, chess, soccer, frustrations, stories, jokes, and discussions, all of which I am grateful for. I also want to express my gratitude to Tricia Loveland for all of her help within the department and her I unsure if I'd friendship outside of it. At a time when this project was stalled and was Kang, who brought more that ever regain my momentum, I was blessed to meet Eugenie Thank you for helping was good and sincere in into my life than I knew what to do with. know. The same me, Eugenie. You are more wonderful and special than I ever let you mom. Thank you for always must be said about my mother, Elaine Rosenblat. I love you being there for me. vi ABSTRACT COURAGE UNDER FIRE: AFRICAN AMERICAN FIREFIGHTERS AND THE STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL EQUALITY FEBRUARY 2006 DAVID GOLDBERG, B.A., EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY M.A., MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY M.A., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Ph.D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor John H. Bracey Jr. This dissertation examines the struggle for racial equality in urban fire ,h departments from the late 19 century to the present. The first half contains extensive case studies of Black experiences in the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and Baltimore City Fire Department (BFD). Particular emphasis is given to the process of Black inclusion, day-to-day and institutional race relations, and the backgrounds and experiences of Black firefighters in each fire department. The activities of local branches of national civil rights organizations such as the National Urban League and the NAACP, as well as the involvement of local Black political leaders in the struggle for Black inclusion and equal opportunity are chronicled, as are the activities of the Vulcan Society in New York and the Social Association of Fire Fighters in Baltimore. The second half of the dissertation explores the nationalization of the struggle for of the equal employment opportunity within the urban fire service. The 1 970 formation International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF), its relationship vii to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and the struggle for "community control" and Black representation within urban fire departments as well as the impact of Title VII, the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Caucus and Black Power movements, and urban rebellions on the organization's formation and objectives are examined. The evolution, implementation, limitations, and strengths of equal opportunity litigation and remedial relief programs as applied to urban fire departments, the activities of Black firefighters' organizations, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), municipal governments, the Department of Justice, and the federal courts during the course of fire department litigation are also documented and analyzed. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v ABSTRACT vii CHAPTER INTRODUCTION 1 1. THE MAKING OF THE FDNY: INSULARITY AND EXCLUSION 15 2. SURVIVING WITH DIGNITY: THE FORMATION OF THE VULCAN SOCIETY, 1937-1954 68 3. NEW YORK'S BLACK FIREFIGHTERS & THE VULCAN SOCIETY IN THE MODERN CIVIL RIGHTS ERA, 1954-1968 127 4. A MONUMENTAL STRUGGLE IN MONUMENT CITY: THE INTEGRATION OF BALTIMORE'S FIRE DEPARTMENT, 1930-1954 182 5. BLAZING FOR JUSTICE: BALTIMORE'S PIONEER BLACK FIREFIGHTERS FIGHT BACK, 1954-1969 225 6. THE FORMATION OF THE IABPFF AND THE RISE OF FIRE DEPARTMENT DISCRIMINATION LITIGATION 269 7. THE RISE AND FALL OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN URBAN FIRE DEPARTMENTS, 1972 TO THE PRESENT 315 BIBLIOGRAPHY 360 ix 1 INTRODUCTION On September 1 1, 2001 two hijacked jumbo jet airliners plunged into the World Trade Center buildings in New York, exploding on contact. It was immediately clear that that many lives had been lost and that thousands more were in jeopardy. Probable structural collapse due to the force of impact and the tremendous explosions and fires that followed made attempts to rescue the thousands who remained inside extremely dangerous. Despite these conditions, New York's firefighters responded quickly and in large numbers to assist as many people as humanly possible. Approximately three thousand people - including three hundred forty three members of the fire department - died that day. Families were left in shock and in disarray, while the nation's false sense of security was forever shattered. Thousands more, however, escaped death that day thanks in large measure to dedication, selflessness, and bravery of the members of New York's Fire Department (FDNY). The events of 9/1 1 greatly enhanced the public's appreciation for firefighters, the courageous services they provide, and the bonds that they share. Known for toughness and stoicism, firefighters broke down into tears while discussing the loss of their company-mates, commanders, friends, and in many cases family members. While grieving, firefighters refused to stop working out of a sense of duty and respect for their fallen comrades and their families, finding solace in the dignity of the work they performed and in each other. As a result of their ability to band together and summon nation as their best in the toughest of times, firefighters came to be viewed across the on post 9/1 much more than dedicated and heroic civil servants. As one commentator 1 America explained, to many, firefighters symbolized "defiance in the face of terror, providing inspiration in a world that has become immensely more frightening and complicated.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • NAACP) Access to Affordable Health Care Will Reduce Health Disparities Among People of Color
    National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Access to affordable health care will reduce health disparities among people of color Organization Description: Founded in 1909, NAACP is the oldest and largest civil rights organization and works to achieve political, educational, social, and economic equality for minority groups. Its goal is to eliminate racial prejudice and remove all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes. NAACP drives their advocacy efforts through volunteerism and partnerships with other organizations. Proposal Summary: NAACP develops national health education initiatives, engages in community outreach, and partners with national and local organizations to sponsor health campaigns. Its goal is to increase access to high quality health care for all citizens and reduce health-related disparities among people of color through policies and practices. NAACP focuses on a range of health care issues such as universal insurance coverage, obesity, HIV/AIDS, and mental health. NAACP’s health agenda is only a subset of its broader advocacy efforts in education, economic empowerment, criminal justice and other areas where it is interested in reducing racial disparities. • Coverage: Because minorities are less likely to be insured, NAACP advocates for equal access to high quality, affordable health insurance for minorities. NAACP focuses primarily on reducing disparities in health care coverage, quality, and access, but it ultimately supports equal access for all citizens. NAACP encourages African Americans to sign up for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. In addition to health insurance, NAACP believes all citizens should have equal access to health services, medicine, and preventive care. • Wellness and Prevention: NAACP supports efforts to reduce obesity and HIV/AIDS disparities.
    [Show full text]
  • H.Doc. 108-224 Black Americans in Congress 1870-2007
    “The Negroes’ Temporary Farewell” JIM CROW AND THE EXCLUSION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS FROM CONGRESS, 1887–1929 On December 5, 1887, for the first time in almost two decades, Congress convened without an African-American Member. “All the men who stood up in awkward squads to be sworn in on Monday had white faces,” noted a correspondent for the Philadelphia Record of the Members who took the oath of office on the House Floor. “The negro is not only out of Congress, he is practically out of politics.”1 Though three black men served in the next Congress (51st, 1889–1891), the number of African Americans serving on Capitol Hill diminished significantly as the congressional focus on racial equality faded. Only five African Americans were elected to the House in the next decade: Henry Cheatham and George White of North Carolina, Thomas Miller and George Murray of South Carolina, and John M. Langston of Virginia. But despite their isolation, these men sought to represent the interests of all African Americans. Like their predecessors, they confronted violent and contested elections, difficulty procuring desirable committee assignments, and an inability to pass their legislative initiatives. Moreover, these black Members faced further impediments in the form of legalized segregation and disfranchisement, general disinterest in progressive racial legislation, and the increasing power of southern conservatives in Congress. John M. Langston took his seat in Congress after contesting the election results in his district. One of the first African Americans in the nation elected to public office, he was clerk of the Brownhelm (Ohio) Townshipn i 1855.
    [Show full text]
  • The Limits of “Diversity” Where Affirmative Action Was About Compensatory Justice, Diversity Is Meant to Be a Shared Benefit
    The Limits of “Diversity” Where affirmative action was about compensatory justice, diversity is meant to be a shared benefit. But does the rationale carry weight? By Kelefa Sanneh, THE NEW YORKER, October 9, 2017 This summer, the Times reported that, under President Trump, the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice had acquired a new focus. The division, which was founded in 1957, during the fight over school integration, would now be going after colleges for discriminating against white applicants. The article cited an internal memo soliciting staff lawyers for “investigations and possible litigation related to intentional race-based discrimination in college and university admissions.” But the memo did not explicitly mention white students, and a spokesperson for the Justice Department charged that the story was inaccurate. She said that the request for lawyers related specifically to a complaint from 2015, when a number of groups charged that Harvard was discriminating against Asian-American students. In one sense, Asian-Americans were overrepresented at Harvard: in 2013, they made up eighteen per cent of undergraduates, despite being only about five per cent of the country’s population. But at the California Institute of Technology, which does not employ racial preferences, Asian- Americans made up forty-three per cent of undergraduates—a figure that had increased by more than half over the previous two decades, while Harvard’s percentage had remained relatively flat. The plaintiffs used SAT scores and other data to argue that administrators had made it “far more difficult for Asian-Americans than for any other racial and ethnic group of students to gain admission to Harvard.” They claimed that Harvard, in its pursuit of racial parity, was not only rewarding black and Latino students but also penalizing Asian-American students—who were, after all, minorities, too.
    [Show full text]
  • Untimely Meditations: Reflections on the Black Audio Film Collective
    8QWLPHO\0HGLWDWLRQV5HIOHFWLRQVRQWKH%ODFN$XGLR )LOP&ROOHFWLYH .RGZR(VKXQ Nka: Journal of Contemporary African Art, Number 19, Summer 2004, pp. 38-45 (Article) 3XEOLVKHGE\'XNH8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV For additional information about this article http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/nka/summary/v019/19.eshun.html Access provided by Birkbeck College-University of London (14 Mar 2015 12:24 GMT) t is no exaggeration to say that the installation of In its totality, the work of John Akomfrah, Reece Auguiste, Handsworth Songs (1985) at Documentall introduced a Edward George, Lina Gopaul, Avril Johnson, David Lawson, and new audience and a new generation to the work of the Trevor Mathison remains terra infirma. There are good reasons Black Audio Film Collective. An artworld audience internal and external to the group why this is so, and any sus• weaned on Fischli and Weiss emerged from the black tained exploration of the Collective's work should begin by iden• cube with a dramatically expanded sense of the historical, poet• tifying the reasons for that occlusion. Such an analysis in turn ic, and aesthetic project of the legendary British group. sets up the discursive parameters for a close hearing and viewing The critical acclaim that subsequently greeted Handsworth of the visionary project of the Black Audio Film Collective. Songs only underlines its reputation as the most important and We can locate the moment when the YBA narrative achieved influential art film to emerge from England in the last twenty cultural liftoff in 1996 with Douglas Gordon's Turner Prize vic• years. It is perhaps inevitable that Handsworth Songs has tended tory.
    [Show full text]
  • 2020 Mayor's Recommended Budget Book
    TOWN OF EAST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2019 - JUNE 30, 2020 TOWN OF EAST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2019-JUNE 30, 2020 Table of Contents Principal Official: 1 Youth Services 43 Grants/Lease Administration 45 Mayor’s Budget Message: 2 Finance: Administration 47 General Information: Accounts and Control 49 Organizational Chart 8 Information Technology 51 East Hartford at a Glance 9 Purchasing 53 Budget Process Summary 10 Treasury 55 Assessor 57 Financial Summaries: Revenue and Collections 59 Budget Summary 12 Employee Benefits 61 Revenue Summary 13 Risk Management 63 Expenditure Summary 14 Pie Chart - Estimated Revenues Development: and Expenditures 15 Administration 65 Budget Comparisons 16 Fund Balance, Mill Rate and Capital Public Safety: Expenditure Calculations 17 Police - Administration 67 Police – Patrol/Operations 74 General Fund Revenue Detail: 18 Police - Criminal Investigation 77 Fire - Administration 80 General Fund Expenditures: Fire - Suppression 82 Fire - Marshal 87 Legislative: Fire - Apparatus Maintenance 89 Town Council 25 Fire - Alarm Maintenance 91 Town Clerk 27 Fire – Emergency Medical Services 93 Registrars of Voters 29 Fire - Emergency Management 95 Selectmen 31 Fire Training 97 Public Safety Communications 99 Executive: Office of the Mayor 33 Corporation Counsel 35 Inspections and Permits: Human Resources 37 Administration 101 Public Library 39 Probate Court 41 Table of Contents Boards and Commissions: Public Works: Beautification
    [Show full text]
  • TOWN of HARTFORD SELECTBOARD AGENDA Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 6:00 Pm Hartford Town Hall 171 Bridge Street White River Junction, VT 05001
    TOWN OF HARTFORD SELECTBOARD AGENDA Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 6:00 pm Hartford Town Hall 171 Bridge Street White River Junction, VT 05001 I. Call to Order the Selectboard Meeting II. Pledge of Allegiance III. Local Liquor Control Board 1. Renewal with Appearance a. Public House at Quechee Gorge, LLC, 5813 Woodstock Road, Quechee, VT 05059. (1st Class & Outside Consumption) IV. Order of Agenda V. Selectboard 1. Citizen, Selectboard Comments and Announcements: TBD 2. Appointments a. Consider the Appointment of Allison Childs to the Hartford Parks and Recreation Commission 3 year term beginning April 9, 2019 to April 8, 2022. b. Consider the Re-appointment of Thomas Franklin to a 3 year term on the Zoning Board beginning on April 9, 2019 and ending on April 8, 2022. 3. Town Manager’s Report: Significant Activity Report period ending April 9, 2019. 4. Board Reports, Motions & Ordinances a. Treasurer Selectboard/Appointment (Information Only) b. Local Emergency Management Plan Adoption (Motion Required) 1 c. HCOREI RFP (Motion Required) d. Solar Energy Savings Update & Wilder Well Solar Update (Info. Only) e. Electric Vehicle Lease (Motion Required) Postponed Until April 23rd. f. Volunteer Appreciation Proclamation (Motion Required) g. Community Resilience Organization of Hartford (CROH) Bylaw changes (Motion Required) h. Selectboard Rules of Order and CIP Rubric (Motion Required) 5. Commission Meeting Reports: TBD 6. Consent Agenda (Mot Req.): Approve Payroll Ending: 4/6/2019 Approve Meeting Minutes of: 3/26/2019 Approve A/P Manifest of: 4/5/2019 & 4/9/2019 Selectboard Meeting Dates of: - Already Approved: 4/23/2019, 5/7/2019 & 5/21/2919 7.
    [Show full text]
  • PAPERS of the NAACP Part Segregation and Discrimination, 15 Complaints and Responses, 1940-1955
    A Guide to the Microfilm Edition of BLACK STUDIES RESEARCH SOURCES Microfilms from Major Archival and Manuscript Collections General Editors: John H. Bracey, Jr. and August Meier PAPERS OF THE NAACP Part Segregation and Discrimination, 15 Complaints and Responses, 1940-1955 Series B: Administrative Files UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS OF AMERICA PAPERS OF THE NAACP Part 15. Segregation and Discrimination, Complaints and Responses, 1940-1955 Series B: Administrative Files A Guide to the Microfilm Edition of BLACK STUDIES RESEARCH SOURCES Microfilms from Major Archival and Manuscript Collections General Editors: John H. Bracey, Jr. and August Meier PAPERS OF THE NAACP Part 15. Segregation and Discrimination, Complaints and Responses, 1940-1955 Series B: Administrative Files Edited by John H. Bracey, Jr. and August Meier Project Coordinator Randolph Boehm Guide compiled by Martin Schipper A microfilm project of UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS OF AMERICA An Imprint of CIS 4520 East-West Highway * Bethesda, MD 20814-3389 Library of Congress Cataloglng-ln-Publication Data National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Papers of the NAACP. [microform] Accompanied by printed reel guides. Contents: pt. 1. Meetings of the Board of Directors, records of annual conferences, major speeches, and special reports, 1909-1950 / editorial adviser, August Meier; edited by Mark Fox--pt. 2. Personal correspondence of selected NAACP officials, 1919-1939 / editorial--[etc.]--pt. 15. Segregation and discrimination, complaints and responses, 1940-1955. 1. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People-Archives. 2. Afro-Americans--Civil Rights--History--20th century-Sources. 3. Afro- Americans--History--1877-1964--Sources. 4. United States--Race relations-Sources. I. Meier, August, 1923- .
    [Show full text]
  • Hr 2622—Fair and Accurate Credit
    H.R. 2622—FAIR AND ACCURATE CREDIT TRANSACTIONS ACT OF 2003 HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION JULY 9, 2003 Printed for the use of the Committee on Financial Services Serial No. 108–47 ( U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 92–230 PDF WASHINGTON : 2003 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 12:51 Mar 05, 2004 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 G:\DOCS\92230.TXT FIN1 PsN: MICAH HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES MICHAEL G. OXLEY, Ohio, Chairman JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa BARNEY FRANK, Massachusetts DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska PAUL E. KANJORSKI, Pennsylvania RICHARD H. BAKER, Louisiana MAXINE WATERS, California SPENCER BACHUS, Alabama CAROLYN B. MALONEY, New York MICHAEL N. CASTLE, Delaware LUIS V. GUTIERREZ, Illinois PETER T. KING, New York NYDIA M. VELA´ ZQUEZ, New York EDWARD R. ROYCE, California MELVIN L. WATT, North Carolina FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York ROBERT W. NEY, Ohio DARLENE HOOLEY, Oregon SUE W. KELLY, New York, Vice Chair JULIA CARSON, Indiana RON PAUL, Texas BRAD SHERMAN, California PAUL E. GILLMOR, Ohio GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York JIM RYUN, Kansas BARBARA LEE, California STEVEN C. LATOURETTE, Ohio JAY INSLEE, Washington DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois DENNIS MOORE, Kansas WALTER B. JONES, JR., North Carolina CHARLES A. GONZALEZ, Texas DOUG OSE, California MICHAEL E.
    [Show full text]
  • Black History Month Activity
    Black History Month How to do it: In advance, prepare a set of facts about Black History Month so that you have one fact for each student. 1 Introduce the activity: “In honor of Black His- tory Month, we’re going to share interesting Black History Month facts about important African Americans in Dr. Charles Drew was an American surgeon whose Jackie Robinson was the first African American to pioneering research in blood transfusions saved play major league baseball in the 20th century. thousands of lives in World War II. He also U.S. history.” invented what are now known as bloodmobiles. Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery. She Toni Morrison is a writer and editor. then led many more slaves to freedom on She was the first African-American woman the Underground Railroad. to win the Nobel Prize in literature. In 2008, Barack Obama became the first African W.E.B. DuBois was a scholar 2 Explain how to do the activity: “Everyone will American president of the United States. who co-founded the NAACP in 1909. Alvin Ailey started a modern dance company Katherine G. Johnson solved hard math get one fact. When I say ‘Go,’ mix and mingle in 1958. It has performed for millions problems at NASA. Her work helped put of people around the world. astronauts into space. until I say ‘Stop.’ Then pair up with someone Mae Jemison is an American astronaut and physician. She was the first African American woman In 1955, Marian Anderson became in NASA’s astronaut training program, and she the first African American to sing with the became the first African American to travel into space New York Metropolitan Opera.
    [Show full text]
  • A Look at the History of the Legislators of Color NEW YORK STATE BLACK, PUERTO RICAN, HISPANIC and ASIAN LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS
    New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus 1917-2014 A Look at the History of the Legislators of Color NEW YORK STATE BLACK, PUERTO RICAN, HISPANIC AND ASIAN LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS 1917-2014 A Look At The History of The Legislature 23 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus would like to express a special appreciation to everyone who contributed time, materials and language to this journal. Without their assistance and commitment this would not have been possible. Nicole Jordan, Executive Director Raul Espinal, Legislative Coordinator Nicole Weir, Legislative Intern Adrienne L. Johnson, Office of Assemblywoman Annette Robinson New York Red Book The 1977 Black and Puerto Rican Caucus Journal New York State Library Schomburg Research Center for Black Culture New York State Assembly Editorial Services Amsterdam News 2 DEDICATION: Dear Friends, It is with honor that I present to you this up-to-date chronicle of men and women of color who have served in the New York State Legislature. This book reflects the challenges that resolute men and women of color have addressed and the progress that we have helped New Yorkers achieve over the decades. Since this book was first published in 1977, new legislators of color have arrived in the Senate and Assembly to continue to change the color and improve the function of New York State government. In its 48 years of existence, I am proud to note that the Caucus has grown not only in size but in its diversity. Originally a group that primarily represented the Black population of New York City, the Caucus is now composed of members from across the State representing an even more diverse people.
    [Show full text]
  • The NAACP and the Black Freedom Struggle in Baltimore, 1935-1975 Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillm
    “A Mean City”: The NAACP and the Black Freedom Struggle in Baltimore, 1935-1975 Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By: Thomas Anthony Gass, M.A. Department of History The Ohio State University 2014 Dissertation Committee: Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries, Advisor Dr. Kevin Boyle Dr. Curtis Austin 1 Copyright by Thomas Anthony Gass 2014 2 Abstract “A Mean City”: The NAACP and the Black Freedom Struggle in Baltimore, 1935-1975” traces the history and activities of the Baltimore branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from its revitalization during the Great Depression to the end of the Black Power Movement. The dissertation examines the NAACP’s efforts to eliminate racial discrimination and segregation in a city and state that was “neither North nor South” while carrying out the national directives of the parent body. In doing so, its ideas, tactics, strategies, and methods influenced the growth of the national civil rights movement. ii Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to the Jackson, Mitchell, and Murphy families and the countless number of African Americans and their white allies throughout Baltimore and Maryland that strove to make “The Free State” live up to its moniker. It is also dedicated to family members who have passed on but left their mark on this work and myself. They are my grandparents, Lucious and Mattie Gass, Barbara Johns Powell, William “Billy” Spencer, and Cynthia L. “Bunny” Jones. This victory is theirs as well. iii Acknowledgements This dissertation has certainly been a long time coming.
    [Show full text]
  • Rising from Ground Zero from the EDITOR There Are No Words, Even Images, That Can Fully Capture the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Devastation of September 11, 2001
    GROUNDRISING ZERO: FROM REFLECTIONS ON 9/11 IN NYC, 20 YEARS LATER Sponsored by 1 Rising from Ground Zero FROM THE EDITOR There are no words, even images, that can fully capture the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF devastation of September 11, 2001. Janelle Foskett [email protected] For those of us who were not on the scene that day, we can only imagine what it must have been like for first responders EXECUTIVE EDITOR to face 16 acres of horror at Ground Zero, to see a symbol of Marc Bashoor America’s military on fire, and to descend upon a Pennsylvania [email protected] field covered in pieces of an airliner. Those who did face these unimaginable scenes have graciously shared their unique SR. ASSOCIATE EDITOR insights – an inside look at how incident command unfolded at Rachel Engel the scene, the immediate work to support FDNY, and how the [email protected] tragedy changed the survivors forever. It is through their eyes that we reflect on the 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001. EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Greg Friese This publication focuses on personal reflections from the New [email protected] York City response; additional special coverage of response efforts to the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa., can be found at VP OF CONTENT firerescue1.com/Sept11-20years. Jon Hughes [email protected] We remember and honor the lives lost at the Pentagon, aboard Flight 93 and in New York City, including the 343 firefighters GRAPHIC DESIGN killed on 9/11 and the hundreds who have since lost their lives to Ariel Shumar WTC-related illness.
    [Show full text]