Summer Session Kansan
Page 5
Businessmen Carry Out Birmingham Integration
For six weeks Birmingham firemen have had to use their hoses only on fires and the police dogs who chased Negroes through the nearby alleys are back on routine burglaries.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — (UPI) — The bark is growing back on the trees at Kelly-Ingram Park where firehoses cut men down like tenpins.
The more than 2,500 Negroes who marched through the streets, sat in at lunch counters and knelt in at churches, are back at their jobs on bonds totaling more than $250,000.
AND THE PEACE brought by businessmen who risked their bank accounts to meet with Nerro leaders to negotiate a treaty for partial desegregation has held. The initial step in the truce has been taken.
The merchants did not get off without scars at the hands of segregationists. Militant forces have used economic reprisals, intimidation and some tactics borrowed from integration forces in efforts to bend the merchants.
"It's been hell for a while," said one downtown store owner. "We have been threatened. There is an organized campaign to stop whites from buying at the store, and some charge accounts have been cancelled.
"But the whites haven't been as successful in keeping people away from the stores as the Negroes were, and the Negro customers came back," said the store owner, who did not want his name used.
THE NEGRO COMMUNITY, which successfully kept many shopper away from white stores, has returned to downtown to shop.
Tuesday, July 2, 1963
They have found in the past week that the merchants have kept their word on the initial steps toward desegregation. The major downtown stores have removed "white" and "colored" signs from water fountains and restrooms, and Negroes can now try on clothing in fitting rooms.
The bargain, considered a limited victory in light of the size of the protest movement that lasted a month here, calls for upgrading of employment opportunities for Negroes by the middle of July, and the hiring of at least one Negro clerk by one downtown store.
By mid August, the agreement calls for a permanent bi-racial committee to be set up and lunch counters at major stores to drop color barriers.
THE FIRST STEP was not announced by the white businessmen, but simply carried through. Sidney Smyer, spokesman for the white businessmen who negotiated the truce, said there would be no announcement when the other parts of the agreement are fulfilled.
"But there will be," he said.
"But they will be," he said.
APRIL 3 Dr. Martin Luther King arrived here and announced the start of a mass demonstration campaign to crack what he called "The most segregated big city in America."
The agreement was signed by some of the city's most prominent
businessmen on May 10 and the demonstration campaign stopped short. But within two days bombs shattered a Negro motel and the home of King's brother, Rev. A. D King and touched off four hours of bloody rioting.
Both Negro and white leaders realize that a militant Negro faction which does not believe in King's non-violent tactics, would win growing support if the peaceful protests failed.
THE AGREEMENT—though shaken—was not shattered.
APPLICATION PHOTOS
PASSPORTS
Fast Service
HIXON STUDIO
Bob Blank, Photographer
721 Mass. VI 3-0330
HAVING A PARTY?
We are always happy to serve you with
Ice cold beverages Chips, nuts, cookies
Variety of grocery items
Crushed ice, candy
Ice cold 6 pacs all kinds
OPEN TO 10 P.M.EVERY EVENING
LAWRENCE ICE COMPANY
616 Vt. Ph.VI 3-0350
RECORDS
Wednesday Evening Special FRIED CHICKEN
All you can eat — $1.00
Drink and dessert extra.
Or, our regular Smorgasbord — $1.35
Don't forget Our Famous Bar-B-Qued Ribs Every Friday Night
Little Banquet PLENTY OF FREE PARKING ON THE MALL
RECORDS
It's Surfin' Time
with
DICK DALE
BEACH BOYS
- BO DIDDLEY
- THE ASTRONAUTS
- THE VENTURES
BELL'S VI 3-2644 925 Mass.
RECORDS
RECORDS