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CITY OF ATLANTA
8 August 1969
Memorandum Regarding Desehnine tion Agediet Black Perenen Of Atlanta
7 a rere ae Ey
-»To:. Mayor Ivan Allen, Chairman Board of Firemasters, Alderman_vim. .T.
Ss _ Knaght and Atlanta Fire Chief Paul 0. Williams i
From: Black Firemen of Atlanta : J
—_—
The Black firefighters of Atlanta are dedicated municipal employees,
concerned with the safety and welfare of our city and all of its citizens.
During the years of our tenure as firemen we have been subjected to dis--
crimination and abuses as outlined below, We request that immediate-
action be taken to correct these practices, and that on or before Monday, -
August 18, 1969 that we receive a formal report on your ‘actions in corrette__
ing the actions cited herein: ye
cI + ; ap
qe AIRING PRACTICES Chae > ;
ms Spogt aT . =
The ratio of Black eigenen to White Firemen 46K not correspond:
to the population of Black citizens in Atlanta. There are about 90 to
100 Black Firemen in a paper men of more than 900 men. Black- Firemen
II. SEGREGATED SLEEPING & LOCKER ARRANGEMENTS
Lockers and beds of Black Firemen are winced in the back or away
éxom the white firemen. 5
III. RECREATION CLUB
sa
add
The membership was closed the vear Black Firemen were h nine
1963. Land was given to the club by the governne t on Lake fe peveene ae serkuche x 3 acres
Legh boo me,
IV. PROMOTIONAL DISCRIMINATION hoe
!
Black Firemen should be included in every department. White fires wi
men with less time and experience are promoted: to driver-positions. “Black ’
Firemen with 5 and 6 years should be promoted to Lieutenants, because the ah
entire officer cabinet is made up of all white officers. Most of these
officers s have been known—-to_force—their-prejudices-on- Black Firemen. We
-=-are aware of the test for Lieutenants, but in a time of an emergency men
have been promoted wholesale from private to captains within a year, thus
setting proper precedent. We consider this an emergency-because of the
overall discrimination in the department. White drivers are giving up their
positions because they know future Lieutenants are going to be appointed by
Chiefs.: This is true because in the last captain's test the aides of all
the chiefs dominated the list. Some of these Lieutenants didn't place in
the top 40 on the Lieutenants list. Now they are captains.
V. EXPERIENCE AND LENGTH OF TIME ON THE DEPARTMENT
Acting officers, we feel that every Black Firemen with the time
and experience, equal to any. white firemen, should be.given the opportunity
to be an acting officer. This applies to extra drivers. House duties
should be picked according to seniority. Qua tS repro frum C -
VI. STANDARD SET OF RULES FOR ALL C INS
Each shift is operated different, captain authority has no limit.
He forces personal pEesudiess on Black Firemen. Transfer of men to other °
stations.
FOR CONTACT: Fireman William Hamer
195 Hermer Circle, N. W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30311
Blephone - 794-2244 Pa, =
| OR
Fire Station 16 on C Shift
Telephone 523-5786
8 August 1969
Memorandum Regarding Desehnine tion Agediet Black Perenen Of Atlanta
7 a rere ae Ey
-»To:. Mayor Ivan Allen, Chairman Board of Firemasters, Alderman_vim. .T.
Ss _ Knaght and Atlanta Fire Chief Paul 0. Williams i
From: Black Firemen of Atlanta : J
—_—
The Black firefighters of Atlanta are dedicated municipal employees,
concerned with the safety and welfare of our city and all of its citizens.
During the years of our tenure as firemen we have been subjected to dis--
crimination and abuses as outlined below, We request that immediate-
action be taken to correct these practices, and that on or before Monday, -
August 18, 1969 that we receive a formal report on your ‘actions in corrette__
ing the actions cited herein: ye
cI + ; ap
qe AIRING PRACTICES Chae > ;
ms Spogt aT . =
The ratio of Black eigenen to White Firemen 46K not correspond:
to the population of Black citizens in Atlanta. There are about 90 to
100 Black Firemen in a paper men of more than 900 men. Black- Firemen
II. SEGREGATED SLEEPING & LOCKER ARRANGEMENTS
Lockers and beds of Black Firemen are winced in the back or away
éxom the white firemen. 5
III. RECREATION CLUB
sa
add
The membership was closed the vear Black Firemen were h nine
1963. Land was given to the club by the governne t on Lake fe peveene ae serkuche x 3 acres
Legh boo me,
IV. PROMOTIONAL DISCRIMINATION hoe
!
Black Firemen should be included in every department. White fires wi
men with less time and experience are promoted: to driver-positions. “Black ’
Firemen with 5 and 6 years should be promoted to Lieutenants, because the ah
entire officer cabinet is made up of all white officers. Most of these
officers s have been known—-to_force—their-prejudices-on- Black Firemen. We
-=-are aware of the test for Lieutenants, but in a time of an emergency men
have been promoted wholesale from private to captains within a year, thus
setting proper precedent. We consider this an emergency-because of the
overall discrimination in the department. White drivers are giving up their
positions because they know future Lieutenants are going to be appointed by
Chiefs.: This is true because in the last captain's test the aides of all
the chiefs dominated the list. Some of these Lieutenants didn't place in
the top 40 on the Lieutenants list. Now they are captains.
V. EXPERIENCE AND LENGTH OF TIME ON THE DEPARTMENT
Acting officers, we feel that every Black Firemen with the time
and experience, equal to any. white firemen, should be.given the opportunity
to be an acting officer. This applies to extra drivers. House duties
should be picked according to seniority. Qua tS repro frum C -
VI. STANDARD SET OF RULES FOR ALL C INS
Each shift is operated different, captain authority has no limit.
He forces personal pEesudiess on Black Firemen. Transfer of men to other °
stations.
FOR CONTACT: Fireman William Hamer
195 Hermer Circle, N. W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30311
Blephone - 794-2244 Pa, =
| OR
Fire Station 16 on C Shift
Telephone 523-5786