Dublin Core
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
CITY OF ATLANTA
8 August 1969
Memorandum Regarding Drseniminarten, Agathien Black PareMenios ACerS
¢ *. ee oe ‘
+ Tos Mayor Ivan Allen, Chairman Board of Firemasters, Alderman_tim, « Te
Ba 45 _ Knight and Atlanta Fire Chief Paul 0. Williams eS :
From: Black Firemen of Atlanta , —
—_—_——
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: x
I. HIRING PRACTICES Sh Re >
. . = ag * + a
The ratio of Black Firemen to White Firemen does not correspond
~—to the population of Black citizens in Atlanta. There are about 90 to
100 Black Firemen in a department of more than 900 men. Black~Firemen
. that are drafted into the armed services are replaced ey: white firemen
II. SEGREGATED SLEEPING & LOCKER Sa
Lockers and beds of Black Firemen are placed in the back or away.
_ trom the white firemen.
III. RECREATION CLUB
The membership was closed the yea
rB
1963. Land was given to the club by the gove
lack Firen
rnme 13 acres)
vol: z
IV, PROMOTIONAL DISCRIMINATION ‘Lox ouet = )
Black Firemen should be included in every department. White fire= es» '
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
entire officer cabinet is made up of all white officers. Most of these
officers s_have_been knownto_forcetheir-prejudiceson Black Firemen. We
=—ere 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 tra drivers. ee dyties
should be picked according to seniority. Gon tS mepvo fam he}
VI. STANDARD SET OF RULES FOR ALL C INS
Each shift is operated different, captain authority has no limit.
He forces personal prejudices on Black Firemen. Transfer of men to other -
stations. p=
FOR CONTACT: Fireman William Hamer
195 Hermer Circle, N. W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30311 _
Blephone - Sigs 2244 —
‘Fire Station 16 on C Shift
Telephone 523-5786