DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 1 of 2) | 1950-05-20 Burlington Hawkeye Gazette Letters: "Protest from Negroes"; "Say Discrimination Sharp"

Transcribe
Translate

Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 1 of 2)

1950-05-20 Burlington Hawkeye Gazette Letters: "Protest from Negroes"; "Say Discrimination Sharp"

[[Italicized Header]]
Protest from Negroes
[[End italics]]
[[Article Text]]
The Hawk-Eye Gazette: I read your article on the Negro in  Burlington. you have been misinformed very, very badly. I have been in this city almost 3 years and I have seen nothing but discrimination since I've been here.
Yes, I am a Negro. You speak of jobs. With the exception of slave jobs in your leading "slave shops". a Negro can't get a job here. I tried several plants and the color line was thrown in all where I tried.
Still Iowan is supposed to be a cultured state. Other than one or 2 places, a Negro cannot obtain a meal in this town. Even some greasy joints where I wouldn't eat if they did serve colored. I have seen tramps in some of them worse than any negro in Burlington.
I will say that your suburb of West Burlington has it over the city. I worked in West Burlington and there is not the noticeable outright discrimination there. You white people always preach the off-beat. I call it rot.
JEAN DeCARNET
P.O. Box 34, Burlington
[[End article text]]

[[Italicized header]]
Says Discrimination Sharp
[[End italics]]
[[Article text]]
The Hawk-Eye Gazette: After reading the article in "Thinking out Loud" which appeared in your issue of May 11, I think this was a very flimsy covering for the real issue. This might be termed an antiseptic, as this article, to my opinion causes more harm than has been done.
I can speak to this subject because I am an American Negro. Have never been or will I ever be a Communist.
Negro population in Burlington is small and a number of us do own or are buying homes because we are trying to be loyal citizens of this city. It is true that Burlington Negroes are not clamoring for more recognition as far as social life is concerned, but we do ask to be given a fair chance at employment. Segregation in employment is lower in Burlington than any city in Iowa. We do have people in the Negro race who are capable of doing a job, if given a chance, but doors to skilled jobs are tightly closed to all Negroes in Burlington.
We thank the people for their donations given our churches as a community without a church is not very desirable to live in. We ask for a fair chance at employment so we can better support our social activities and families.
There is no Communist among the Negro population in Burlington although discrimination is very prominent here.
F.A. PLEASANT,
511 S. 3rd.
[[End article text]]
[[Handwritten]]
May 20 '50

Saving...

[[Italicized Header]] Protest from Negroes [[End italics]] [[Article Text]] The Hawk-Eye Gazette: I read your article on the Negro in Burlington. you have been misinformed very, very badly. I have been in this city almost 3 years and I have seen nothing but discrimination since I've been here. Yes, I am a Negro. You speak of jobs. With the exception of slave jobs in your leading "slave shops". a Negro can't get a job here. I tried several plants and the color line was thrown in all where I tried. Still Iowan is supposed to be a cultured state. Other than one or 2 places, a Negro cannot obtain a meal in this town. Even some greasy joints where I wouldn't eat if they did serve colored. I have seen tramps in some of them worse than any negro in Burlington. I will say that your suburb of West Burlington has it over the city. I worked in West Burlington and there is not the noticeable outright discrimination there. You white people always preach the off-beat. I call it rot. JEAN DeCARNET P.O. Box 34, Burlington [[End article text]] [[Italicized header]] Says Discrimination Sharp [[End italics]] [[Article text]] The Hawk-Eye Gazette: After reading the article in "Thinking out Loud" which appeared in your issue of May 11, I think this was a very flimsy covering for the real issue. This might be termed an antiseptic, as this article, to my opinion causes more harm than has been done. I can speak to this subject because I am an American Negro. Have never been or will I ever be a Communist. Negro population in Burlington is small and a number of us do own or are buying homes because we are trying to be loyal citizens of this city. It is true that Burlington Negroes are not clamoring for more recognition as far as social life is concerned, but we do ask to be given a fair chance at employment. Segregation in employment is lower in Burlington than any city in Iowa. We do have people in the Negro race who are capable of doing a job, if given a chance, but doors to skilled jobs are tightly closed to all Negroes in Burlington. We thank the people for their donations given our churches as a community without a church is not very desirable to live in. We ask for a fair chance at employment so we can better support our social activities and families. There is no Communist among the Negro population in Burlington although discrimination is very prominent here. F.A. PLEASANT, 511 S. 3rd. [[End article text]] [[Handwritten]] May 20 '50