Box 1, Folder 14, Document 38

Box 1, Folder 14, Document 38

——to the population of Black citizens in Atlanta. There are_about 90 to



CITY OF ATLANTA
8 August 1969

Memorandum Regarding Brseniminatten, Agathsn Black paremen Of ACerS

© oa

= tek te
+ Tos Mayor Ivan Allen, Chairman Board of Firemasters, Alderman_tim, « te
ms _ Knight and Atlanta Fire Chief Paul 0. Williams ag se
; ge ee
From: Black Firemen of Atlanta. ee bo) 3.3

ee

The Black firefighters of Atlanta are dedicated municipal employees, i i
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.

August 18, 1969 that we receive a formal report on your actions in corre
ing the actions cited herein: x

a

I. HIRING PRACTICES Shee ek ap tg nae |
. . = Pi 5: > e.
The ratio of Black Bicomen to White Firemen does not correspond

action be taken to correct these practices, and that on or before opr, ‘4



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. a!

III. RECREATION CLUB



The membership was closed the year Black Fireme: : ;
1963. Land was given to the club by the governme t on La ke Allatoona 13 acres)
Lor vO: , de pr bso * Gre.
IV, PROMOTIONAL DISCRIMINATION \¢ oun Feeney Heute os = )



peer tie eriee:

Black Firemen should be included in every department. White fire-
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 known_to_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 a
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 pregudices on Black Firemen. Transfer of men to other

stations. | | Chad Aut, Ye eT,
ay eo aor
FOR CONTACT: Fireman William Hamer t Bw

Atlanta, Georgia 30311 _—
Blephone - Pigs eas eo call

Fire Station 16 on C Shift - ene
Telephone 523-5786

|
195 Hermer Circle, N. W. 3 oo