Box 1, Folder 14, Document 39

Box 1, Folder 14, Document 39

CITY OF ATLANTA
8 August 1969









Memorandum Regarding Buparamenestan Ags tiet Black Foreman Of Atlanta

*~ SS “ os
te BRR Mayor Ivan Allen, Chairman Board of Firemasters, AldermanWim...T.
Sets _ Knaght and Atlanta Fire Chief Paul 0. Williams i ee Toes ee
From; Black Firemen of Atlanta | Se ee

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--

rimination 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: 7f ae

I. HIRING PRACTICES ; oh r

as oe ee - keh Es ;

The ratio of Black Firemen to White Firemen does not correspon
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~Fixremen oF
that are drafted into the armed services are replaced ey: white firemen go7,



II. SEGREGATED SLEEPING & LOCKER ARRANGEMENTS

Lockers and beds of Black Firemen are placed in the back or away.
rom the white firemen...

— |

III. RECREATION CLUB



The membership was “glésed the year Black Firemen were hired i

1963. Land was given te the club by the government on ake Allatoona. | 13 acres)
Ay oe as alt how ny sce !
IV. PROMOTIONAL DISCRIMINATION (© Gwen Fenny Petuaten = )

Black Firemen should be included in every department. White fire- oi
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 have been known-to-forceetheir-prejudices-on Black Firemen. We
=eare 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

overell 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 L

the top 40 on the Lieutenants list. ‘Now they are captains. !
J
i



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. House dyties
should be picked according to seniority. Gq 1S neyo frm >

VI. STANDARD SET OF RULES FOR ALL C INS

Each shift is operated different, captain authority has no limit.
He forces personal PEEWUGECes on Black Firemen. Transfer of men to other °

stations. | Aig Aust, te Anke
7 pee ndigtc Pe. OL, -.
FOR CONTACT: Fireman William Hamer . Bie

195 Hermer Circle, N. W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30311 _

Rlephone - 794-2244 ae

— or =" : ae
Fire Station 16 on C Shift - bs
Telephone 523-5786