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Time line 1959-1978
Memphis TN
Community Integration and the Mid-South Coliseum
Memphis Committee on Community Relations (MCCR), incorporated in 1959 in
response to violence that accompanied integration in other southern cities.
Traditionally blacks were allowed to go to the zoo and public library on "black
Thursday" each week. In March of 1960, forty-one black college students
entered the library on a Monday and were arrested. Black boycotts and
picketing of white businesses followed and by the fall of 1960 the city
commission agreed to end segregation on public buses, in libraries, and at the
zoo .
There is no record of precisely who made the decision to do it then, for the
desegregation occurred voluntarily before the public accommodations act
became federal law in 1964
May 31, 1960 Vandeburg-Linkletter Associates present 90 page plan to the Mid-South
Fair for the fairgrounds property that recommends construction of a sports arena with
integrated seating, restrooms and concession stands .
• The admission of 13 black student brought token integration to the public school
system in the fall of 1961. White Memphians congratulated themselves on the
peaceful "revolution" neither the Board of Education nor the business community
did anything to remove hiring barriers.
March 1, 1961 Furbringer/Ehrman announced as architects for the new coliseum to be
built at the Fairgrounds
• A 1964 special report of the Southern Regional Council commended leaders of
both races in Memphis for the striking changes that had occurred so smoothly.
October 26, 1964, the Mid-South Coliseum opens with Ringling Bros. Circus
• May 31, 1966 City Commission and Park Commission decide to keep the
city's swimming pool closed for an indefinite period of time in response to
the United States Supreme Courts order to desegregate all playground
facilities.
• Henry Loeb mayor of Memphis 1960-1963 and reelected 1968-71. According to
the New York Times 8/9/67, "The mayor represented white Memphis and was
alien to the blacks of the city."
Object Description
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| Title | Coliseum021 1 |
| Transcript | ( ( • • Time line 1959-1978 Memphis TN Community Integration and the Mid-South Coliseum Memphis Committee on Community Relations (MCCR), incorporated in 1959 in response to violence that accompanied integration in other southern cities. Traditionally blacks were allowed to go to the zoo and public library on "black Thursday" each week. In March of 1960, forty-one black college students entered the library on a Monday and were arrested. Black boycotts and picketing of white businesses followed and by the fall of 1960 the city commission agreed to end segregation on public buses, in libraries, and at the zoo . There is no record of precisely who made the decision to do it then, for the desegregation occurred voluntarily before the public accommodations act became federal law in 1964 May 31, 1960 Vandeburg-Linkletter Associates present 90 page plan to the Mid-South Fair for the fairgrounds property that recommends construction of a sports arena with integrated seating, restrooms and concession stands . • The admission of 13 black student brought token integration to the public school system in the fall of 1961. White Memphians congratulated themselves on the peaceful "revolution" neither the Board of Education nor the business community did anything to remove hiring barriers. March 1, 1961 Furbringer/Ehrman announced as architects for the new coliseum to be built at the Fairgrounds • A 1964 special report of the Southern Regional Council commended leaders of both races in Memphis for the striking changes that had occurred so smoothly. October 26, 1964, the Mid-South Coliseum opens with Ringling Bros. Circus • May 31, 1966 City Commission and Park Commission decide to keep the city's swimming pool closed for an indefinite period of time in response to the United States Supreme Courts order to desegregate all playground facilities. • Henry Loeb mayor of Memphis 1960-1963 and reelected 1968-71. According to the New York Times 8/9/67, "The mayor represented white Memphis and was alien to the blacks of the city." |
