Negro Digest - Freedom Archives

What I did object to was the effort
to stop me from securixg employment
elsewhere, stating that I was
fired for "violation of ethical codes
and customs which are expected for
membership in the college community
here," which really sounds
awful, and concluding by, "I hope
for you and yours the best of everything."
That reminds me of Bob
Dylan, "They'll stone you, then
they'll wish you good luck ." The
American Association of University
Professors asked for four
months salary for me for breach of
contract . I never got it . I suppose
the local policeman would not allow
it .
I was blacklisted all the way to
Detroit . I was hired as a substitute
teacher in the Detroit Public
Schools, and then told that "some
of the committee members, on further
discussion, had changed their
vote ." A secret memorandum, a
copy of which some kind, anonymous
soul at the school board
mailed to me, stated :
"It would be our strong recommendation
that Mrs . Hall not be
hired in any capacity by the Detroit
Board of Education . This
opinion is based on her lack of
judgment and general background
for working in our schools."
(Memorandum from Gladys V.
Hamilton to Miss Malorney, dated
Dec. 15, 1965, File No . 14-29-02 .
Approved by Julie Strwn, Adm:
Asst . Robt . Le Anderson . )
This officially-approved blacklist
did not stop Albert Schiff from
NEGRO DIGEST March 1969
writing me on Jan . 4, 1966, suggesting
that I complete more
courses and reapply for employment
with the Detroit Public
Schools .
I was informed by the American
Association of University Professors
that there were other complaints
about blacklisting emanating
from the same school . Their
approach is, resign, thereby voluntarily
renouncing your contract
rights, or they will do their best
to see that you never get a job
again. I was fortunate, because I
am also a legal secretary, and we
got by on that for a while . And
since I couldn't get a job, I went
back to school and learned fellowships
. I'll have my doctorate in history
from the University of Michigan
in a few months . Most teachers
in black colleges aren't so lucky.
They can't type .
I am making this modest contribution
to the discussion of the
Black University in the hope that
some effort will be made to raise
the degraded position of teachers
in rural black colleges to something
approaching national standards .
They are treated like serfs . They
feel like they are serfs. And, in fact,
they are serfs. Still, they are in a
better position to change the situation
than are the students, if the
teachers were well organized, and
got support from professional
organizations from the outside .
I don't know yet whose reality
works . But it sure is interesting
finding out .
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