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VOL. 20, No. 4 | February 15-28, 2010 | Web site: Racineinsider.blogspot.com | E-mail: insider@wi.net | 262.632.9370
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CELEBRATING A RICH LEGACY ...
Professional Women's Network for Service, Inc. (Formally Racine Chapter of The Links, Inc.) stood at Mounument Square, one of two location,- where a group of men gathered to travel to Milwakee to free fugative slave Joshua Glover. The Network and The Racine Heritage Museum have partnered for over fifteen years in detailing the Underground Railroad Movement. Together we have made the greatest impact to make our community aware of its rich legacy. The U.S. National Park Service and its Underground
Railroad Network to Freedom Program approve Racine's Underground Railroad Markers. A major goal of Professional Women's Network for Service is to ensure that as many trials sited as possible meet the exacting standards required for designation as part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The Network is a National Park Service initiative identifying key Underground Railroad sites, programs, and facil-
Visit our website at:
Racineinsider.blogspot.com
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The Port in Racine that a group of men left in route to free Glover from a Milwakee jail.
Joshua Glover
Rescue of Joshua Glover, a Runaway Slave is inbeded in Racine History The Glover episode became a celebrated case elsewhere than in Wisconsin; here it stirred public excitement to fever pitch and profoundly affected the course of future events in politics. Joshua Glover was a runaway slave, who sought asylum in Racine in the early part of the year 1854. Racine was a way station on the route of the underground railway, and the abolition sentiment had made consider-
able headway among its people. The colored slave found employment in a mill. Learning his whereabouts, the Missouri master of the slave, one B. S. Garland, procured a process in the United States District court and proceeded to Glover's shanty in company with two deputy United States marshals. Glover was in his little shanty engaged in playing cards when his master and the marshals sur-
prised him by their appearance. He jumped up, and as he resisted arrest, one of the deputies knocked him down with a club and leveled a pistol at his head, while the others handcuffed him. In the words of Sherman M. Booth, whose subsequent connection with the case gave him national notoriety, the slave "was knocked down and handcuffed, dumped mangled and bleeding into a democrat
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wagon, and with a marshal's foot on his neck taken to Milwaukee and thrust into the county jail." Pursuit having been anticipated, the officers made their way to Milwaukee by a circuitous route. The alarm had been given, however, and it was soon learned that a negro accused of fleeing from his slave pen had been incarcerated in the jail at Milwaukee. When a hundred deter-
Haymarket Square was later named Mounment Sqare and would have looked like this when a group of Racine men boarded a ship to Milwaukee to free Glover. A stone marker has been erected to memorize the event.
mined men landed by boat from Racine, formed in line and marched toward the jail, public excitement in Milwaukee grew intense. Great crowds congregated about the county jail and gathered in the grounds adjacent to the courthouse. There a great indignation meeting was held that ended in the storming of the jail and the rescue of Glover. Sherman M. Booth, editor of The Free Democrat, who took a leading part in the courthouse meeting, according to popular account of the affair rode up and down the streets on a white horse summoning the people to gather, shouting the rallying cry: "Freemen, to the rescue!" Mr. Booth, in a recent address, denied many of the statements that have remained unchallenged for more than forty years. He said that he did not shout "Freemen, to the rescue!" and that he never advised the forcible rescue of Glover. What he did say was: "All freemen who are opposed to being made slaves or slave-catchers turn out to a meeting in the courthouse square at 2 o'clock!" Ringing resolutions were adopted insisting on the slave's right to a writ of habeas corpus and a trial by jury. A local judge issued such a writ, but the refusal of the federal officers to recognize its validity led to the battering in of the jail doors. Glover's rescue gave rise to many legal complications and a great deal of litigation. The sheriff of Racine county arrested the slave-master and those who had aided in the capture of the fugitive, on a charge of assault. Garland obtained his release on a writ of habeas corpus. In the meantime the underground railway had conveyed the slave to Canada. Booth was arrested and a grand jury found a bill of indictment against him and two others. He appealed to the Supreme court for a writ of habeas corpus. The learned judges read long opinions declaring the Fugitive Slave law of 1850 unconstitutional.
MARKER I
Glove’s
In 2003, the Underground Railroad Marker I (shown right photo) was placed on Monument Square- it honors the Racine Citizens who went to assist fugitive slave Joshua B Glover, who was courageous and determined to be free from slavery. In 2002, The Network to Freedom Program approved the Racine Heritage Museum as an Underground Railroad Resource site. The Network for Freedom Program has endorsed Ruby West Jackson for her project about Caroline Quarrels, another fugitive slave who made her way through Southeastern Wisconsin to Canada.
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MARKER II Glove’s
In 2007, the Underground Railroad Marker II was placed at the Racine Harbor at Gaslight Point - A Racine Maritime Connection commemorating Achas, Dutton, Warehouse Owner and Joshua Glover, Fugitive slave
PWNS helping preserve the history of African American's Contribution to the City of Racine For more than fifteen years, Professional Women's Network for Service (PWNS), a community service organization, has gathered and helped preserve the history of African American's Contribution to the City of Racine from 1830's to 1860. We have partnered with the Racine Heritage Museum staff, Ruby West Jackson, author, Walter McDonald, author, Chris Paulson, CEO RHM, Dick Ammann, RHM Archivist, Milton Dockery, Historian, and the City of Racine to mark two National Park Services (NPS) Network to Freedom Underground Railroad (UGRR) two sites (one is Monument Square formerly Haymarket Square and the second is the Maritime Marker /Dutton Warehouse Site, and the UGRR Facility the RHM). The Underground Railroad was not a railroad in the term that we would think; however, the system consisted of an everchanging network of hiding places in remote or rugged areas (mooned communities), safe houses, churches, schools, and business establishments. During times of war, the military offered refuge to those who willingly volunteered their services in exchange for personal liberty. The UGRR refers to efforts of enslaved African Americans to gain their freedom by escaping bondage. Wherever slavery existed, fugitive slaves took extreme risks in gaining their freedom either with the concerted assistance from others or alone. During its peak years, 1830-1865, the Underground Railroad operated as an informal, secretive system of escape devised by blacks and whites that strongly opposed human bondage. The operations of this highly guarded system consisted of a loosely constructed network of escape routes that originated in the South, intertwined throughout the North, and eventually ended in Spanish Florida, Canada, the western territories, California, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Western Europe. Professional Women's Network for Service's goal is to change its Southeastern Wisconsin citizens' and visitor's knowledge, behavior and pride toward a city that made a bold decision on behalf of one of its citizens. The Joshua Glover, a fugitive slave, exciting true life story uniquely tells about Fugitive Slave Law of 1850," a slave master's effort to capture the runaway slave (Garland), a fugitive slave (Glover), a spirited group of people (abolitionists) who were determination to set him free. Words spoken and the resolution adopted (1854) that Saturday morning by the largest group assembled a Haymarket Square (today's Monument Square) were: "Resolved, That we, as citizens of Racine, demand for said Glover a fair and impartial jury trail... and that we attend in person to aid him, by all honorable means, to secure his unconditional release, adopting as our motto the Golden Rule ... Resolved, That we, as citizens of Wisconsin ... do hereby declare the slave-catching law of 1850 disgraceful and also repealed. "( An Underground Railroad Sesquicentennial 18542004) Let’s look at the two cities (Racine lind St. Louis) and a Nation during the 1 830's1860.
A...Nation in Crisis:
The 1850's was a critical decade. The nation faced the difficult question of whether slavery should be allowed to expand into the new territories. The South demanded protection for its slave territories that belonged to all the states, and the South wanted to expand into the new Western Territories. The North wanted to confined slavery to the states where it already existed. A minority waned to abolish it/slavery altogether. American had never faced a political issue as divisive as slavery. It split the politi-
cal parties along sectional lines. It resisted every attempt at compromise. Time and again, it threatened to destroy the Union. The final crisis lead to the bloodiest war in American history. Some Results of the 1 850 Fugitive Slave Act • the fugitive Slave Law caused uproar in the North. The law required U.S. marshals in the North to help catch fugitive slaves. It filled free blacks throughout the North with terror. .!.The passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 soon threatened the liberty of those freedom seekers that had settled in the states and western territories. • For the millions of enslaved African Americans who remain in bondage, the risk of escaping became harder, but still the thought of freedom was strong . • Abolitionists, in opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act, deliberately set up a wellorganized underground system in various communities that provided food, clothing, and shelter to those in search of freedom. • Although scholar estimate that the UGRR system assisted thousands of slaves the total number of freedom seekers may not ever be known due to the secretive nature of the operation • The Fugitive Slave Law caused uproar in the North. The law required U.S. marshals in the North to help catch fugitive slaves. It filled free blacks throughout the North wittl terror. When an ex-slave named Shadrack was arrested in Boston, a mob broke into the jail. They freed Shadrack and sent him to Canada.
“Look out, we just get started” “Do you believe that we can put all the history of Racine African American in one issue?” That was asked by one member of Professional Women's Network for Service (PWNS) during our first meeting. “ I can’t see why we should not be able to do so,” I responded. Boy was I wrong! I have come to find out that Racine is filled with rich Black History and the story cannot be explained just during Black History Month. In fact it will take months and months to compile a picture of the greatness Blacks brought Racine during their migration north. In the months and years ahead, the Inside News will be working with the Professional Women's Network for Service, providing our loyal readers periodically with touching stories of how the African-Americans have made signifigant contributions to the city of Racine, as well as the entire County. We will interview residents to paint a clear picture of how people lived during certain periods in history. For an example, how the NAACP was founded in the 1940’s., Who was the first families of modern time to settle in Racine, and who was the Blues baseball team? Much of this information is not archived in the historical museum. So look forward old timers, here we come seeking answers from you. After all, that’s how our ancestors handed-down history throughout generations. So I applaud Professional Women's Network for work in making this a successful publication, and we hope you enjoy this edition. -Ken Lumpkin, Owner
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The arrow points to Peter Thomas with other elected officals during a photo at Mounment Square.
Racine First Black Elected Offical
Peter D. Thomas, born into slavery in 1847, was the first eleeted Black in Racine County and possibly the state. Elected coroner in 1887, Thomas served a two year uneventful term in office. It was his only excursion into politics. Today, his headstone is tucked away in Mound Cemetery, marking the grave of a man whose 73 years was studded with service to his country. Born on a Tennessee plantation, Thomas was 14 years old when the Civil War began and watched the fortification of Island ten, five miles from his home, and the battle in which Union "troops won the island from defending Confederate forces in October of 1862. When told that slaves were "freed," Thomas joined the Union forces as a servant (call a batman) for a Beloit lieutenant. Thomas accompanied the lieutenant back to Beloit when me officer had been seriously wounded. There he did farm work until he enlisted in a Black infantry unit in 1864. Thomas took part in two battles before leaving the service in 1865. Returning to Beloit, he attended high school and one year of college. From there he went to Chicago and finally in 1883 moved to Racine, where he lived the rest of his life until he died of accidental gas asphyxiation in his home. Thomas was elected during a turbulent election year when the Knights of Labor were a powerful force in the Democratic Party. He was nominated by acclamation. The Republican candidate opposing him was the incumbent. However, all but three Democrats were elected. Newspaper accounts of the day mention nothing of a controversial nature concerning Thomas's acceptance after his win of 2,430 to 1,422 for his opponent. After his term as coroner, Thomas worked for the First National Bank and as a custodian of the Court House. At the end of his life, according to a 1953 Journal-Times article, he was frequently to be found in the GAR room of the Building (Memorial Hall) after its completion reliving Civil War experiences with other old soldier."
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Caledonia/Mt. Pleasant Health Dept City of Racine Health Dept
FREE WALK-IN H1N1 VACCINATION CLINICS Eastern Racine County
Caledonia/Mt. Pleasant Health Department: 10005 Northwestern Ave (Hwy K) Tuesdays in February; 3:00 – 6:00pm Also available at immunization clinics US Bank, 2nd Floor Franksville, WI 53126 (see website for dates and times)
City of Racine Health Department: 730 Washington Ave Racine, WI 53403 Regency Mall: 5538 Durand Ave Racine, WI 53406
Tuesdays; 4:00 – 6:00pm Wednesdays; 1:15 – 4:00pm Also by appointment Monday – Friday Call 262-636-9431 Saturday, Feb 06; 12:00 – 4:00pm Saturday, Feb 13; 12:00 – 4:00pm Saturday, Feb 20; 12:00 – 4:00pm
Dennis Kornwolf Racine County Service Center (South Entrance): 1717 Taylor Ave Tuesday, Feb 02; 12:00 – 2:30pm Racine, WI 53403 Tuesday, Feb 16; 12:00 – 2:30pm
For more information, call 211 (www.wisconsinfluclinic.info) or visit our websites Caledonia/Mt. Pleasant Health Department 262-835-6438 www.mtpleasantwi.gov/health
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City of Racine Health Department 262-636-9201 www.cityofracine.org
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SHEPHERD’S GUIDE Insider News
1120 Grand Ave. Racine, Wis.
3433 Douglas Avenue, Racine, WI 53402 (262) 637-5433
Pastors Elliott & Josette Cohen
262-632-1467
Sunday School 9:15 AM Sunday Worship Service 7:45 AM & 10:40 AM Bishop Lawrence L.
KIRBY Senior Pastor
Wednesday Prayer & Bible Class 11:00 AM and 5:15 PM Dinner/Bible Class - 6:00 PM
ZOE OUTREACH Ministries 2130 Racine Street • Racine, WI 619-3027
Gospel Mission
Sunday School - 8:45 a.m. Sunday Worship Service - 10:00 a.m. Sunday NA Meeting 6:30 PM Community Dinner 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: Midweek Worship 6:15 a.m.- 8:15 p.m. Thursday NA Meeting 6:00 PM
Pastors Breon and Karen Norton 945 N. Memorial Drive • Racine, WI 53403 262.634.3156 Sunday Service • 1:30 p.m. Wednesday • 7:15 p.m. Friday Prayer and Praise Dance • 7:15 p.m.
A Family Church Where Jesus Abides
SEARCHING TOGETHER MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Greater St. Luke’s Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. Willie Riley, Senior Pastor 262.633.4421
1326 State Street 632-4146
825 21st Street • Racine Sunday School Worship Service Mid Morning Worship Service Wednesday Afternoon Bible Study Wednesday Dinner Wednesday Evening Bible Study Saturday Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 12:00 noon 5:30-6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School 9:15 am Sunday Worship 11:00 am Bible Class (Wednesday) • 6 pm
Pastor Jessie Summerall
All Nations Pentecostal Prayer House CLG Rev. Tommie L. Knuckles Senior Pastor
Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church 1201 Center Street Racine, Wis. 53403
Come Worship with us at: Sunday School 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service 11:00 AM
Pastor Joseph L. & First Lady Thomas
Joseph L. Thomas, Pastor Sunday School - 9:00 a.m. - Sunday Worship Service - 10:30 a.m. Tuesday Prayer Service - 6:00 p.m. Bible Study - Tuesday 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Greater Mt. Eagle Baptist Church
“A God Glorifying, Christ Centered, Spirit-Filled Church”
Ministries Rev. Melvin Hargrove, Pastor
262-552-8090
www.stpmbc.org
Sunday Service 10:30 Am Bible Study • Tuesday 7:00 pm
Come as you are, you won’t stay as you are.
New Brighter Day Baptist Church 1225 25th Ave., Kenosha, WI
St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church
Abundant Life Christian Center Ministries ALCCM
1502 West 6th Street Racine, Wis. 53403 Pastor Virginia Lackey
Sunday School - 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship Service - 11:00 a.m. Tuesday Bible Study 7 a.m. Friday Night Youth Hour 7 p.m. Friday Night Deliverance Service 8:00 p.m. Prayer Service (mon-Fri) Noon
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Prayer Service (Thursday) • 6 pm
Trinity United Missionary Baptist Church 306-5th Street, Racine, WI Sunday School 9:30 AM Sunday Worship 10:30 AM Prayer Service (Wed.) 5:00 PM Bible Class & Prayer (Wed.) - 6:00 PM
262.635.1994 email: tumbcc@ameritech.net Rev. Buddy Vinson Senior Pastor
Sunday School • 9:00 AM Sunday Worship Service • 10:45 AM Bible Study (Wed.) • 6:00 PM Word of Life (Youth Program) (Thur..) • 6:30 PM Pastor Keith Evans 929 State Street •
Racine, Wisconsin 53404
637-1606
New Birth Baptist Church
1840 Howe Street Racine, WI 53403 262.898.8031 Rev. Larry Jackson
Sunday School - 9:30 am Sunday Worship - 10:45 am Bible Class (Wednesday) - 6 pm For the perfecting of the Saints, For the Work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ Ephesians 4 & 12
Christian Education Classes to be announced
WAYMAN
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
424 MEMORIAL DRIVE • RACINE, WI
Pastor Charlene & Evang. Dimitri Mills Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Sunday Worship Service- 10:30 a.m. Tuesday Prayer Service - 9:30 a.m. Bible Study Wednesday 6:30 p.m.
262-632-1650
SHEPHERD’S GUIDE Insider News
SHEPHERD’S GUIDES Insider News
Gregg Chapel CME Church 2237 Howe Street Racine, Wisconsin
Pastors David R. Green 262.633.5590 Worship with us at: Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service 11:00 AM Wednesday Mid-week Bible Study 6:00 PM
United Faith Missionary Baptist Church
Kingdom Builders Fellowship Center & Outreach Ministries KBFC 2707 Rapids Drive Racine, WI 53404 262.995.3499 262.412.9855 Pastors Leon and Debra Brown
1327 Blake Avenue Racine, WI 262.632.1327 Sunday: Sunday School at 9:15 am New Members Class at 9:15 am Wednesday: Midweek Services Mission at 5:00 pm Prayer, Praise & Bible Stydy following Mission Pastor Gregory Daniels
Sunday Worship - 11:00 am Tuesday 6:30 pm Women of Wisdom Prayer Wednesday 6:30 pm Hour of Power Bible Study Thursday 6:30 pm Men of Honor Prayer
Full Gospel Disciple Church 3309 Kearney Avenue Racine, Wisconsin Pastor John & Navalla Williams Come Worship with us at: Sunday School 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service 11:00 AM
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Christian Faith Fellowship Church Racine, Wisconsin
Pastors Willie & Patricia Scott Worship with us at: Sunday Worship Service • 10:00 AM Sunday School • 9:00 AM Wednesday Bible Study • 6:30 PM Gilmore Middle School’s Auditorium 2330 Northwestern
Anti-slavery rally was held in Racine nearly a year before the Glover At anti-slavery rally in Racine nearly a year before the Glover, rescue, the city's most prominent citizens pronounced the Fugitive Slave Act "palpably unconstitutional, inhuman, un-Christitian and diabolical" and warned the slave catcher to make himself scarce. Fugitive slaves could literally find "safe harbor" in Racine. UGRR conductor A.P. Dutton-whose downtown Racine warehouse and grain elevator were Glover's last U.S. stop before he boarded a First Presbyterian Church in Racine steamer for Canada. This warehouse on Lake Michigan chart our progress from then to now. As was the final "station to Freedom. the environment changes, and we struggle Research tells us that several slaves used to find ways tp survive, the documentathese warehouses to hide, but it is known tions portray how earlier people adapted, that Joshua Glover used the grain elevacreated and invented to reach higher tors to wait for the ship to Canadathinking and improved the quality of their Freedom. lives. By using this documentation, learnResearch and Documenta1ion ing about how events came about, we don't have to "reinvent the wheel"; rather, So much of our history was told by whispered words one sign to another sign, we discover how to utilize the concept to drum beats to music, chanting, to singing. make that wheel work in other ways as the environment shifts. It was so secretive-way of communicatEvery person is, in some form, an hising. Ruby West Jackson and McDonald, co- torian. The fact of one's existence is a testament of someone else's history. In this authors of the book, "Finding Freedom, way, we are all connected. Without evithe untold story of Joshua Glover," dence of our existence, we are devalued Research was completed in St. Louis, and demeaned. That is why the early Racine, Milwaukee, and路 Canada to find slave traders tried to erase the memory of documented evidence about Joshua Glover. They recorded every fact to deter- those captured people by denying their use of a common language, by separating mine it's the truth. This took over twelve them from each other to eliminate culturyears. al exchange, and deliberately stripping We are blessed to have free African them of humanity by taking away even Americans and abolitionists, census their name. records, newspapers, and artifacts, like Documentation comes in many forms. what was found at the First Presbyterian It seems that man has always needed to Church in Racine. Who knew the imporproclaim his existence. From depicting tance of putting it down, recording in life on the cave walls to creating images journals, writing it in a newspaper, docuand stories of the hunt, in songs and menting it like the census records, and word of mouth comments put in letters to drawrngs, to adorning tools as well as their bodies, man's journey of survival on friends. this earth has been recorded as evidence that we were here. As we evolved other The Purpose of Documentation To ignore one's history is to deny one's ways to value our existence were created; in art form, through poetry and plays. In existence. From Bibical days, we were advised to "write down", to tell the tale of the history of the people we now call African Americans even the quilts how we evolved from age to age, era to become part of the documentation of our era. We become so focused on who we existence. are now, we forget valuable lessons that Page 15 The Insider News, February 1-15, 2010
There's a song that says, "I've passed this way before". That's what documentation declares to mankind. It is a recording of the human experience. It's why we bury time capsules, make scrapbooks, research family trees, and dot our environment with mementos of times past. So we will remember and we can hope. We explore the past to understand the present and illuminate the possibilities of a bright future. Lena Cooksey, Secretary PWNS, Inc. The Joshua Glover story tells of a fugitive slave who escaped from the Garland Plantation in Missouri. He sought asylum in Racine in the year1852. Racine was a way station on the Underground Railroad route. Many people knew the attitude of the abolitionist. Joshua found employment in the Rice and Sinclair Sawmill. After two years he was well known by the citizens of Racine and was highly respected. Under the cover of night one Friday in 1854, Joshua was in his shanty, by the Root River, playing cards when his Missouri master, B.S. Garland and two marshals surprised him. He was knocked down, beaten, handcuffed and thrown in a wagon with a Foot on his neck. Fearing that the sheer number of abolitionist in Racine made the city's small jail even more vulnerable, his captors decided to whisk Glover north to a jail in Milwaukee, where by 3 a.m. Saturday he was awaiting his return to slavery in Missouri. The word of Joshua's kidnapping spread quickly through Racine. Racine
newspaper editor Charles Clements telegraphed fellow abolitionist in Milwaukee and it appeared in the Saturday morning editions. It told of a gathering at Haymarket Square. Church bells were ringing and people gathered,wrote resolution, and selected a delegation to go to Milwaukee. Once there, they joined a crowd of some 5,000 people on Milwaukee Courthouse Square who used a battering ram to knock down the jail door and send Glover on his way round and about hiding. Joshua ended up at Dutton's warehouse until he boarded ship to Canada. Free At Last, Thank God Almighty, Free At Last. There is more to the story ... The steamer that eventually took Glover away from Racine deposited him near Toronto, where he died in 1888, age 81, some 34 years after leaving Wisconsin. Professional Women's Network for Service Thank you Insider News for giving PWNS the opportunity to share the story of Joshua Glover, fugitive slave, and the Underground Railroad in Racine. It is an exciting episode of freedom and a spirited saga about the refusal to accept fugitive slave laws. "The people will not suffer it; they understand too well the chart of rights which is the birthright of every man.'" Clement's Racine newspaper.
NECKBONEOLOGY
Is Helding trying to clear up the mess in the paper? Is Alderman Greg Helding, who has visions of one day becoming the mayor of Racine, covering his tracks by accusing a fellow aldermen of having political motivation, Helding Shields when he asked Mayor John Dickert to explain the hiring process at the City Council meeting Tuesday? The mayor attempted to silence Shields with his voice and gavel several times during the meeting, after Alderman Michael Shields questioned him about the hiring of former Alderman Mark Eickhorst. Eickhorst was hired as a part-time public relations worker for the city, through a contract with Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce. Alderman Greg Helding said Shields is trying to make it seem like the mayor silenced him because he tried to ask questions about the hiring process. Shields said there was nothing political about his actions; he just wanted to call attention to the city's hiring process. The question remains, why did Helding keep silent until the issue hit
the media, and bloggers on this website, RacinePost, as well as on the Journal Times, became outraged at the action of the mayor. Helding, one of the few Alderman who dominates the Council meetings, said nothing during Tuesdays meeting, but has had back-to-back stories in the Racine Journal Times since the incident occurred. In the daily paper today, Helding said that questions about the hiring process had already been asked at the meeting and before the meeting by other aldermen. He said the mayor and others were happy to answer those questions. Shields said he knew nothing about the meetings. Did those meetings of Aldermen constitute a quorum, and if so, should it have been posted in the local media? Is Helding trying to clear up the mess in the paper, which is no more than his attempt at carrying water for the mayor, or are some of the practices of the former mayor creeping back into City Hall? It was very common in Mayor Becker's administration that meetings were held behind closed doors with certain alderman, while others was left out. The "Gavel Attack" is another example of how our local government is out of control.
Wayman Second Oldest Black Church Dating Back to 1868 The Methodist Church in the United States started in July, 1735, when John Wesley came to Georgia with James Oglethorpe. He formed a colony for the poor people from England and the persecuted Protestants from Europe. On December 24, 1784, the Methodist Church was organized in America. Africans were admitted to various Methodist churches. In 1787, of the 21,949 members in the Methodist Church in America, 3,893 were African. White Methodists and other denominations endured Blacks in their churches as a matter of "Christian duty," but they were never afforded equal status in seating arrangements, boards, or social fellowship. RICHARD ALLEN Richard Allen was born on February 14, 1760, as a slave in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the plantation of Benjamin Chew, a lawyer. He was later sent to a plantation in Delaware, around 1768. Richard Allen's ministry began after he was converted in 1777. Richard Allen and his brother purchased their freedom for $2,000 in Continental currency. After purchasing his freedom, he worked at many jobs, but always preached along the way to groups of Africans and Whites. In 1780 he was ordained as a preacher by the Methodist
Church. Richard Allen went back to their own place of worship. Soon after Philadelphia where he preached at St. they left St. George's Methodist Church, George's Methodist Church (at 5:00 in the they purchased a blacksmith shop for morning, to large groups of Africans). He $35.00. (Because of the Blacksmith often preached five times a day. He shop, the anvil has become the symbol established Prayer Meetings for his for the AME Church.) African brethren. There was a yearning The Free African Society was organfor the Word of God by his people. ized by Richard Allen and Absalom Jones The Africans who were converted in 1787. It was composed of free under the preachAfricans and its puring of Richard pose was to offer a Allen became so place of worship, to committed to the help the sick, the Lord that they poor, the unemwere zealous in ployed, to promote their desire for better racial relatotal participation tionships, self-help, in St. George's religion and moraliChurch. They ty. This organizabegan to attend tion led to the estabregular worship lishment of the services. They African Methodist were seated Episcopal Church. around the walls. The blacksmith There was soon shop was later not enough moved to 6th and space, so they Lombard Streets in were placed in Philadelphia, the gallery (balPennsylvania. cony). One Carpenters repaired Sunday in the building and November, 1781, made it adequate for when they a house of worship. attempted to pray The new church was at the altar, the called "Bethel Wayman Church officers indicated Church." Mother that this was not Bethel is now a the time for the African people to pray National Historical Landmark and is the and oldest piece of property owned continualphysically attempted to drag them from ly by Blacks in the United States. their knees. Absalom Jones stated to the In 1816, Richard Allen called together Trustee of the church, "Wait until prayer sixteen representatives from Bethel is over, and we will get up to establish Church in Philadelphia and other African
churches. A church organization, or "connection" was organized and called the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Richard Allen was the founder and first Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Since the founding of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, there have been 130 bishops. Today there are 20 Districts throughout the world which include provinces of Canada, countries in Africa, the Caribbean, India, South America, and Europe. DID YOU KNOW ? . . . . . WAYMAN AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH RACINE, WISCONSIN Wayman is the second oldest black church in the City of Racine and has a long, active and blessed history. Wayman was named after Bishop Alexander Walker Wayman, who was one of the early bishops of the A.M.E. church. The location of the first church was 1232 Villa Street. The deed to this property is dated April 13, 1868. The first pastor was Rev. Hand, who became the permanent resident pastor from 1875 to 1882. In 1961, Wayman Church moved from their Villa Street location with 164 members to their present location at 424 North Memorial Drive. A total of 32 ministers followed Rev. Hand. Each pastor made notable and significant contributions to the church and the community. Wayman is currently under the leadership of Rev. Charlene B. Mills, Pastor. Today Wayman continues to carry out the ministry, vision, and mission of Richard Allen.
NAACP step up efforts to have Mayor John Dickert answers concerns of African American community
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Monday night Mayor John Dickert announced that former CNN correspondent and Racine resident Sandy Petrykowski has withdrawn her name for the city's CAR 25 consulting position. But he would not say why she withdrew her name. Mayor Dickert's pick for a $40,000 Mayor John Dickert cable access channel consultant was highly criticized soon after his announcement of her appointment. A week earlier, Alderman Mike Shields and Mayor John Dickert had a word battle over the process used to hire Mark Eickhorst, a radio host and former Racine alderman, who became the city's new public information officer. Both Petrykowski and Eickhorst, are example of cronism that denies minorities the opportunity to compete for city job opportunities, said Shields to the Insider News. In a letter Shields sent to media outlets a week after an incident at a City Council meeting in which Dickert pounded his
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gavel while Shields asked questions about a new public relations position for the city. Shields, who is also president of the local NAACP chapter, said that the branch has tried to address injustices in the city back in November, when a delegation met with Mayor Dickert, but said that he has been unresponsive. The daily paper published that Dickert said he has been responsive to the needs of the minority community and that "I'm more concerned about solving the city's problems, not complaining about them." Shields said that there are some key issues that the local civil rights organization wants to see the mayor address. He said he and a delegation met with the mayor in November. During the meeting Shields gave him a list of concerns which included, expanding the Police and Fire Commission to ensure proportionate representation; increasing monitoring on the Racine First Program, which requires contractors to hire a percentage of innercity workers, more employment opportunities within the minority community, creation of an African American liaison officer, and review of community development block grant allocation to minorities.
Ernesta Proscope: A Pioneer in the Insurance Industry Ernesta Proscope came to this country as an immigrant with her West Indian family in the year in 1931. She grew up the only female of four siblings. As all immigrants, her family came to the United States to give their children a better opportunity to succeed in life. Along with emphasizing the importance of education her parents enrolled Ernesta in piano lessons. She played so well as a child she eventually earned an invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall. Although musically talented Ernesta desired a career in business. At the age of 19 she enrolled in real estate and insurance courses. Having both licenses under her belt she Ernesta Proscope could sell her clients houses than insurance. She could provide them with a total package. She continued that for a couple of years until she shifted more of her focus on real estate. She developed a reputation for purchasing, rehabilitating, and selling homes and buildings. From 1950 to 1979 she sold over 500 properties. How incredibly ambitious, and audacious was this woman! She was full of hope! One must think she had to have drawn strength from the teachings of W.E.B. DuBois, who resided New York during that time, who dedicated himself to grooming and strengthening the leadership of African Americans through publications such as “The Soul of Black Folk” and “The Crisis”. She experienced the shift of black pride while cases such as Brown vs. Board of Education (1954) and Plessy vs. Ferguson (1954) ruling was held against separate but equal laws.
These cases had to have given her hope in her heart to “sell on” believing there is nothing that she cannot do, despite hearing the tragic stories like that of Emmit Till (1955). Ernesta pressed her way on. She maintained her sense of purpose. She knew she had to stand for her community. She operated a stable insurance and real estate business. As she worked with clients that felt pride than discouragement of the life and death of home grown Malcom X, when a family needed a home, they found more than an agent. They found hope in her, and she made home ownership happen. In 1956 she earned recognition from Jet Magazine as “New Yorks Lady Builder”. This title was given to her because she was the first black woman to build homes in New York. With the amount of riots and movement of black militant orders, “Black Panthers” (1960's), insurance companies began to pull away from accepting applications from residents of urban areas, blacks and whites. Insurance companies were even so bold as to cancel all active policies submitted by Ernesta's office because they felt it would be a total loss. This practice by the insurance companies
became known as “redlining”. Now this was Enresta's time! If she had stood back and watched all of this time, she did not waste one second to begin organizing for insurance reform! She personally took the issue on and met with New York Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller. Over time she convinced him to support legislation to make homeowners insurance available to all people in all parts of the state. The bill created was called the New York state FAIR Plan. The plan has become a model for similar plans nationwide. For 15 years Ernesta operated her brokerage E.G Bowman in Brooklyn. In 1979 she made the decision to relocate and boy did she! Ernesta moved her practice to the most prominent street all of New York, “Wall Street”. She boldy went where no African American had gone before. She became known as “The First Lady of Wallstreet”. Her move was significant. It showed that African Americans had entered the mainstream of the American economy," and opened the doors for other blacks." It was unheard of for a small blackowned insurance brokerage to insure a giant like PepsiCo. But Procope didn’t let that stop her, and the soda company became one of the firm’s first big-business clients and remains one today. The firm was also named agency of record for the U.S. portion of the Alaska Pipeline and the Fulbright Scholars Program through the U.S. Information Agency. E.G. Bowman today serves companies such as Kraft and Pfizer, major nonprofits, small businesses, government agen-
cies, labor unions, educational institutions and families. Licensed in 50 states, the firm has more than 2,000 clients. Its losscontrol and safety-engineering consulting division, Bowman Specialty Services LLP, was incorporated in 2000. Today E.G. Bowman has 25 employees, all in its Manhattan office. Average premiums total more than 35 million. Today, minority employment in the industry is huge. At agencies and brokerages, minorities accounted for 27 percent of all employees and 10 percent of all executives and senior managers in 2007, according to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC). At carriers, minorities made up 25 percent of the workforce and 10 percent of executives and senior managers, according to the EOC. Several big insurers have won kudos for diversity. At Aflac, minorities represent 40 percent of its nearly 4,400 employees, with more than half in management. Black Enterprise, which rated the 40 best companies for diversity in 2008, named three insurance companies—Aetna, Aflac and State Farm—to that list. Aetna was cited for its Diverse Discoveries Program, which provides career training, mentoring and coaching. Aflac was commended for conducting employee satisfaction surveys after diversity events. State Farm has seen a 15 percent rise in participation in employee resource groups, set up to foster a diverse workforce. Various organizations promote minorities in the insurance industry. The Washington, D.C.-based National African-American Insurance Association is dedicated to empowering African-American insurance professionals currently in the industry and increasing their numbers nationwide. While minorities have made real progress in the industry, the struggle for equality continues. Until minority members proportionately populate the ranks of senior executives and minority-owned brokers have the same access as other firms, there won’t be true success.
Hayes’ Foundation to hold basketball clinic The Lt. Robert Hayes and Aaron Hayes Memorial Foundation will be hosting a free Basketball Clinic for boys and girls youths 6th through 10th grades. The clinic will be directed and supervised by Coach John Carter of 2Achieve Success, Shawn Robinson and Coach Alphonso Lott. John Carter is currently a resident of Racine, Wis. He is a graduate of Akron St. Vincent – St Mary High School, where he also played on the men’s basketball team. During his career at St. Vincent the team won a State Championship, two Regional Finals. and one Sectional Final. He then graduated from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Carter has coached youth basketball for
nine years in Columbus, Ohio and for the past nine years in Racine, Wisconsin. He is the founder of 2Achieve Success, a basketball program that teaches fundamentals of basketball. John has shared his program with youths in the Milwaukee and Northern Illinois areas. He is a community advocate and sits on the board of “Friends of Community” in Racine, Wisconsin. Alphonso Lott is currently a resident of Elgin, Illinois. He is a graduate of Millikan University in Decatur, Illinois where he also played on the men’s football team. While attending Millikan he lettered four years in football and two years in Track and Field, and served internship in the men and women’s bas-
ketball programs. At the end of his varsity year, Alphonso became a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys NFL Football team for two years. Lott has also had the opportunity to coach Pro-Am teams and later went to learn more basketball through the women’s program at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to coaching Lott is currently seeking a teacher certification in Math and Science through the National Teaching Education Center. Shawn Robinson is a resident of Racine, Wisconsin. He is an Associate Minister at the St. Paul Baptist Church of Racine. Shawn is the St. Paul’s School gym supervisor. Shawn has also played AAU basketball during his youth
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for many years and works diligently, mentoring youth of all ages who visit the gym for open basketball. He spends much of his time giving back to the community the gifts and talents he has learned in basketball. Many youth have not been given the opportunity or did not make the school’s team to exercise their talents in basketball. The purpose of this clinic is to offer youth the opportunity by helping to develop and increase the athletic skills of potential future athletes. The organizers says they are also seeking to develop teams for the Aaron Hayes Ballers Basketball program through the clinic.
Sickle Cell Annual Valetine Dance A Success The Sickle Cell Foundation of Racine, a local organization that advocates for residents who have this crippling disease held their annual fundraiser last Saturday. The Valentine Ball drew a large crowd at the fabulous Roma Lodge banquet facility. Supporters came from as far a Dallas, Texas to aid organizers efforts to keep the program intact in Racine. Over 300 individuals attended the gala. Among them were Steppers groups from both Milwaukee and Chicago. They danced to the smooth beats provided by musical host, DJ Phil. The sounds of the 70’s and 80’s were brought back tby A New Beginning Band. Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects the red blood cells and sometimes causes
them to become sickle-shape and have difficulty passing through small blood vessel. Donnie Snow, President of the foundation’s board of directors, says that it is important that people support the group’s grassroots efforts to maintain the foundation that is located in the Urban League building, at 718 N. Memorial Drive. He also said that he was extremely pleased with the turnout and the support people gave to the event. Snow says without the agency, people with this disease would be without the services that we provide. Snows says, “Your financial support will help the SC Foundation to continue its endeavor to assist clients, provide community education, and referral services.”
Photos by Ken Lumpkin
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UW-Parkside’s student vocal chamber group, the Voices of Parkside, recently received a standing ovation from members of the Wisconsin’s Choral Directors Association. Led by Dr. James B. Kinchen, the group performed at the organization’s annual meeting in Eau Claire. KENOSHA, Wis.—Several Racine area students recently helped the Voices of Parkside, the student vocal chamber group at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, earn a standing ovation from some of Wisconsin’s toughest music critics. Under the direction of Music Professor Dr. James B. Kinchen Jr., soprano Kathryn Brownell, TinaMarie Skinner and Michaela Usher, altos; and Timothy Keith Griffin Jr., bass of Racine; along with alto Desirey Olsen of Sturtevant and Julianne Frey, a soprano from Waterford, were among the 19 choir members who dazzled the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association during its January convention in Eau Claire, Wis. With a program that included music by Aaron Copland, Anton Bruckner, and Reginald Parker, Kinchen said his student vocalists survived a “stringent process” to become one of a handful of choral groups to perform on the convention’s opening night. And Kinchen knew from experience that this audience would be tough to please. “When you’re (a choral director) listening to a musical performance, your ears are ‘on.’ You’re listening to whether this chord is in tune, whether that vowel is matched across the section, whether the pacing, tempo, and phrasing are what they ought to be. It’s very daunting,” Kinchen said. In addition to the Racine students, the Voices of Parkside features sopranos Kaytlyn Johnson, Kylie Ratliff, and Elizabeth Wermeling, and altos Amy Gabrielse and Jane Wermeling. The tenors are Joshua Holte, Adrian O’Connor, Jackson Palmer, and Jacob Retasket while bass vocals were performed by Timothy Hassler, Cody Miller, and UW-Parkside graduate David Ramsey. Piano accompaniment was provided by Fumi Nishikiorim and Dr. Kinchen. The Wisconsin Choral Directors Association Convention was held in the Robert Gantner Concert Hall of the Haas Fine Arts Center at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
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