Roller Chair Refused to Aged Woman at World's Fair
Source: Chicago Defender, 19 August 1933, pg. 3.
When John T. Clark, executive secretary of the Urban league of St. Louis, and his mother visited the Century of Progress a few days ago they had no idea that they were to be humiliated and embarrassed because of the specter of discrimination.
After walking for about an hour, Mrs. Clark, who is 76 years of age, felt the need of a conveyance in order to continue seeing the exhibits. Clark approached one of the chair attendants and requested service. He was refused by the first boy approached as well as by others and when he appealed to the manager he was told that "they had received orders from those in authority to refuse chairs to Race people."
Clark reported the incident to the Urban league, which in turn referred the matter to A. C. MacNeal, president of the Chicago branch of the N.A.A.C.P., to determine if there was basis for legal action.
Send Letters of Protest
While the legal redress committee was analyzing the situation, the Urban league addressed a letter to the Daggett Roller Chair company and to Rufus C. Dawes, president of A Century of Progress.
In reply to the league's letter B. L. Grove of the legal section wrote as follows:
"Mr. Dawes has requested me to reply to your letter of Aug. 7. We had no knowledge of the incident referred to therein until it was called to our attention by your letter and any discrimination against members of the Negro race does not meet with the approval of A Century of Progress. We will take the matter up with the Daggett Roller Chair company, the concessionaire in this instance. Signed: A Century of Progress, by B. L. Grove, legal section."
Mr. Daggett, president of the company, called Mr. Foster and assured him that it was not the policy of its company to discriminate, and that members of the Race were not only entitled to service of his company, but that in the future he would see to it that they were not refused. He stated further that no person employed as rollers had been authorized to state the policy of the company.
The legal redress committee of the N.A.A.C.P. is making a thorough investigation of the entire matter and will undoubtedly cause suit to be brought against the Daggett Roller Chair company and officials of A Century of Progress as well.
