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Rooney remarks inspire protest
A newspaper article covers protests that began in reaction to negative comments made by Assemblyman John E. Rooney's about Dwight Morrow High School. -
Englewood Impeachment Hearing Halts Abruptly
A newspaper article describes how an impeachment hearing was interrupted when Republican Leonard Rubin accused Arnold Brown of illegally carrying city records to the meeting. -
Mary McCleod Bethune Controversy (1952)
Mary Mcleod Bethune was an important black educator, civil and women's rights activist, and government official. She founded many organizations for black women's suffrage, educating black youth, and consistently fought for gender and race equality.
She was invited to speak at Engle Street Junior High School in April of 1952 but was barred from speaking due to accusations of her involvement in communist subversive groups. The speech was postponed when the mayor of Englewood (1948-1953), Melvin Leslie Denning met with the President of Henry Douglas Post 58 American Legion Auxilary and President of the Board of Education. Reports made by the House Committee on Un-American Activities and the California Legislative Committee on Un-American Activities were shown. Bethune instead gave the speech at Englewood Negro Church.
There was a controversy over the refusal to allow Bethune to speak and the accusations the auxiliary leveled toward her. One side agreed with the decision to bar Bethune until she proved her innocence and the other denounced the actions of the leaders in Englewood for unfounded accusations. Some also believed that the Board of Education and the Auxiliary were using possible ties to communism as a means of racial discrimination.
Later in May, the Board of Education reinvited Bethune to give a speech. She returned in June to do so.