South Bend's Own Words

Willie Coats lived almost his entire lifetime in South Bend, mostly on West Washington Street. As a child, he lacked the historical framework to understand the racism he encountered. As an adult, and after he read The Autobiography of Malcolm X, he could put his experiences in context—like the racial slurs shouted at him by white neighbors, and witnessing a black man shot by police in 1967 and participating in the riots afterwards. Willie channeled his activism through groups like the Black Panthers and the Nation of Islam. He held symposiums, started community organizations, and even opened a black-centric bookstore about a block west of the Engman Natatorium. In 2005, Willie sat down with David Healey. Willie spoke about growing up in South Bend’s west side, and what the civil rights movement meant to kids like him. Want to learn more about South Bend’s history? View the photographs and documents that helped create it. Visit Michiana Memory at http://michianamemory.sjcpl.org/. Title music, “History Explains Itself,” from Josh Spacek. Visit his page on the Free Music Archive, http://www.freemusicarchive.org/.

David Healey was a part of the first Indiana University South Bend Freedom Summer class in the summer of 2000. Fifteen students toured the southern U.S. to learn how the civil rights movement unfolded there. It changed the student's lives. Two of them decided to start a South Bend civil rights center, and they asked David to join. David got to work researching the history of the civil rights movement here. Among all the stories they uncovered, one of the most impactful was that of a once segregated South Bend swimming pool. With help from Gladys Muhammad, in May of 2010, the Natatorium was transformed into a new home for the Civil Rights Heritage Center. Four months before that important day, David and Gladys sat down with IU South Bend student Sara Lowe. They spoke about the Center’s humble beginnings, and how their work has helped share a history that might have otherwise been forgotten. IU South Bend students: There's a new Freedom Summer Class scheduled for 2018. Learn more about this life changing experience by visiting https://www.iusb.edu/civil-rights/freedom-summer-application/. Want to learn more about South Bend’s history? View the photographs and documents that helped create it. Visit Michiana Memory at http://michianamemory.sjcpl.org/. Title music, “History Explains Itself,” from Josh Spacek. Visit his page on the Free Music Archive, http://www.freemusicarchive.org/.

Father Theodore Hesburgh is a widely celebrated author, educator, and advocate for social justice who served the University of Notre Dame for over three decades. Among his many actions, he served under Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon on the U.S. Commission for Civil Rights. In 2009, the day before the inauguration of the first African American President, he shared stories from his life and his work with the University of Notre Dame’s Dr. Richard Pierce, and Indiana University South Bend Development Director Dina Harris. To learn how you can work towards a more equitable community here in South Bend, visit http://michianasjc.org/. Find your team, and get to work. Learn more about South Bend’s history from the photographs and documents that helped create it. Visit Michiana Memory at http://michianamemory.sjcpl.org/. Title music, “History Explains Itself,” from Josh Spacek. Visit his page on the Free Music Archive, http://www.freemusicarchive.org/.

Oscar Jones, Jackie Ivory, and Bobby Stone were heavily inspired by the Mississippi Delta blues they heard growing up. As teenagers, they’d sing doo-bop music on street corners on the west side of South Bend. It led to lifelong careers in music for both Bobby Stone and Jackie Ivory, and a lifelong love of music for all three. They performed together in what was known then as the “chitlin’” circuit, a network of clubs that played black music to almost entirely black audiences. As the blues was appropriated by white musicians, their lives changed. They played with local legends like the late Billie “Stix” Nix, and national treasures like Muddy Waters and Etta James. In 2003, they sat down with the Civil Rights Heritage Center's David Healey. They talked about their careers, about growing up in South Bend, and how the music borne from African American culture has changed the whole world. Jackie Ivory's music is available on many formats, including Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/artist/id4626201 Learn more about South Bend’s history from the photographs and documents that helped create it. Visit Michiana Memory at http://michianamemory.sjcpl.org/. Title music, “History Explains Itself,” from Josh Spacek. Visit his page on the Free Music Archive, http://www.freemusicarchive.org/.

John Charles Bryant is descended from of one of the first African American families to call South Bend home. His ancestors moved here in 1858, seven years before the city officially incorporated. Every generation since has contributed things big and small to this city, and John Charles has detailed information about all of them. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of this city’s history—and he’s happy to share it. In 2001, he was the first person selected to be interviewed by the Civil Rights Heritage Center. We share part of that interview with historian David Healey about John Charles’ memories growing up, some of the first African Americans to make history, and his family’s legacy from over 150 years in South Bend. Learn more about South Bend’s history from the photographs and documents that helped create it. Visit Michiana Memory at http://michianamemory.sjcpl.org/. Title music, “History Explains Itself,” from Josh Spacek. Visit his page on the Free Music Archive, http://www.freemusicarchive.org/.

South Bend, Indiana residents have likely seen a group of people holding signs on a downtown street corner saying messages such as, “Honk for Peace." Reynaldo Hernandez is one of those people. He and his wife, Glenda Rae, have been active fighters for peace and social justice issues in this city for decades. Born in Texas to parents of Mexican heritage, Ray later pursued a life as a minister. When Glenda Rae told him that she did not want to be a preacher’s wife, he switched gears. He found an opportunity in South Bend to work for El Centro Christiano Communidad helping the city’s booming migrant farm worker population. In 2011, he sat down with Indiana University South Bend’s Monica Tetzlaff. They talked about Ray’s life story, and his views of himself as, in his words, an Anglicized Mexican American. On November 2, join us as we celebrate Día de los Muertos. It’s a traditional Mexican holiday that honors those who have passed away before us. Beginning at 5:30 pm on November 2, we’re joining our neighbors at the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Arts and Culture to bring food, music, and art to our two spaces. View ofrendas, or altars that honor the lives of people who have passed away. Enjoy music from Notre Dame’s Ballet Folklorico, food, kids activities, and more. It’s all happening November 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Civil Rights Heritage Center and the Notre Dame Center for Arts and Culture. I hope you can join us. For more, visit http://artsandculture.nd.edu/. Learn more about South Bend’s history from the photographs and documents that helped create it. Visit Michiana Memory at http://michianamemory.sjcpl.org/. Title music, “History Explains Itself,” from Josh Spacek. Visit his page on the Free Music Archive, http://www.freemusicarchive.org/.

Don Willman came to South Bend with his mother at a young age. He became involved in the theater program at Central High School under famed director James Lewis Cassady. Cassady helped open a love for theater that stuck with Don. As a teenager, Don met the love of his life. He and his partner Burt became both business partners, and life partners. They shared their lives for three decades until Burt’s death in 1998. Along the way, Don became a noted interior designer and artist. They also helped save the former Studebaker mansion from destruction. It’s reopened now as Tippecanoe Place, and operates as a restaurant. Don’s involvement in theater, antiques, and design in South Bend and Chicago surrounded him with people familiar with gay culture. As a result, his experiences as an out gay man were mostly positive. Don doesn’t remember experiencing any discrimination from his mother, nor much from his friends and colleagues. He was able to be open about his life and his relationship, while so many others never had that luxury. In 2014, Don told of his life’s work, his life’s love, and his experiences as a gay man living in South Bend. October is LGBTQ History month. Those today who live authentic, open lives do so because of the work of many others. Not everybody today is able to live that life. Every day, everywhere, the lives and livelihoods of LGBTQ peoples are threatened by those who would deny their humanity. So, take a moment to read a book about gay history. Watch a documentary. And check out our LGBTQ Collection online at Michiana Memory, a partnership with the St. Joseph County Public Library. Our Collection is the first and only that shares the history of South Bend’s LGBTQ experience. See it online at http://michianamemory.sjcpl.org. Also, check out The LGBTQ Center on Mishawaka Avenue, or online at http://thelgbtqcenter.org/. Title music, “History Explains Itself,” from Josh Spacek. Visit his page on the Free Music Archive, http://www.freemusicarchive.org/.

When Barbara Brandy was nine years old, a group of her family and friends tried to come into the Engman Public Natatorium to swim. At the time, the city-owned pool was segregated by day. Monday was the only day African Americans could swim. Barbara and her friends came after church on Sunday. The white man behind the ticket booth told them, “No.” This day was just one in the 68 years she spent in South Bend. The racism she faced, the life she was able to lead, and the stories she told, have inspired countless others. Read Barbara Brandy’s recollection of her experience at the Natatorium from a 2009 article in the South Bend Tribune: http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2009-02-09/news/26736874_1_natatorium-bathing-suit-red-today Learn more of South Bend’s History from Michiana Memory: http://michianamemory.sjcpl.org/. Title music, “History Explains Itself,” from Josh Spacek. Visit his page on the Free Music Archive, http://www.freemusicarchive.org/.

Paula Gonzalez came with her family to South Bend in 1948. They came through the migrant farm track from Texas. As a child, she spent a few months working with her family on the farms. She then spent the rest of her life with organizations that helped make migrant farm work safer and better. September 15 through October 15, 2017 is Hispanic Heritage Month across the United States. With so much uncertainty facing the children of undocumented workers who signed up for the DACA program, we urge you to take steps to support them. Call your members of Congress. Support local and national businesses that protect immigrants. Volunteer at a local organization. For more information on how you can support DACA recipients, visit http://www.lacasadeamistad.org/. Learn more of South Bend’s History from Michiana Memory: http://michianamemory.sjcpl.org/. Title music, “History Explains Itself,” from Josh Spacek. Visit his page on the Free Music Archive, http://www.freemusicarchive.org/.

Leroy and Margaret Cobb were two of the 26 people who fought severe housing discrimination in order to build a safe, stable, and wonderful neighborhood. The organization was called the Better Homes of South Bend. Read more about Better Homes from Gabrielle Robinson’s book, _Better Homes of South Bend_. Check out a copy at any of the libraries listed below, or purchase your own copy here: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9781467118651. CRHC Library: https://crhc.libib.com/#14428744X St. Joseph County Public Library: https://sjcpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/2117410099_better_homes_of_south_bend For more on the historic marker dedicated in the Better Homes neighborhood, visit the Indiana Historical Bureau’s site: http://www.in.gov/history/markers/4365.htm Learn more of South Bend’s History from Michiana Memory: http://michianamemory.sjcpl.org/. Title music, “History Explains Itself,” from Josh Spacek. Visit his page on the Free Music Archive, http://www.freemusicarchive.org/.

George McCullough dedicated most of his professional life to educating thousands of South Bend school children, first as a counsellor and then as long-time principal of South Bend, Indiana’s Washington High School. He grew up on South Bend’s west side in an area sometimes called LaSalle Park, sometimes called “Beck’s Lake.” In the first half of the 20th century, LaSalle Park was one of the few places African Americans were allowed to live. In spite of the people living there, or perhaps because of it, nearby factories like Bendix would dump waste there. Today, the area is considered a Super-Fund site under the direction of the Environmental Protection Agency. In 2003, Dr. Les Lamon from the Indiana University South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center sat down with Mr. McCullough to talk his life, his career, his experiences growing up through the South Bend school system, and his views on South Bend’s strides towards equality. Learn more of South Bend’s History from Michiana Memory: http://michianamemory.sjcpl.org/. Title music, “History Explains Itself,” from Josh Spacek. Visit his page on the Free Music Archive, http://www.freemusicarchive.org/.

Ruth Tulchinsky and her family fled Nazi Germany when Ruth was sixteen. As a Jewish woman living in the shadows of Hitler, her experiences in segregated South Bend informed her activism. Her husband, Maurice Tulchinsky, became an ally in the fight to integrate the Engman Public Natatorium. See more of the life history Ruth reads from on Michiana Memory by following this link: http://bit.ly/2qpyCNb

Jose Arevalo was five when his parents brought him and his nine siblings from Mexico to the United States for migrant farm jobs. He enrolled in school, but without knowing English, and without support from his school, he failed the first grade. Luckily, a bilingual teacher helped him bridge the gap. After school, Jose decided to join one of his brothers in South Bend. Jose became a leader in the Upward Bound program working with first generation college students to afford and acclimate to college. In 2009, Indiana University South Bend Professor Dr. Hayley Froysland worked with the Civil Rights Heritage Center to preserve stories from South Bend’s Latinx community. Jose was kind enough to share his.

Helen Pope talks about her life and her work with Model Cities—a program created by President Lyndon Johnson and implemented in cities across the United States, including South Bend, where cities were granted federal dollars to imagine and implement what an ideal "modern" 20th century city could be. Hear the entirety of Helen's Oral History at Michiana Memory: http://bit.ly/2nO6Sox.

Two young folk never expected to move to South Bend, Indiana. But they did, and on Thanksgiving evening, of all days. After a night of driving, they arrived and looking for a meal. They didn't know whether they—as people of color—would be served in segregated South Bend, let alone whether any place would be open on the holiday. Hear them tell their story about moving to South Bend, and the lives they lived here.