Stentorians facts for kids
| Formation | 1954 |
|---|---|
| Founded at | Los Angeles, California |
The Stentorians are a group of African American firefighters in Los Angeles, California. This organization was founded in 1954 to support Black firefighters and fight for fair treatment.
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The Fight Against Segregation
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In the early 1950s, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) was segregated. This meant that Black and white firefighters were forced to work in separate fire stations. Most Black firefighters were assigned to just two stations: Fire Station No. 14 and Fire Station No. 30.
The Fire Chief at the time, John Alderson, supported this separation. However, things began to change after a famous 1954 Supreme Court case called Brown v. Board of Education. This case ruled that separating people by race in schools was against the law.
Chief Alderson was told this new rule also applied to his fire department. He had to start integrating the fire stations, which meant assigning Black firefighters to work in all-white firehouses. This change caused a lot of tension and problems.
How the Stentorians Began
In 1954, a firefighter named Arnett Hartsfield Jr. created the Stentorians. He wanted to create a support group for Black firefighters who were facing unfair treatment. The name "Stentorians" comes from the Greek word stentor, which means a person with a powerful voice.
The group's motto was, "We only fight the department on integration." They believed in non-violence. When Black firefighters at Fire Station 10 were being treated badly, the Stentorians set up patrols to guard them and keep them safe. They even used special microphones to record the mistreatment, and the news station CBS Channel 2 played the recordings on TV.
Who Was Arnett Hartsfield Jr.?
Arnett Hartsfield Jr. (who died in 2014) was a key figure in the fight for equality in the LAFD. He served in a segregated army unit during World War II. In 1940, he became a firefighter in Los Angeles.
While working as a firefighter, he used a government program for soldiers called the GI Bill to go to college. He earned a law degree from the USC in 1955. After 20 years as a firefighter, he retired in 1961 to become a full-time lawyer.
Hartsfield used his legal skills to fight for the integration of the LAFD. He also volunteered for many hours each week at the African American Firefighter Museum. He was a true pioneer who helped pave the way for the Civil Rights Movement.
History of Black Firefighters in Los Angeles
The story of African American firefighters in the LAFD is one of courage and determination. They had to organize to make their voices heard and demand fair treatment.
The First Black Firefighters
The very first Black firefighter in Los Angeles was Sam Haskins. He was born into slavery in 1840. In 1892, he was hired by the LAFD. Sadly, in 1895, he died in an accident while responding to a fire. He was the first LAFD firefighter of any race to die in the line of duty.
In 1897, George Bright became the second Black firefighter. Soon after, a new law based on the Plessy v. Ferguson court case made segregation legal. This "separate but equal" rule meant all Black firefighters were sent to a segregated fire station.
The Difficult Path to Integration
The battle to integrate the LAFD was long and hard. In 1955, after Chief Alderson began sending Black firefighters to white stations, the tension grew. The Black firefighters faced terrible treatment. For their own safety, Chief Alderson moved them back to the segregated stations. Because of this, the city's fire commission fired him for not following orders. Alderson decided to retire at the end of the year.
In 1956, a new chief, William L. Miller, took over. He quietly and carefully began to integrate the department. He started by creating a mixed-race crew at Fire Station 7 with firefighters he knew were open to integration. By September 1956, all fire stations in Los Angeles were officially integrated.
Even after integration, it was still hard for Black firefighters. Unfair practices continued, and by 1959, only about 3% of LAFD firefighters were African American.
The Stentorians Today
The Stentorians continued to grow and support their members. In 1970, they joined the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, a national organization for Black firefighters.
By 1990, the Stentorians had split into two chapters: one for Los Angeles City and one for Los Angeles County. Today, the Los Angeles City Stentorians has over 400 members. They continue to mentor young people, provide career counseling, and fight for equality in the fire service.
The Stentorians have helped many African Americans achieve high ranks in the fire department.
- In 2009, Millage Peaks became the first African American Fire Chief of the LAFD.
- In 2011, Daryl L. Osby became the first African American Fire Chief for Los Angeles County.
- In 2022, Kristin Crowley was appointed as the first female Fire Chief of the LAFD. She is also a member of the Stentorians.
African American Firefighter Museum
On December 13, 1997, the African American Firefighter Museum opened its doors. The museum is located in the old Fire Station 30, one of the two segregated stations from the past.
The museum is dedicated to preserving the history of Black firefighters in Los Angeles. It shows what life was like for them and tells the story of their struggle for equality. Visitors can see old fire engines, uniforms, helmets, and many photos. The building is a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
See also
