Stentorians facts for kids
| Formation | 1954 |
|---|---|
| Founded at | Los Angeles, California |
The Stentorians are a group of African American firefighters. They are based in Los Angeles, California, and were started in 1954. This group helps black firefighters and works for fairness in the fire department.
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Fighting for Fairness in Firefighting
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For a long time, fire stations in Los Angeles were separated by race. By the 1950s, some neighborhoods had mostly black residents. These areas had two fire stations, Fire Station No. 14 and Fire Station No. 30, where only black firefighters worked.
The Fire Chief at the time, John Alderson, believed in keeping fire stations separate. But in 1954, a big court decision called Brown vs. Board of Education said that separating people by race in public places was wrong. This decision meant that fire departments also had to change.
So, black firefighters from the separate stations were sent to work in firehouses that used to be only white. This caused a lot of tension, especially at Fire Station #10. Some black firefighters even started carrying weapons because they were worried about how they would be treated.
Newspapers wrote about these changes. The California Eagle, a large African-American newspaper, strongly supported ending segregation. Its editor, Loren Miller, worked with the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) to push for black firefighters to be treated equally.
How the Stentorians Started
In 1954, a firefighter named Arnett Hartsfield Jr. created the Stentorians. It was a group for black firefighters. The name "Stentorians" comes from a Greek word, stentor, which means a very loud voice.
Their motto was, "We only fight the department on integration." They believed in peaceful ways to make changes. To protect black firefighters, especially at Fire Station 10, the Stentorians organized patrols. They even used special microphones to record unfair treatment happening at night.
Arnett Hartsfield Jr.: A Leader for Change
Arnett Hartsfield Jr. was a very important person in starting the Stentorians. He passed away in 2014 at 95 years old. He served in the Army during World War II in a separate unit. After the war, he became a firefighter in Los Angeles in 1940.
While working as a firefighter, he went to college using the G.I. Bill and earned a law degree. He retired from firefighting in 1961 to become a full-time lawyer. He worked hard to end segregation in the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).
Hartsfield was one of many black "firsts" who fought for equal rights. He later became a Civil Service commissioner and even served as "Fire Chief for a Day." This gave him a chance to experience a promotion he felt he was unfairly denied earlier.
Black Firefighters in Los Angeles History
The story of black firefighters in the LAFD really began in the 1940s and 1950s. As more black people joined the military and then returned home, they pushed for their place in public service jobs. Many black firefighters faced unfair treatment from their white co-workers.
Because of this, they formed groups to support each other. Two famous groups were the Vulcan Society in New York and the Stentorians in Los Angeles. These groups helped black firefighters find comfort and support. They also worked with other groups who faced unfair treatment, like Jewish firefighters.
First Black Firefighters
The first black man hired by the Los Angeles Fire Department was Sam Haskins. He was born a slave in 1840. In 1888, he was listed as a fireman. In 1892, he officially joined Engine #2. Sadly, Sam Haskins died on duty in 1895 while responding to a fire. He was the first LAFD firefighter of any race to die while working.
After Haskins, George Bright joined the department in 1897. Three years later, he was sent to a new separate station just for black firefighters. This happened after a court ruling called Plessy vs. Ferguson made "separate but equal" legal. This meant black firefighters were kept in their own stations.
Working Towards Integration
The fight to end segregation in the LAFD became stronger in the 1950s. In 1953, a new mayor, Norris Poulson, wanted to replace the fire chief, John Alderson. The NAACP gave the mayor a petition saying the LAFD was not fair because it was not integrated.
The fire commission ordered Chief Alderson to create a plan for integration. When white firefighters heard this, they raised money to try and stop it. But the commission told Alderson to integrate anyway.
Black firefighters were sent to white firehouses. This caused a lot of problems, including unfair treatment. By the end of 1955, Chief Alderson moved the black firefighters back to their old stations for their safety. The fire commission was unhappy and tried to fire him, but he retired instead.
In 1956, William L. Miller became the new fire chief. He quietly began to integrate the LAFD. He chose firefighters who were open to integration and sent both black and white firefighters to Fire Station 7. He called it an "experiment."
LAFD Integration in 1956
By September 1956, the separate firehouses (Old #30 and #14) were integrated. All black firefighters were moved to 17 of the city's 91 fire stations. While some unfair treatment still happened, it was more like the normal challenges new firefighters faced.
Even after integration, it was still hard for black firefighters to join the LAFD. By 1959, only about 3% of firefighters were African American. The fight for civil rights, led by groups like the NAACP, helped push for more fairness and diversity. The Stentorians played a big part in this. They also helped young people apply to become firefighters and paramedics.
In 1965, the Watts riots happened in Los Angeles. Firefighters of all races faced danger while on duty. The Stentorians realized that unfair treatment could still happen, even if it wasn't outright segregation. As Arnett Hartsfield once said, "I had a degree in law yet I went to work and cleaned toilets!"
In 1969, a national group for black firefighters was forming in New York. The Stentorians joined in.
After 1970
In 1970, the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters (IABPFF) was founded. The Stentorians became a part of this international group. Black firefighters across the country formed their own chapters.
In 1980, the Stentorians got their own office and training center at old Station #46. By 1990, the Stentorians had two groups: the Los Angeles County Stentorians and the Los Angeles City Stentorians. Today, the Los Angeles City Stentorians have over 400 black men and women firefighters and paramedics. Both groups are part of the IABPFF.
In 1991, the IABPFF created the Executive Development Institute (EDI) at Florida A&M University. This program helped black firefighters get leadership training. It was later renamed the Carl Holmes EDI, honoring Carl G. Holmes.
The Stentorians continue many of their traditions today. These include mentoring young people, helping with career advice, and working on labor relations. They also help the Gwen Bolden Foundation, which offers young people good choices instead of joining gangs. The Stentorians are a respected group in the community. Their old Station 46 building was renovated and named after Arnett Hartsfield Jr. and Van Davis.
African American Firefighter Museum
On December 13, 1997, the African American Firefighter Museum opened. It is located in what used to be Fire Station 30. This station was one of the two separate fire stations for black firefighters between 1924 and 1955.
The museum collects and shares the history of African American firefighters. It shows how firefighting, race relations, and segregation changed in Los Angeles over 100 years. The building itself was built in 1913 and is now beautifully restored. It has original floor tiles, poles, and a kitchen.
In 1985, Old Fire Station 30 became a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. In 2009, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The museum has many exhibits, including old fire engines, uniforms, helmets, photos, and other firefighting items.
The Stentorians Today
In 2004, the Stentorians hosted a big convention in Los Angeles. They held a "Memorial March" down Crenshaw Blvd., which was a historic moment.
That same year, Sam Haskins, the first black firefighter in Los Angeles, was finally given an honorable burial. For many years, he was buried in an unmarked grave. A headstone was placed over his remains in Evergreen Cemetery.
African Americans have continued to achieve leadership roles in the LAFD. In 2009, Battalion Chief Millage Peaks became the Fire Chief for the City of Los Angeles. In 2011, Daryl L. Osby became the first African American Fire Chief for Los Angeles County. Also in 2011, Brian Cummings became the LAFD Fire Chief. His father had served during the time of segregation. In 2022, Kristin Crowley became the Fire Chief of the LAFD.
The Stentorians continue their important work today. Even though laws have changed, there is still a need for groups like the Stentorians. They ensure that fire departments truly represent all the people they serve. They keep fighting for fairness and equal opportunities for all firefighters.
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