Arthur Fried
I remember that Jesse Owens came to Rich East and spoke to the entire school in assembly. I don't remember which year, but I covered the event for the Reveiller and met him personally -- with Alan Mandel, I think. The person who was denied service, I believe, was the folk singer Huddy Ledbetter -- Leadbelly. He had performed locally -- at the Unitarian Church, perhaps. His hosts took him to dinner at Mickleberry's restaurant and the owner, Bud Mickleberry, turned them away. Studs Terkle accompanied him that day. When I interviewed Studs in 1980, and told him I grew up in Park Forest, that was all he wanted to talk about. He was still angry, for which I don't blame him, but I remember feeling guilty by association. I remember that Mickleberry's went out of business in the 60s, probably when we were still in high school.
Tony Scariano the elder played a major role behind the scenes in integrating Park Forest. He handled the first private sale to an African-American family at the end of 1959, and he supported open housing legislation in the state legislation. I believe the Army played an indirect role in integrating the town, as members of the first generation of black army officers sought housing for their families. By the mid 60s the Army had a genuine commitment to integration and it would have been foolhardy for real estate companies to stand in their way.
|