Naacp

Resources are listed in alphabetical order. More information can always be found by using our website search bar, or contacting a member of our staff.

A Community in Conflict

Digital Exhibit

3 items

1919

During the late 1800s, Black people in McLean County were provided with equal access to public facilities and accommodations. But in the early 1900s, Jim Crow segregation dramatically increased in Central Illinois and Black people were increasingly treated as second-class citizens.

Digital Exhibit

1966

In 1965 the Bloomington-Normal NAACP decided it was time to challenge how the community viewed local businesses that discriminated.

Digital Exhibit

1967

In 1967 ISU adopted affirmative action and began a concerted effort to recruit Black students. But an open housing ordinance had not been passed in Normal, and the ability of Black students to find housing was limited because of discriminatory housing practices. In addition, realtors refused to show homes to Black professionals in white neighborhoods.

Digital Exhibit

Articles

A small selection of Pages from our Past articles written by Bill Kemp

2 items

soldiers standing in smoking rubble

Bloomington inescapably linked to Springfield Race Riot

The Springfield Race Riot of August 14-15, 1908, when thousands of white residents rampaged thr...

Article

‘Black Devils’ earned fame in WW I

During World War I, several dozen Bloomington-Normal residents fought in an African-American re...

Article

Biographies

5 items

Calcote, Matilda

Matilda Bell Heaston entered the world on November 30, 1910. Born to Jake and Doshie (Robinson)...

Biography

Claxton, Belle Blue

Belle Blue Claxton was born in Bloomington, IL on April 30, 1872. She was a daughter of Richar...

Biography

Kennedy, Merlin Robert

The local story of the American Civil Rights Movement, especially in McLean County, cannot be t...

Biography

Grace Stewart

Stewart, Grace Huddleston

Grace Huddleston Stewart became known throughout Bloomington after she brought a fair housing c...

Biography

Ella Stokes

Stokes, Ella Lee

Ella Lee Luallen is one of many important voices in the Black history of McLean County. She was...

Biography

Blog

1 item

McHistory: Segregation in Bloomington-Normal

Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big momen...

Blog Post

Research

1 item

Post Amerikan

Held by the MCMH and digitized by Eastern Illinois University. The Post Amerikan began publicat...

Article