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Cook's Point economic survey report, 1963
1963-10 Racial Justice in Iowa Page 8
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LABOR Volume 26, No. 15 October, 1963 Racial Injustice in Iowa Forrest Kilmer ( Davenport Democrat, March 14, 1952) wrote the day after the dinner that Mr. A.F. Uchtorff remarked at the dinner meeting : I don't want to create any hardships but they had plenty of time to find different housing. I think I've been fair. We recall a much more vigorous indictment of the Mexican people bu the business leader. Mr. Uchtorff complained vehemently that he had warned these people five years earlier that they must evacuate the area. But they stubbornly ignored this pleas, choosing rather to live in the filth and squalor of the Point. And when Mr. A. Linton Lundy arose to speak after Mr. Uchtorff, he stated that he wanted to corroborate Mr. Uchtorff's stand. Elaborating Mr. Lundy expressed his opinion that these people preferred to live in the filthy environment of the Point. He also opined that, were there a new housing project planned for them, they would reduce same to the Cook's Point level in a relatively short period of time. Mr. Lundy insisted that he knew whereof he spoke as one who grew up among Mexicans - in California. Immediately after Lundy's speech, a young Mexican woman, Mrs. Felipe Terronez, quickly rose to deliver a beautiful defense of her people which news reporters somehow ignored. But we have always regretted that there was not made a recording of her impromptu speech. She arose almost gropingly, blinded by tears which required the constant dabbing of her handkerchief as she spoke. She apologized for her lack of preparation and education for presuming to speak. Haltingly yet clearly shyly yet determinedly, she protested that her people did not like the filth, dirt and squalor of Cook's Point. It was her opinion that all decent citizens should realize that no human beings really liked foul living conditions. Chokingly she proceeded with her story. As a little girl she could not recall any revulsion at living conditions on the Point. As a matter of fact she admitted enjoying playing around in the City Dump. There she sought shiny trinkets occasionally deposited there. She overcame her fear of the huge water rats whose black darting eyes first frightened her when she followed the older boys and girls into the Dump area. But then suddenly when she was about ten, a change came over her. At first she could bot understand herself. She noticed her reluctance to come back home after being with the other children during school hours. It was not lack of love for her parents and family. Rather it was a kind of shame and self-consciousness about the living conditions on the Point. After school she would sit alongside the little flag shanty near the tracks she must cross to enter the Point. Her mother would have to come to take her home, often after six p.m. But her mother never scolded, choosing rather to offer understanding and encouragement. Before reaching her teens Mrs. Felipe Terronez, then Mary Ramirez, realized the nature of her discouragement and depression. She determined to study hard at school for the purpose of helping her father move his family to better surroundings. She diligently and carefully looked after her younger sisters to smooth their passing through the ordeal which had hurt her. Finally she expressed her regret that she had not brought with her pictures of her home into which her family had finally moved. Her family loved the cleanliness and neatness of their new neighborhood and they had won the respect and friendship of their new neighbors. Protesting again that her people did not like untidiness, she invited the business men to visit their home to see for themselves ( confirmed by telephone conversations with Mrs. Felipe Ramirez, 22 Oct, 1963). Among those responding to the talks of Mr. Uchtorff and Mr. Lundy on that evening was Rabbi Abram Vos Goodman. Rabbi Goodman said he "was embarrassed and humiliated by some of the comments made at the meeting" ( Davenport Morning Democrat, March 12, 1952). Our own recollections, confirmed by recent conversations with many others in attendance that evening and involved in the the effort at the time, are that effective action was blocked by individuals motivated by 19th Century Laisnez-Faireism, Social Darwinism enduring in our Community to this day. Rev. William T. O'Connor
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LABOR Volume 26, No. 15 October, 1963 Racial Injustice in Iowa Forrest Kilmer ( Davenport Democrat, March 14, 1952) wrote the day after the dinner that Mr. A.F. Uchtorff remarked at the dinner meeting : I don't want to create any hardships but they had plenty of time to find different housing. I think I've been fair. We recall a much more vigorous indictment of the Mexican people bu the business leader. Mr. Uchtorff complained vehemently that he had warned these people five years earlier that they must evacuate the area. But they stubbornly ignored this pleas, choosing rather to live in the filth and squalor of the Point. And when Mr. A. Linton Lundy arose to speak after Mr. Uchtorff, he stated that he wanted to corroborate Mr. Uchtorff's stand. Elaborating Mr. Lundy expressed his opinion that these people preferred to live in the filthy environment of the Point. He also opined that, were there a new housing project planned for them, they would reduce same to the Cook's Point level in a relatively short period of time. Mr. Lundy insisted that he knew whereof he spoke as one who grew up among Mexicans - in California. Immediately after Lundy's speech, a young Mexican woman, Mrs. Felipe Terronez, quickly rose to deliver a beautiful defense of her people which news reporters somehow ignored. But we have always regretted that there was not made a recording of her impromptu speech. She arose almost gropingly, blinded by tears which required the constant dabbing of her handkerchief as she spoke. She apologized for her lack of preparation and education for presuming to speak. Haltingly yet clearly shyly yet determinedly, she protested that her people did not like the filth, dirt and squalor of Cook's Point. It was her opinion that all decent citizens should realize that no human beings really liked foul living conditions. Chokingly she proceeded with her story. As a little girl she could not recall any revulsion at living conditions on the Point. As a matter of fact she admitted enjoying playing around in the City Dump. There she sought shiny trinkets occasionally deposited there. She overcame her fear of the huge water rats whose black darting eyes first frightened her when she followed the older boys and girls into the Dump area. But then suddenly when she was about ten, a change came over her. At first she could bot understand herself. She noticed her reluctance to come back home after being with the other children during school hours. It was not lack of love for her parents and family. Rather it was a kind of shame and self-consciousness about the living conditions on the Point. After school she would sit alongside the little flag shanty near the tracks she must cross to enter the Point. Her mother would have to come to take her home, often after six p.m. But her mother never scolded, choosing rather to offer understanding and encouragement. Before reaching her teens Mrs. Felipe Terronez, then Mary Ramirez, realized the nature of her discouragement and depression. She determined to study hard at school for the purpose of helping her father move his family to better surroundings. She diligently and carefully looked after her younger sisters to smooth their passing through the ordeal which had hurt her. Finally she expressed her regret that she had not brought with her pictures of her home into which her family had finally moved. Her family loved the cleanliness and neatness of their new neighborhood and they had won the respect and friendship of their new neighbors. Protesting again that her people did not like untidiness, she invited the business men to visit their home to see for themselves ( confirmed by telephone conversations with Mrs. Felipe Ramirez, 22 Oct, 1963). Among those responding to the talks of Mr. Uchtorff and Mr. Lundy on that evening was Rabbi Abram Vos Goodman. Rabbi Goodman said he "was embarrassed and humiliated by some of the comments made at the meeting" ( Davenport Morning Democrat, March 12, 1952). Our own recollections, confirmed by recent conversations with many others in attendance that evening and involved in the the effort at the time, are that effective action was blocked by individuals motivated by 19th Century Laisnez-Faireism, Social Darwinism enduring in our Community to this day. Rev. William T. O'Connor
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