Frozen Sooner
2/10/2009, 03:41 AM
Guest Appearance cleared through appropriate channels.
Posting this almost a week early because I'm sure Homey has something planned for President's Day.
In 1998, the State of Alaska Legislature decreed that February 16th would be henceforth be designated Elizabeth Peratrovich Day in the State of Alaska. February 16th commemorates the signing into law of the first civil rights legislation in United States history.
http://www.anbgrandcamp.org/photo_lizperatavich.gif
Elizabeth Peratrovich nee Wanamaker was born July 4, 1911 in Petersburg, Alaska (otherwise known as “Little Norway”.) Peratrovich was a Tlingit (pronounced “Clink-it”) Indian. Her parents died while she was an infant and she was adopted by a Presbyterian minister and his wife.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/petersburg/psgphotocrop.jpg
Scenic Petersburg, AK
Returning to Southeast Alaska after graduating from what is now known as Western Washington University, Peratrovich’s husband Roy served four terms as mayor of Klawock.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/pow/images/island_info/klawock_aerial.jpg
Klawock, AK
When Roy decided to step down from office, he was elected head of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Peratroviches moved to the Territorial capitol in Juneau. On her arrival in Juneau, Peratrovich was deeply offended by rampant discrimination against Alaska Natives by local businesses. At the time, it was fairly common to see “No Natives Allowed” signs on public houses and movie theaters, and landlords openly advertised their rentals stating that they would not rent to Natives.
In 1941, Peratrovich began lobbying the Territorial Government to end legal discrimination against Alaska Natives in housing. Letter from Roy and Elizabeth Peratrovich to Governor Gruening (http://www.alaskool.org/projects/native_gov/recollections/peratrovich/Gruening_Letter.htm) Finding a sympathetic ear in Territorial Governor Ernest Gruening, the Anti-Discrimination act was introduced to the Territorial Legislature in 1943, where it was soundly defeated in the Senate (though it did pass in the House.) Debate against the bill included Senator Allen Shattuck’s question “Who are these people, barely out of savagery, who want to associate with us whites with 5,000 years of recorded civilization behind us?" and Senator Frank Whaley’s assertion that he did not want to sit next to a Native in a movie theater because they smelled bad.
http://www.library.state.ak.us/hist/cent/020-0009.jpg
Governor Gruening
However, the bill was reintroduced in 1945 and passed by a narrow margin. Peratrovich’s testimony in support of the bill is credited for swaying the crucial votes.
http://www.alaskool.org/projects/native_gov/recollections/peratrovich/Elizabeth_1.htm
"I would not have expected," Elizabeth said in a quiet steady voice, "that I, who am barely out of savagery, would have to remind gentlemen with five thousand years of recorded civilization behind them of our Bill or (sic) Rights. When my husband and I came to Juneau and sought a home in a nice neighborhood where our children could play happily with our neighbors' children, we found such a house and had arranged to lease it. When the owners learned that we were Indians, they said 'no.' Would we be compelled to live in the slums?" Her intelligence was obvious, her composure faultless. After giving a potent, neatly worded picture of discrimination against the Indians and other Native people, Mrs. Peratrovich said, "There are three kinds of persons who practice discrimination. First, the politician who wants to maintain an inferior minority group so that he can always promise them something. Second, the Mr. and Mrs. Jones who aren't quite sure of their social position and who are nice to you on one occasion and can't see you on others, depending on who they are with. Third, the great superman who believes in the superiority of the white race." Discrimination suffered by herself and her friends, President Peratrovich told the assembled body, "has forced the finest of our race to associate with white trash." There was an awesome silence in the packed hall, you could hear a pin drop.
Asked by Senator Shattuck if she thought the proposed bill would eliminate discrimination, Elizabeth Peratrovich queried in rebuttal, "Do your laws against larceny and even murder prevent those crimes? No law will eliminate crimes but at least you as legislators can assert to the world that you recognize the evil of the present situation and speak your intent to help us overcome discrimination.”
As February 16th, 1945 marked the signature of Ernest Gruening on the Anti-Discrimination Bill, the Alaska Legislature has designated February 16th as Elizabeth Peratrovich Day to mark her contribution to equal rights in Alaska.
Posting this almost a week early because I'm sure Homey has something planned for President's Day.
In 1998, the State of Alaska Legislature decreed that February 16th would be henceforth be designated Elizabeth Peratrovich Day in the State of Alaska. February 16th commemorates the signing into law of the first civil rights legislation in United States history.
http://www.anbgrandcamp.org/photo_lizperatavich.gif
Elizabeth Peratrovich nee Wanamaker was born July 4, 1911 in Petersburg, Alaska (otherwise known as “Little Norway”.) Peratrovich was a Tlingit (pronounced “Clink-it”) Indian. Her parents died while she was an infant and she was adopted by a Presbyterian minister and his wife.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/petersburg/psgphotocrop.jpg
Scenic Petersburg, AK
Returning to Southeast Alaska after graduating from what is now known as Western Washington University, Peratrovich’s husband Roy served four terms as mayor of Klawock.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/pow/images/island_info/klawock_aerial.jpg
Klawock, AK
When Roy decided to step down from office, he was elected head of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Peratroviches moved to the Territorial capitol in Juneau. On her arrival in Juneau, Peratrovich was deeply offended by rampant discrimination against Alaska Natives by local businesses. At the time, it was fairly common to see “No Natives Allowed” signs on public houses and movie theaters, and landlords openly advertised their rentals stating that they would not rent to Natives.
In 1941, Peratrovich began lobbying the Territorial Government to end legal discrimination against Alaska Natives in housing. Letter from Roy and Elizabeth Peratrovich to Governor Gruening (http://www.alaskool.org/projects/native_gov/recollections/peratrovich/Gruening_Letter.htm) Finding a sympathetic ear in Territorial Governor Ernest Gruening, the Anti-Discrimination act was introduced to the Territorial Legislature in 1943, where it was soundly defeated in the Senate (though it did pass in the House.) Debate against the bill included Senator Allen Shattuck’s question “Who are these people, barely out of savagery, who want to associate with us whites with 5,000 years of recorded civilization behind us?" and Senator Frank Whaley’s assertion that he did not want to sit next to a Native in a movie theater because they smelled bad.
http://www.library.state.ak.us/hist/cent/020-0009.jpg
Governor Gruening
However, the bill was reintroduced in 1945 and passed by a narrow margin. Peratrovich’s testimony in support of the bill is credited for swaying the crucial votes.
http://www.alaskool.org/projects/native_gov/recollections/peratrovich/Elizabeth_1.htm
"I would not have expected," Elizabeth said in a quiet steady voice, "that I, who am barely out of savagery, would have to remind gentlemen with five thousand years of recorded civilization behind them of our Bill or (sic) Rights. When my husband and I came to Juneau and sought a home in a nice neighborhood where our children could play happily with our neighbors' children, we found such a house and had arranged to lease it. When the owners learned that we were Indians, they said 'no.' Would we be compelled to live in the slums?" Her intelligence was obvious, her composure faultless. After giving a potent, neatly worded picture of discrimination against the Indians and other Native people, Mrs. Peratrovich said, "There are three kinds of persons who practice discrimination. First, the politician who wants to maintain an inferior minority group so that he can always promise them something. Second, the Mr. and Mrs. Jones who aren't quite sure of their social position and who are nice to you on one occasion and can't see you on others, depending on who they are with. Third, the great superman who believes in the superiority of the white race." Discrimination suffered by herself and her friends, President Peratrovich told the assembled body, "has forced the finest of our race to associate with white trash." There was an awesome silence in the packed hall, you could hear a pin drop.
Asked by Senator Shattuck if she thought the proposed bill would eliminate discrimination, Elizabeth Peratrovich queried in rebuttal, "Do your laws against larceny and even murder prevent those crimes? No law will eliminate crimes but at least you as legislators can assert to the world that you recognize the evil of the present situation and speak your intent to help us overcome discrimination.”
As February 16th, 1945 marked the signature of Ernest Gruening on the Anti-Discrimination Bill, the Alaska Legislature has designated February 16th as Elizabeth Peratrovich Day to mark her contribution to equal rights in Alaska.