Here in my formerly segregated town, there are two American Legion posts. The bigger one apparently used to be white-only. The other one, much smaller and shabbier-looking, and located on what was once the main street of the black section of town, was for the black veterans. I’m told that this was historically quite common.
The interesting thing is that they both still exist and are apparently active. You’d think they’d have merged decades ago, considering that integration of the armed forces was completed in 1954. Are there many such pairs of posts still around? Is there still any lingering racial division at the post level of the organization?
Back then, ultra-conservatives were hostile to Civil Rights Negros, as men & women who wanted their dignity were referred to at that time. Equal rights for people of color was as controversial as Gay marriage is today.
Integration of social clubs started in the late 70s. As the existence of segregated lodges proves rather flatly.
Prince Hall was the founder of the first black Mason lodge, and because of racism in the US, Masonic lodges tended to be seperated by race, with whites being members of “Grand Lodges”, and blacks being members of “Prince Hall Lodges” (which weren’t always recognized by the Grand Lodges as legitimate.)
I’ve seen this is Dover Delaware, but I’ve never noticed the B/W divide in halls anywhere else.
side question: What do folks do at these halls these days? I always imagined smoke filled back rooms with card and craps games going on with “Louie” answering the phone and telling whoever’s spouse just called that “he’s on his way home.”
Which halls, American Legion, Masonic (“Lodges”) or Prince halls?
In any case, a merger is always tough as there will be only half as many Grand Imperial Zeppelins or whatever after consolidation. There is always an institutional bias against merger.
I have some friends who joined the local AL lodge. He’s recently-retired military, and hence eligible. I (also a vet) went with him to the local hall once or twice.
The interior is finished in 1960s linoleum & cheap wood panelling. There are many faded photos of youth softball & bowling teams they’ve sponsored over the years.
Lots of age 65-ish vets & their womenfolk hang around chewing the fat or playing cards or bingo. In the 70’s they’d have been WWII vets. In the 80’s, Korea. Now they’re Viet Nam era.
The barkeep has lots of Bud & Busch & Miller Lite, and plenty of Jack Daniels. The only vodka is well-brand. Do NOT ask for an import beer or wine.
The food is bad burgers with freezer fries. 100% of them smoke; patrons, barkeep & cook.
In other words, pretty much 1960s America blue-collar ordinary. Very friendly & full of comradery, as long as you look & act like one of them; God Fearing Flag Waving True Blue Americans.
I never thought about why there are two AL posts here in Paris. Guess I know why now. Of course, the two hospitals here have only recently merged. (They were divided Protestant and Catholic, with the Jewish people having to go to Dallas, about 200 miles west.)
Part of the purpose of the American Legion is to give vets a place to hang out with their old war buddies, right? Well, if the units were still segregated at the time that they were off fighting, then one’s circle of war buddies would only include people of the same race.
The AL post that I used to go to(I’m eligible as a son of a member) had a few black and hispanic members. As far as political leanings it was pretty open. And they did have a limited selection of import beers and top shelf liquors. The lodge also had a splendid view of Lake Michigan. I guess that its the exception to the rule.
It is the sum of its parts. It depends on the members in each post. Most if not all of the controverisal things that the Legion was involved in happened before most of the current members were born. Not too many members running around that were there in the 30s. If you leave out flag burning the only causes I can think of that the national organization takes up are veteran/military issues. Many of them are health or retirement issues such as Agent Orange, Gulf War Syndrome. It is no secret, go to their website.