Jeannette Strong

Jeannette Strong played instrumental roles in the desegregation of both housing and hospital care in Gary, Indiana, throughout the 1960’s, and served as a major leader within the Gary chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Following a Gary City Council vote in July of 1962 that rejected moving towards desegregated housing, Strong and the NAACP helped organize a peaceful march to City Hall in protest of the “ghettoized housing conditions” that were being imposed on the African American community. [1] The protests were successful, and early in 1964 a “26-member Advisory Committee on Human Relations” was established to help protect the rights and relations of Gary’s African American community. [2]

In 1963, following the majority of her work to desegregate housing, Strong turned much of her attention to the disproportional hospital care that African Americans received when compared to the white population. Dr. Benjamin Grant, the first African American doctor to work for primarily white Gary Methodist Hospital, recounts times where African American patients would be forced to “die in the hall” while beds in dual occupancy rooms lay empty, for the sole reason that a white patient was already occupying one of the beds in the room. [3] Strong began working closely with the NAACP and other organizations, diligently attempting to form a picketed protest that could not be overlooked. In a letter directed to Gary clergy members, she urged them to take action and to support this cause by announcing information about the movement to their congregations. [4] Strong assured the clergy that their demonstrations would be held to the “highest level of Christian conduct”, and asked that they dedicate a portion of their offerings that month to her cause. [5] Her call was answered, and the clergy endorsed the cause by condemning segregation, which allowed Strong to turn her attention to Indiana Governor Matthew Welsh. She wrote to the Governor, insisting that the hospital’s refusal to release clear statements about how they planned to correct their unequal and heavily segregated healthcare was of the utmost importance for the growing population of African Americans in Gary. [6]

Following negotiations with the Methodist Hospital, it was understood that new protocol would be implemented over time at the hospital, eventually moving to a “first-come first-serve” basis with patients. [7] The hospital, despite agreeing to these terms, did not begin implementing new policies right away, which prompted Strong to once again reach out and request a meeting with the hospital committee. She was met with nearly a month of waiting while the hospital pushed aside her requests, insisting that they could not discuss it until their next committee meeting. [8] Finally, after much deliberation and years of unequal hospital treatment, Methodist Hospital implemented their new “first-come first-serve” policy. The committee was even convinced, thanks to a determined and resolute Strong, that “there should be more African American representation on the board. [9]

Strong was also a driving factor in key police reform that emerged following an incident in 1973 where a state trooper wrote “NIG” in the box meant for race while processing an African American’s paperwork. [10] This blatant act of racism sparked immediate outrage from the community and Strong. She not only sought fervently for the immediate termination of the involved officer’s job, but also for serious and permanent police reform. The NAACP demanded that reform include updated screening processes, hiring practices, and the elimination of discriminatory practices. [11] Strong also pointed out that of the total 1,400 Gary police department employees, a mere 14 were African American; “and four of those were janitors." [12]

On October 9, 1981 Jeannette Strong passed away at 61 years of age after serving in the NAACP for over 20 years, and as an active Democratic politician who acted as 1st District vice chairman. [13]

[1] James B. Lane, “City of the Century: A History of Gary, Indiana,” 1978, 279.
[2] Ibid.
[3] “Physicians Recall Integrating Hospitals”, The Post-Tribune, May 2, 1996.
[4] Jeannette Strong, “Letter to the Clergymen of Gary,” July 19, 1963.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Jeannette Strong, “Letter to Indiana Governor Matthew Welsh,” July 25, 1963.
[7] “Report of Meeting Between Members of Methodist Hospital Follow-Up Committee and Bishop Richard C. Raines,” February 19, 1964.
[8] “Civil Rights Co-Ordinating Committee,” The Methodist Hospital of Gary, INC, October 5, 1963.
[9] “Report of Meeting Between Members of Methodist Hospital Follow-Up Committee and Bishop Richard C. Raines”
[10] “State Police Charged with ‘Blatant Discrimination’, The Post-Tribune, January 26, 1974.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Ibid.
[13] “Jeannette Strong, Former NAACP Chief, Dies at 61,” The Post-Tribune, October 9, 1981.

Student Author: Joel Sharp
Faculty/Staff Editors: Dr. Ronald V. Morris, Dr. Kevin C. Nolan, and Christine Thompson
Graduate Assistant Researchers: Carrie Vachon and JB Bilbrey

PHOTO & VIDEO:
Courtesy Chicago Tribune https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-virtual-civil-rights-st-0405-story.html