The Augusta Courier

Sit-In Tactics Cause 200 Negroes To Lose Their Jobs

People Of Georgia Should Continue To Reward Rich's With A Lot Of Business

Rich's Department Store in Atlanta has closed all its eating places to the public and fired two hundred Negro employees because of the closing of the food services.

A survey made at Rich's store, on Friday, December 2, 1960, disclosed the following:

1. Second Floor Bridge: boarded up and replaced by service desk, Christmas cards and wrappings.

2. Sixth Floor Tea Room: closed to the public and used for employees only.

3. Cockerel Grill for Men: this basement operation closed.

4. Barbecue Room: closed to the public - open to employees only.

200 Negroes Lose Jobs

So, as far as Rich's Department Store is concerned, they are out of the business of serving food to the public. From now on, it will be a service to employees only.

On account of the closing of these food places, two hundred Negro employees of the store were discharged.

Employees of the store report that Frank H. Neely, Chairman of the Board of Rich's, Inc., assembled the employees and told them that they were discharged because of the closing of the food services and they had to blame only the members of their own race.

Been Good Employees

He advised the employees that they had been good employees, that the store had no complaints of their services and that he regretted that Negroes in Atlanta were responsible for their discharge.

This action, on the part of Rich's, comes as a result of the efforts of Negro college students, along with Martin Luther King in Atlanta, to stage sit-in demonstrations in the tea room and the other eating places in the store.

To avoid sit-ins, or any race mixing whatever in their eating places, Rich's simply closed the eating places and fired the Negroes.

Over Hartsfield Protest

It is understood that Rich's took this action over the protests of the Mayor of Atlanta and merchants of other prominent stores in Atlanta, including Davison's.

The survey made on Friday, December 2, 1960, also disclosed that Rich's store was packed with customers and that Davison's, in Atlanta, appeared to be dragging.

When representatives of the Courier went through Davison's, they found a lot of clerks standing around with nothing to do, but the same condition did not exist at Rich's.

Davison's Is Vulnerable

This response on the part of the public to the attitude of Rich's and Davison's with respect to segregation ought to be a lesson to the management of Davison's.

Davison's is more vulnerable than any other department store in the state could be because they operate stores in Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Sea Island, in addition to the three stores in Atlanta.

The explanation of the different attitude on the part of Davison's to the attitude of Rich's is probably the fact that Davison's is owned by Macy's in New York while Rich's is strictly a Southern institution headed and managed by Southern people.

While the representatives of the Courier were unable to contact the three officials at Rich's on their survey, it is generally understood around Atlanta that the officials at Rich's are proud over the results of their action.

Thanksgiving Sales

Rich's reports their Thanksgiving period sales exceed sales of any similar period in the past.

Of course, every business of the type operated by Rich's is dependent upon public support and there is always danger in running away any type of customer. Their experience in this instead of discouraging the management at Rich's, seems to be very satisfactory.

Their experience ought to be ample to merchants in other sections of the South.

Their action also should receive an increased trade from among white people.

Evidently, Rich's Inc., is being properly rewarded by the people of Georgia.