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Editorial
February 10, 1962
The Atlanta Inquirer
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
Editorial criticizes Fulton-Dekalb Hospital Authority's plan to make Spalding a pay ward of Grady Hospital as insufficient for desegregation, accusing it of misleading consultation and tokenism, urging legal action for full non-discriminatory operation.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Grady Plan Is More
Lemon Than Orange
It would take a very good lawyer-- or team of lawyers-- to figure out just exactly what the Fulton-Dekalb Hospital Authority is getting at in its announcement concerning the formal adoption of Spalding as a "pay ward of Grady Hospital."
If a rose by any other name is still a rose, it must be just as true that you can't sweeten the sour taste of a lemon by calling it an orange.
At present we must agree with dissenting Authority member Rothberg that the new arrangement---full of "Ifs" and "Buts" -- does NOT deal satisfactorily with the basic question.
THAT BASIC QUESTION WAS AND IS THE NON-SEGREGATED, NON-DISCRIMINATORY OPERATION OF GRADY AS A PUBLICLY-SUPPORTED HOSPITAL.
Why refer at all in the announcement to the Atlanta Medical Association, and to three well-known Negro citizens if it was not intended to give the impression that the A.M.A. and these citizens helped arrive at the decision announced?
THE PRESIDENT OF THE A. M. A. HAS SAID IN A PUBLIC STATEMENT THAT THE GROUP WAS NOT CONSULTED ON THE NEW PLAN-- AND THAT THE A.M.A. CONTINUES TO HOLD TO ITS PREVIOUS POSITION IN FAVOR OF FULL DESEGREGATION. INCLUDING EQUAL STATUS FOR QUALIFIED NEGRO DOCTORS.
One of the three citizens cited in the announcement has informed us that members of the Authority did tell them about the new plan they had in mind. BUT THAT THE THREE MEN DEFINITELY DID NOT ADVISE ITS ADOPTION. AND THAT ONE OF THEM SPECIFICALLY ASKED WHY THE SPALDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS NOT CONSULTED.
This group, which includes Mrs. Grace Hamilton and others, was appointed by the Hospital Authority itself.
Is it not doubly strange then that it was not allowed to do what it was specifically set up to do -- to discuss problems and give advice?
Perhaps County Commissioners Aldredge, McCart and Lindsey -- the elected officials who appoint the members of the Authority-- can explain exactly what is going on in language that everyone can understand.
The still better answer, as many physicians and lay citizens are now saying. is to unlimber the legal batteries.
Otherwise we may go on being razzle-dazzled, promised and 'tokenismed' on Grady until 1972.
Lemon Than Orange
It would take a very good lawyer-- or team of lawyers-- to figure out just exactly what the Fulton-Dekalb Hospital Authority is getting at in its announcement concerning the formal adoption of Spalding as a "pay ward of Grady Hospital."
If a rose by any other name is still a rose, it must be just as true that you can't sweeten the sour taste of a lemon by calling it an orange.
At present we must agree with dissenting Authority member Rothberg that the new arrangement---full of "Ifs" and "Buts" -- does NOT deal satisfactorily with the basic question.
THAT BASIC QUESTION WAS AND IS THE NON-SEGREGATED, NON-DISCRIMINATORY OPERATION OF GRADY AS A PUBLICLY-SUPPORTED HOSPITAL.
Why refer at all in the announcement to the Atlanta Medical Association, and to three well-known Negro citizens if it was not intended to give the impression that the A.M.A. and these citizens helped arrive at the decision announced?
THE PRESIDENT OF THE A. M. A. HAS SAID IN A PUBLIC STATEMENT THAT THE GROUP WAS NOT CONSULTED ON THE NEW PLAN-- AND THAT THE A.M.A. CONTINUES TO HOLD TO ITS PREVIOUS POSITION IN FAVOR OF FULL DESEGREGATION. INCLUDING EQUAL STATUS FOR QUALIFIED NEGRO DOCTORS.
One of the three citizens cited in the announcement has informed us that members of the Authority did tell them about the new plan they had in mind. BUT THAT THE THREE MEN DEFINITELY DID NOT ADVISE ITS ADOPTION. AND THAT ONE OF THEM SPECIFICALLY ASKED WHY THE SPALDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS NOT CONSULTED.
This group, which includes Mrs. Grace Hamilton and others, was appointed by the Hospital Authority itself.
Is it not doubly strange then that it was not allowed to do what it was specifically set up to do -- to discuss problems and give advice?
Perhaps County Commissioners Aldredge, McCart and Lindsey -- the elected officials who appoint the members of the Authority-- can explain exactly what is going on in language that everyone can understand.
The still better answer, as many physicians and lay citizens are now saying. is to unlimber the legal batteries.
Otherwise we may go on being razzle-dazzled, promised and 'tokenismed' on Grady until 1972.
What sub-type of article is it?
Social Reform
What keywords are associated?
Grady Hospital
Desegregation
Tokenism
Hospital Authority
Atlanta Medical Association
Racial Discrimination
Spalding Advisory Committee
What entities or persons were involved?
Fulton Dekalb Hospital Authority
Rothberg
Atlanta Medical Association
Three Negro Citizens
Grace Hamilton
Spalding Advisory Committee
County Commissioners Aldredge
County Commissioners Mccart
County Commissioners Lindsey
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Critique Of Fulton Dekalb Hospital Authority's Grady Hospital Desegregation Plan
Stance / Tone
Critical Of Tokenism And Incomplete Desegregation
Key Figures
Fulton Dekalb Hospital Authority
Rothberg
Atlanta Medical Association
Three Negro Citizens
Grace Hamilton
Spalding Advisory Committee
County Commissioners Aldredge
County Commissioners Mccart
County Commissioners Lindsey
Key Arguments
The New Arrangement Does Not Satisfactorily Address Non Segregated, Non Discriminatory Operation Of Grady Hospital
Announcement Misleadingly Implies Consultation With Atlanta Medical Association And Negro Citizens
Atlanta Medical Association Was Not Consulted And Favors Full Desegregation Including Equal Status For Negro Doctors
The Three Citizens Were Informed But Did Not Advise Adoption Of The Plan
Spalding Advisory Committee, Appointed By The Authority, Was Not Consulted Despite Its Purpose
Calls For Explanation From County Commissioners
Suggests Legal Action To Achieve Full Desegregation Rather Than Continued Tokenism