Civil rights struggles not easily forgotten

On the day President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the photo on this newspaper’s front page showed a kiddie parade in downtown Everett.

The Everett Herald was then an evening paper. Its deadline 50 years ago today — July 2,1964 — was perhaps a barrier to publishing the now iconic image of the White House signing ceremony. Martin Luther King Jr. was among those looking on as Johnson signed the law that, along with voting rights measures of 1957 and 1965, ranks as the most important legislation of my lifetime.

The Herald reported no local reaction to the law which, according to The Associated Press on July 2, 1964, was “designed to help Negroes achieve equality in nearly all phases of national life into which the federal government can reach.”

Marilyn Quincy, a lifelong resident of Everett, is old enough to remember that historic day. Yet the 70-year-old, who is African-American, recalls no outward jubilation. The Herald coverage of the landmark law — something that happened far from here — wasn’t so different from how Quincy remembers it.

A 1962 graduate of Everett High School, Quincy is retired after 37 years working for the state Employment Security Department. She remembers being concerned about finding work in the mid-1960s. In her experience, black people here avoided raising the subject of discrimination.

“You kind of kept quiet because you didn’t want to cause trouble,” she said.

In 1993, when Everett celebrated its centennial, Quincy was among founders of the Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee. The group hosts the annual Nubian Jam celebration of African-American culture at Everett’s Forest Park. “That first Nubian Jam was to try to give our children some pride and recognition,” said Quincy, whose great-grandfather, William P. Stewart, was a Union soldier in the Civil War and one of the county’s first black settlers.

In the 1960s, Quincy saw racial bias in Everett. But it wasn’t the blatant and enforced segregation that existed in Southern states — which the public accommodations section of the 1964 Civil Rights Act targeted.

The law outlawed discrimination in hotels, motels, restaurants, theaters and other public places. It barred unequal application of voter registration requirements. It outlawed discrimination in employment practices, by unions and employers. It created an Equal Employment Opportunities Commission to review complaints. And it granted new powers to the U.S. attorney general to speed desegregation of public schools, libraries and parks.

The subtle racism Quincy saw wasn’t codified in law. Being treated differently was at the heart of it. “I even had teachers who would say something like ‘You’re not supposed to know how to do that,’?” she said.

Quincy — her maiden name was Davis — was one of two black students in her Everett High graduating class. The other one was Henry Mathews, a popular basketball player and student body president. Mathews died in 2012.

In the early 1960s, she said, the high school had a custom. “The student body president would escort the homecoming queen, and give her a kiss,” Quincy said. The year she graduated, “they changed the tradition,” she said. Mathews shook the girl’s hand, Quincy recalled. It was a topic that came up among friends at her 50th high school reunion.

After high school, it was tricky for a young black woman to find a job in Everett. Quincy said a friend’s mother steered her toward places that would hire her. She worked at a nursing home while attending Everett Community College. She worked for the Boeing Co., and then heard in the late 1960s that Safeway was hiring minority workers.

“It took somebody who cared, behind the scenes, to kind of pull you in,” said Quincy, who remembers feeling that black workers in that era were “kind of tokens.”

“One of my favorite stories about working at Safeway back then, some people would stand in line all day because they wanted me to wait on them. But with other people, if I was the only checker they wouldn’t buy groceries,” Quincy said.

“A lot of things back then would be considered discrimination today,” she said.

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460; jmuhlstein@heraldnet.com.

Nubian Jam

The Nubian Jam, a celebration of African-American arts and culture organized by the Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee, is scheduled for 10 a.m.-8 p.m. July 26 at Forest Park, 802 E. Mukilteo Blvd., Everett.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

District 2 candidates differ in public safety approach

Incumbent Paula Rhyne is facing challenger Ryan Crowther. The third candidate, Jonathan Shapiro, is no longer seeking the seat.

From left to right, Edmonds City Council Position 3 candidates Joseph Ademofe, Alex Newman and Erika Barnett.
Amid budget crisis, Edmonds City Council candidates talk revenue, affordability

Three newcomers are facing off for Position 3 on the council, currently held by council President Neil Tibbott.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Everett
Everett approves new fines for non-emergency lifts

The fire department will only issue fines for non-emergency lift assists at licensed care facilities, not for individuals at home calling 911.

Guns for sale at Caso’s Gun-A-Rama in Jersey City, New Jersey, which has been open since 1967. (Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/New Jersey Monitor)
After suing, WA gets carveout from Trump administration plan to return gun conversion devices

The Trump administration has agreed to not distribute devices that turn semi-automatic… Continue reading

The Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility about 16 miles east of Ellensburg in central Washington is part of Puget Sound Energy’s clean energy portfolio. (Courtesy of Puget Sound Energy)
Megabill’s elimination of tax credits for clean energy projects could cost WA $8.7 billion

Washington households could see electricity costs increase $115 per year by 2029; 21,800 workers could lose their jobs by 2030, analysts say.

Everett mayor candidates focus on affordability, city budget in costly race

As incumbent Cassie Franklin seeks a third term in office, three candidates are looking to unseat her.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.