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• 1 2019-05-10T01:00:44+00:00 Part III: Segregation in Glassboro 5 Segregation specifically in Glassboro plain 2019-05-13T14:03:34+00:00

  Segregation can be seen in major cities with many neighborhoods being drawn on racial or ethnic lines. It can also be seen between the city in the suburbs due to white flight. These two maps of Chicago show segregation in the city but also the racial divide between the city and the suburbs.
  

  However, Glassboro is a case where there is segregation in a suburb of a major city. While there are no redlining maps of small towns there are other maps that track this information. These maps that that track racial data can help show that Glassboro is still segregated. The area in the Southwest that is predominantly black is called Elsmere.

      Glassboro Township was officially created in 1878 and already had a black community. The black population was largely based in Elsmere either living in the either of one of two areas known as the acres and the lawns. The segregation however was not simply housing. For at least 28 years K-8 education was decidedly segregated. This was because the all black South Glassboro School opened in 1920, with the Elsmere school coming along later in 1928. In 1948 7th and 8th grades were integrated. However, the segregated schools for K-8 (South Glassboro and Elsmere School) still were around until the late seventies. (Tucker 2018).

      However, the High School was always integrated. (Mitcho 2019). The caveat to this is that according to Mr. Mitcho even though it was integrated there were still divisions based upon race. He also recounted how Elsmere was noticeably poorer compared to the other areas of the township. Thus, even in later years there were divisions.

      Although not related directly to segregation it should be noted that there was significant activity by the KKK for many years in the area. The neighboring town of Pitman was a hotbed of activity in the region. By 1920 the KKK was active in all of New Jersey’s counties and in 1925 there was a large rally in Alycorn Park in Pitman. The Klan had members that lived in Glassboro as well. (Tucker 2018)

      The Klan also had instances of activity in Elsmere with instances of cross burnings. The Klan had influence in the way of people who agreed with the and intimidation against those who opposed them. Robert Tucker described Glassboro in the 1920’s as “quasi “Crow” town”. Many places did not allow African Americans. A notable location is the Glassboro Dinner that did not serve black patrons. Eventually when it did it did not treat them equally by giving them separate plates. (Tucker 2018).

      A notable incident around this time was the murder of Jacob Tyler. He went to play pool at a pool hall that was whites only. After an argument broke out and there was a fight where he was knocked unconscious and later died. No one was convicted or even charged. In fact there was even no investigation. (Tucker 2018).   

  It should also be noted that in the early 90’s there was also significant Klan activity and hate crimes in the area. In 1995 a group of white men beat two black men outside a bar. Several of the assaults were students at Rowan. There was also an instance that also occured in 1995 where an interracial couple’s house was attacked first with rocks and later a firebomb. There were other instances of hate crimes. The Calvary Hill Church (Which was integrated) had one of its vehicles damaged and a swastika was drawn in the parking lot. Other hate crimes occurred around the area including other places of worship. Even a white family who had black friends had a cross burned outside their home. (Tucker 2018).