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184:. Attorney Marshall came and met with the small group of MATCS and NAACP representatives in Jackson. Attorney Marshall told the group, point blank, that until they secured $ 5,000, they were not in a position to seriously consider filing a lawsuit. This was quite a bit of money in the 1940s. It would be especially difficult for this group to raise that amount.
228:, Attorney James A. Burns. He was very frail and it was seriously doubted that his health would permit his undertaking this strenuous physical and emotional case. To Mrs. Bates’ great relief, he replied that he felt taking on this case was the right thing for him to do. He agreed to become the attorney for the Bates’ lawsuit.
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The Bates’ have received community recognition in the form of some of the most prestigious awards presented for community service. Dr. Bates was the only person to head both the North East Park Hill Civic
Association and its successor organization, The Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. organization.;
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Black teachers did win a moral victory, and, in reality, equalization of their salaries. After litigation was begun, month by month and year by year as the lawsuit was winding its way through the
District and Appeals courts, Black teachers’ salaries were brought to parity with those of white teachers
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In addition to the money needed to file, no public school employee wanted to have in his possession any incriminating evidence which linked him to the suit. Mrs. Bates was often cautioned to keep papers in a safe place so that names of school and association personnel would not be placed in jeopardy.
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set by the Cook vs Davis
Supreme Court case, it had ruled that all administrative remedies had to be exhausted before the case could be heard by the Court. The plaintiff must first seek relief from the local school board; if not given, then relief should be sought from the county board of education.
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pioneer, and educator who filed a lawsuit, Gladys Noel Bates vs the State of
Mississippi, in 1948 charging salary discrimination against black teachers and principals. Although her lawsuit was not successful, it brought enough attention to the issue of wage equality in education to begin to equalize
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Mrs. Bates was born to Andrew J. Noel, Sr. (1883–1960) and Hallie Sue Davis Noel (1893–1985). Both parents instilled the importance of duty to God, family and community in their five children. In addition, they emphasized the importance of higher education. Her father obtained his college education
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The lawsuit was filed on March 4, 1948. Mrs. Bates and her husband were fired from their teaching positions by the end of the 1948 school year. The Bates’ along with her parents and a few teachers who had expressed favorable opinions about the suit, were ostracized from society and fired from their
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In 1948, salaries for black teachers in
Mississippi was on the bottom rung of the nation’s teacher pay scale. Black teachers were paid one-half the salary of white teachers. In some school districts, the ratio was even lower. The difference in pay was based solely on skin color, even when black and
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The Mrs. Bates are nationally recognized and valued participants in community activities to enhance: educational opportunities, graffiti removal, gang interdiction, confronting drug abuse, encouraging strong interracial community relationships, creating jobs and economic opportunity, and mentoring
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The teachers decided to raise money for the lawsuit by increasing their membership dues by one dollar. They called this new fund the welfare or benevolent fund. Teachers, when asked by their white superintendents why the increase in dues was necessary, gave the well rehearsed reply that this money
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leaders about the possibility of filing a lawsuit for equal pay for Black teachers. After many secret discussions, it was decided that the logical choice for a plaintiff would be Gladys Noel Bates because she was both a teacher and an active officer of the
Jackson NAACP.
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If no relief is given there, then redress should be sought from the State. The obvious flaw and futility of this gesture is that a plaintiff would never survive the first step before employment would be terminated, as was the case with Mrs. Bates and her husband.
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Mrs. Bates and her husband were members of organizations committed to the betterment of the community. Organizations that have benefited from their leadership, dedication, and active participation include: Northeast Park Hill Civic
Association, East Denver
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Attorney Burns climbed a bus every week to come to
Jackson, Mississippi to file papers and research State and municipal records for little more than bus fare and meals. He was paid $ 1500 for four years of yeoman service to the cause of civil rights.
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During the long months of preparation for the lawsuit, all of the parties involved were pledged to absolute silence for they realized a slip of the tongue could result in Mrs. Bates being fired before the suit was filed.
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The other problem that MATCS and the NAACP faced was how to bank these so-called “welfare” funds. This also had to be done in full secrecy. MATCS opened an account under an assumed name at the Tri-State Bank in
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In 1938, John M. Bates (1913–1995) and Gladys Winnie Noel were married. From this union two children were born, Kathryn Sue Bates (1939) and John Milton (“Bunky”) Bates, Jr. (1945–2005).
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Colorado
Association of Non-Profit Organizations (CANPO), Building Community Award, 1996 Mayor Wellington Webb of Denver, Colorado declared October 17, 1996, "Gladys Noel Bates Day".
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from all public school teaching positions in the state of
Mississippi. Gunshots were fired through the windows of the Bates’ home and it was ultimately burned to the ground in 1949.
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The “Gladys Noel Bates Teacher-Equalization Pay Suit” was the first civil rights suit filed in the history of the State of Mississippi. This landmark lawsuit was the forerunner for
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around the room. All teachers at the meetings would put their clenched fists inside the sack whether they had money in their hands or not. This was to protect members in case a
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was needed for flowers and memorials for illnesses and deaths of black teachers. This was yet another survival tactic used by the African-American teachers during those years.
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was the Mississippi Association of Teachers in Colored Schools (MATCS). It later became known as the Mississippi Teachers Association (MTA). MATCS talked quietly with the
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The next effort was to secure a local attorney to fight the case. For a time this seemed a serious roadblock. The only hope was an elderly man in
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by selling his inheritance (land) and putting himself through college. Her mother was a graduate of the University of Chicago.
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was in their presence. The snitch would not be able to disclose who had or had not contributed money to the case.
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Founding Chair-person of the Greater Park Hill Community's Safe Neighborhood Committee Coalition Against Drugs
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The John M. and Gladys N. Bates Award recognizes an individual contributions in the areas of human relations,
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in the State of Mississippi. So, by 1951, equal salaries were a reality and the lawsuit became moot.
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28th Annual Convention, National Conference of Black Mayors, Jackson, Mississippi, April 24–27, 2002
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emerging leaders of the community, they advocated using all of the community tools available.
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in 1937. In 1979, John earned his doctorate in education from the University of Colorado.
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National Association for Women Deans, Administrators & Counselors, Denver Colorado
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precinct committeewoman and delegate to many Democratic County and State Conventions
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The chief counsel for the NAACP at that time was a young attorney by the name of
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Who’s Who of American Women, 1958–59; Who's Who of Black Americans, 1975–1976
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refused to hear the case, not because it was unmerited, but, relying on the
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Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH), Jackson, Mississippi
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Colorado-Wyoming Association for Women Deans, Administrators and Counselors
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Smith Robertson Museum & Cultural Center (SRMCC), Jackson, Mississippi
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Testimonial Banquet and Award, Citizens Commission of Jackson, Mississippi
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President’s Award at the National Conference of Black Mayors, Inc., 2002
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Recipient of National Education Association Human Relation Award, 1974
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Bates was reared and educated in Jackson, Mississippi. Bates attended
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Plaque of Appreciation, Tougaloo National Alumni Association, 1966
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treasurer, Denver Association of Secondary Women in Administration
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assistant executive secretary, Mississippi Teachers Association
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Additional monies were secured at MATCS meetings by passing a
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past president, National Alumni Association, Tougaloo College
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Assistant Principal for Pupil Services, Denver Public Schools
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Prior to their marriage, John Bates, Sr. attended schools in
325:. He joined the coaching staff of Alcorn A&M in
155:white teachers had equal education, experience and
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485:Black women's Political Action Forum (Mississippi)
559:The Greater Park Hill newsletter, Denver Colorado
482:Juanita R. Gray Award for Excellence in Education
467:Teacher of the Year, Denver Blade Newspaper, 1964
404:Denver Administrators and Supervisors Association
613:"Gladys Noel Bates, Educator and Activist", 1999
413:past member, Board of Trustees, Tougaloo College
299:College in 1937-39. She received her B.A. from
521:sorority, Shorter Community AME Church, CORE,
586:Who's Who of American Women, 1958-59, page 92
440:Merit Award, Mississippi Teachers Association
425:past president, Denver Chapter of Links, Inc.
265:for four years (1948–1951) and, finally, the
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577:Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. newsletter
388:teacher, Jackson, Mississippi Public Schools
244:Mr. and Mrs. Bates were not only fired but
130:Learn how and when to remove this message
336:in 1960, John and Gladys applied to the
640:20th-century African-American educators
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340:for teaching positions and were hired.
303:(1939–1942) and a master's degree from
428:past member, board of directors, NAACP
398:member, Colorado Education Association
159:. The Black teachers’ organization in
660:West Virginia State University alumni
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665:University of Colorado Denver alumni
473:William Funk Community Service Award
379:secretary, Mississippi District YWCA
370:Dean of Girls, Denver Public Schools
68:adding citations to reliable sources
307:(1952). She further studied at the
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382:bookkeeper, Mary Potter Academy,
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645:20th-century American educators
55:needs additional citations for
650:Alcorn State University alumni
393:National Education Association
373:teacher, Denver Public Schools
305:West Virginia State University
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358:Bates died October 15, 2010.
351:and the field of education.
332:While visiting relatives in
241:teaching positions as well.
323:West Virginia State College
267:United States Supreme Court
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27:) was an African-American
23:, died October 15, 2010,
479:Who's Who in Black Women
655:Tougaloo College alumni
604:MacNeil-Lehrer New Hour
449:Finer Womanhood Award,
321:and was graduated from
319:Fairmont, West Virginia
236:Filing and consequences
384:Oxford, North Carolina
309:University of Colorado
19:(born March 26, 1920,
493:Community involvement
338:Denver Public Schools
226:Meridian, Mississippi
157:Teacher certification
261:This lawsuit was in
161:Jackson, Mississippi
146:cases of the 1950s.
144:school desegregation
64:improve this article
504:Denver Area Council
443:Achievement Award,
327:Alcorn, Mississippi
79:"Gladys Noel Bates"
21:McComb, Mississippi
455:Pioneer Citation,
220:Final preparations
203:Memphis, Tennessee
519:Delta Sigma Theta
457:Delta Sigma Theta
421:Delta Sigma Theta
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62:Please help
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635:2010 deaths
630:1920 births
246:Blacklisted
188:Fundraising
172:Preparation
624:Categories
529:References
507:Boy Scouts
311:, Denver.
263:litigation
210:gunny sack
150:Background
120:April 2011
90:newspapers
32:salaries.
513:, NAACP,
500:Optimists
271:precedent
419:member,
252:Results
104:scholar
36:Lawsuit
334:Denver
214:snitch
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511:YMCA
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