1967
World Events:
Egypt’s President Nasser declares his objective is the
destruction of Israel. Israel defeats Egypt and other Arab
nations in a Six Day War.
The War in Vietnam continues, escalating to include assaults into
Cambodia.
China’s Chairman Mao Tse-tung encourages a Cultural
Revolution.
The first Black government takes power in the Bahamas.
Uganda is proclaimed a Republic. Biafra declares independence
from Nigeria.
Surveyor 5 lands softly on moon; sends back photos. Soviet
satellites achieve first unmanned docking in space.
National Events: Three
astronauts are killed in Apollo 1 accident.
President Lyndon B. Johnson reestablishes draft lottery.
Cassius Clay, who prefers to be called Muhammad Ali, refuses
military service in the U.S. Army and is stripped of his world
heavyweight championship title.
The National Guard comes to Newark. Photo by Don Hogan
Charles/The New York Times
Race riots erupt across the U.S.A. during the summer months,
including the cities of Newark NJ, Plainfield NJ, Detroit MI, and
Chicago IL.
Thurgood Marshall is the first Black appointed to the Supreme
Court. The Supreme Court rules unanimously that a Virginia law
prohibiting interracial marriage is unconstitutional. This has
the effect of nullifying similar laws in 15 other states.
Walter E Washington is appointed (the first Black) mayor of
Washington DC by Lyndon Johnson.Other Black mayors elected into
office that year include Floyd McCree (Flint MI), Carl B. Stokes
(Cleveland OH), Richard B. Hatcher (Gary IN)
Anti-war and Anti-draft protesters demonstrate nation-wide.
Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. urges a boycott of the war in
Vietnam.
Local Events: Events in the
world and across the nation make little impact on life in East
Orange, and are not mentioned in the local newspaper with a few
notable exceptions. The following events are all reported on in
the East Orange Record issues of 1967.
This was the year the libraries celebrated “Negro
History Week” in February.
March 12th was proclaimed Crispus Attucks Day with a parade
in downtown Newark, and East Orange Councilman Thomas Cooke, Jr.
was a co-chairman of the event.
May 5th was celebrated as Dianne Warwick(sic) day at the alma
mater of the famous singer, Lincoln School. She visited the
school and posed for photos.
The newly constructed Rowley Park was dedicated on June 3rd,
with a bronze plaque fastened to a glacial boulder found near the
East Orange Reservoir in Livingston. Earlier, in March, a 400
million year old glacial boulder from the East/West Freeway
excavation was removed to Soveral Park by direction of Mayor
Kelly.
The riots in neighboring Newark take place during July 13-15
of 1967. This involves East Orange directly because the East
Orange streets leading to Newark are blocked off and police are
stopping and searching all vehicles with out of state license
plates, convinced that outside agitators are involved.
East Orange Firemen are routinely called into Newark to
assist with fires in the riot torn areas.
On July 13th, East Orange experiences its own
small riot in the area around North 14th Street. East Orange
police arrest 19 and the East Orange Record reports that all of
those arrested have identified themselves as Black Muslims.
Anyone who lived through this period who has
information to add, please contact me at [email protected]
Notably, there are more news articles about the local NAACP
and the number of Blacks pictured in the East Orange Record has
increased everywhere in the paper except for the Society Page.
Further Resources of Interest on this
subject: