In recalling his early "activist-student days," Ed James, known as the Father of the Civil Rights movement in Sarasota and Manatee counties and a former reporter for the Sarasota Journal, recounted how he first came to know Ken Thompson, the city manager who was hired in 1950 to guide Sarasota during a post-World War II resurgence.
James, who passed in 2018, and two friends were back in town from Florida A&M University, and James announced it was about time to go to the "whites only" library in the Chidsey Library building on North Tamiami Trail and check out a book.
This was in 1957. At the time, if an African-American wanted to check out a book, he would have to go to the Newtown Recreation Center and order the book to be sent from the Chidsey
Library – a process that required several days.
James recalled that the three went into the library and were asked by the librarian what they were doing there. She informed them that if they wanted a book, they would have to follow the procedure and go to the Newtown Recreation Center. That was the policy; she did not make the rules.
James, who did not know who Thompson was, told her they were not leaving and for her to call whoever she needed to get permission for them to check out a book. They fully expected to be arrested. She called Thompson at City Hall, and all James could hear was her saying to Thompson, "No." "No." "No." Finally she turned the phone over to James.
Thompson introduced himself as the city manager and asked James who he was and what he wanted, and after brief conversation, invited him and his friends to come to his office. Fearing they were being set up to be arrested, one of the friends walked home instead, but James and the remaining friend went to meet with Thompson.
Thompson asked James about his background, who his parents and grandparents were, and so on. James had argued that his family paid taxes, which supported the library, and he should have access to it. Thompson agreed, picked up the phone, called the librarian and told her that from that point on, the Chidsey Library would lend books regardless of race.
"That's how the Sarasota Library became integrated," James said.
James recalled that over the years, he and Thompson used the library episode as a personal code between them. When James, a community activist, sought help at City Hall, a meeting with city staff and Thompson to solve a problem, or defuse an issue, Thompson would tell him, "Calm down, Ed, just remember the library," James knew he would get the help he sought.
"If he said that, I could rest assured it was going to happen. He was always honest with me."
According to James, "Ken was a very positive influence in the community. He said what he meant and he meant what he said."
Sarasota historian Jeff LaHurd is the author of 17 books. His latest – “The People and Places That Made Sarasota a Paradise” – is available on Amazonand at Bookstore1Sarasota.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: How a 1957 protest integrated a Sarasota library
