The Unequal Opportunity Race

Possibly this video will help people realize why there are not any Black Professionals in Sedalia, Mo.and actually very few throughout the State

Black Professionals in Sedalia, Mo.

G. Homer Phillips

There are not any black professionals in Sedalia that I am aware of, although Bothwell Hospital may have some black Doctors in speciality areas but none in private practice.  I had approached a black doctor several years ago who worked in the Emergency Room and he told me he didn’t live here (and I had the feeling he didn’t want to – nor did he want to get involved).

There were several black doctors during the early times of Sedalia who treated both black and white patients. Possibly the best known was Dr. A.R. Maddox who was Superintendent of Hospital #2 for black patients. Dr. Maddox’s daughter has visited this Library and we were honored to meet her. She lives in K.C.

There was one black attorney, G. Homer Phillips (1880-1931), who possibly practiced in Sedalia a very short time. He moved to St. Louis and set up a successful practice there. Unfortunately he was murdered on the street by an unhappy client, who was never brought to justice.

Local examples of segregation in Sedalia

In the 1960’s, Sedalia drained and disinfected the swimming pool at Liberty Park as Blacks had been seen swimming in it.

Lauretta E., a Black registered nurse who had moved here from Texas was refused dental care for her son because he was Black. After pleadings, she was allowed to bring him there (after dark) to have a tooth extracted.

Noah P. a large Black male teen-ager had loaded weapons in the back seat of his car as he heard a local White tough gang wanted to fight him and his friends. However when the local White tough, Larry F. found out it was Noah, he stopped – saying Noah was his friend! Noah, however, served jail time due to weapons charges. Though armed,  Larry did not.

Noah also recalled as a child accompanying his father at a white family’s home on Broadway where his father was repairing the home. At lunch time Noah and his father were served lunch outside on the kitchen steps while the rest of the family (and the family dog) ate inside.

Harold F., who had served on the Sedalia Police force stated that the white policemen would send the Black policemen into taverns to break up the fight – then they would all come in.

Elaine R.,  a black grade school teacher relayed buying a home outside of the Black community in the 1960’s. Though it worked out all right, she felt very apprehensive about the move. She was also the first black grade school teacher in the Sedalia school system. (Sedalia had its own segregated Lincoln-Hubbard black school system) and shared that on the first day of school, white parents came in and lined the room, studying her.  She felt hostility and though worried , she survived.

Carol P., a white schoolteacher, one of 12 children and married to a Black minister, stated her parents/siblings disowned her after the marriage. Now Carol’s children are teen-agers, her mother has just recently made contact with her. Through the years there had not been any contact between Carol and her family.

Question: Would there be support for Black professionals in Sedalia now? – I don’t know the answer to that question. I would surely support them. In my opinion, we need Black Doctors,  Counselors, Psychologists, Psychiatrists,  Dentists, Lawyers, Judges, Law enforcement, (Oficers, Deputies,  Sheriff, Police Chief ) also elected officials, school board members, members of commissions, etc.

I would do everything in my power to help them get acquainted in the community. I know the community. I graduated from high school here. I was in practice 32 years as a psychologist. I probably saw half the town professionally.  Dr. Harlan