Charles S. Preston, “Rev. Jones ‘Integrates’ Hospital While a Patient,” Indianapolis Recorder, October 7, 1961, p. 1, 3 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
Rev. Jones ‘Integrates’ Hospital While a Patient
By CHARLES S. PRESTON
Rev. James Jones, dynamic director of the Mayor’s Commission on Human Rights, carried forward his crusade for integration while a patient in Methodist Hospital this week.
Rev. Jones was released from the hospital Thursday morning after a week’s stay for a check-up. His physician, Dr. Edward P. Thomas, said he was “doing very well.”
Most of us, when illness sends us to a hospital, lay aside our customary concerns. But not so the young minister, who is also pastor of the People’s Temple Christian Church. Friends and co-workers know that he never lays aside his concern for brotherhood.
WHEN REV. JONES entered the hospital last wek (sic!), according to reports, an admissions official became confused because he was a white patient with a Negro doctor. Going through two stacks of cards, she finally asked:
“You’re not colored, are you?”
“What kind of a question is that?” the minister answered. Then he emphatically declared that in view of the situation, he would not stay in a private room as ordered by his physician.
He was with difficulty prevailed on to obey his doctor’s orders, and was soon visited by a supervisor who said she would reprimand the admissions officer.
“No, as an individual she was only carrying out her duties,” Rev. Jones replied. “Apparently it is the policy of the hospital that is at fault.”
THEN A STILL HIGHER hospital official came around. He said apologetically that this was the “last vestige” of segregation at Methodist, which has thoroughly integrated its services and staff from top to bottom.
“We still ask patients whether they object to being placed in a room with a person of another race,” the official admitted. “The theory is that this gives them peace of mind and helps their recovery.
“For instance, the other night a white woman came in who was actually hemorrhaging.
She cried out that if she were placed with a Negro, she wouldn’t stay in the hospital but would go home.”
“Nonsense!” Rev. Jones replied. “The hospital should take a firm stand in this matter.
“People like that should be put off by themselves anyway, for they are not fit to associate with human beings.”
The hospital official, who at heart was not a segregationist himself, promised the jimcrow practice would be ended forthwith.
A CHEC (sic!) BY this writer with several sources later in the week indicated that the change had been made. Wards and rooms which had been all-Negro at the beginning of the week were made interracial by the assignment of white patients.
Many of the hospital personnel, both Negro and white, visited Rev. Jones, who was reported as making his bed every day and even going around to make the beds of other patients. (As a youth he worked in a hospital at Richmond, and he operates two nursing homes.)
All this, despite the fact he was in considerable discomfort when visited by this writer on two occasions.
“I want to make one thing clear,” Rev. Jones said to The Recorder on leaving. “I have received most excellent care by everyone at Methodist Hospital. In fact, I never even had to ring my bell.”