The Glenville Neighborhood in Cleveland is a historical landmark in the Civil Rights movement. Glenville has always been in transition; before the 1950’s the neighborhood was predominantly Jewish and the businesses were Jewish as well. The neighborhood transitioned into a predominantly Black community in the 50’s, and was one of the three places in the city Black people were allowed to move to at this time. The neighborhood quickly became a vibrant self sufficient community in which people helped each other with housework, picking up groceries, and taking care of each other’s kids.
The businesses became predominantly Black-owned. The shopping district of Glenville was the second largest business district outside of downtown, and the street of shops became known as The Gold Coast. The civil rights movement was well underway, forcing policies to make changes toward equity. Schools in Cleveland began desegregation. Many of the retired teachers living in Glenville taught during that time, and their kids were in those schools.
Of the four neighborhoods, Black families were allowed to move into, Glenville was the most family focused because of the availability of single family houses. The limit of choice in residence led to overcrowded schools forcing some black children to be bused to white schools in neighboring cities.
As tensions continued rising surrounding the fight against oppression, the historical Glenville shootout of July 1968 occurred between The Black Nationalists of New Libya and the police. While many residents moved on, plenty stayed and retired in Glenville.
Many of the people living in Glenville have lived through decades of its transitions starting with the days of The Gold Coast and continuing through the many changes in our country. We have gathered stories from five individuals who lived in Glenville during the 50’s and 60’s to help bring awareness to the vast history of Glenville. This exhibit is a curation of their stories.
The History of Glenville
PAST
“When I moved to Glenville you didn’t see any vacant houses. You didn’t see any houses barred up. Years and years ago there weren’t any blacks out here. People started migrating from the South and needed places to live. Glenville had big houses and duplexes.”
PRESENT
“Anybody that was not of color left. They sold their houses and they moved. Any people of color that had financial means could leave. If they could afford to leave, they left.”
EDUCATION
“Parents in Collinwood did not want Black children going there. My daughter was in it. Since her dad worked nights he’d go up and fill up his car with girls and take them home because they couldn’t hardly go to school. They were throwing bricks and stone.”
UNREST
“On the television, local and national, Hunter and Brinkley and Walter Cronkite were America’s voice. They were telling you what was happening everywhere. On TV what I saw were Montgomery, Selma and Oxford, Mississippi. Fire hoses, dogs, and beatdowns. At that time the news media showed it.”
Storytellers
The history and legacy of 1950s live within the residents of Glenville. Five storytellers shared why they moved to Glenville and why they stayed. Each person influenced and impacted by the changing policies, increased opportunities, and changing education landscape.
