https://archives.rainbowhistory.org/files/original/e72f675e97b84e742978d0d13ffc001e.pdf fad5c5d91f337d8ac6e51caaff629855 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource David Aiken Papers (Series II) Description An account of the resource The collection includes many drafts of articles he had written on the issues confronting the LGBT community of the time. They are rough drafts, with typographical errors, handwritten notes and corrections, and numerous rewrites. They are also an important source for the events and issues of the period. His files also contain primary documents, leaflets, and notes of interviews connected with the articles he wrote. Aiken, a local gay activist, member at one time of the Gay Liberation Front and a resident of GLF House (1620 St St. NW), Washington correspondent for The Advocate, was also a member of the Stonewall Nation Media Collective which broadcast the Friends radio show on WGBT and WPFW radio for nine years. His broadcasts on Friends seem to have complemented many of the stories on which he worked. In the mid-Seventies, he chaired the Washington Area Gay Community Council. He also served as a founder of Black and White Men Together's DC chapter and edited its newsletter. The Aiken Articles David Aiken's drafts of articles he submitted to the Advocate and other publications in the 1970s document many of the local and national issues confronting the LGBTQ community of the period. As such, they are an important resource of people, events, and issues for students and researchers. The collection contains Aiken's handwritten interview notes as well. The draft articles are listed below by topic. <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR7ZGpQXij9EKhAxYVXnkL-5pIo-T66TtXIxK1Zm_fNsBg4nhoimqkQupb3X0CFM1-Frn-mwtBLMuO4/pub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VIEW ONLINE FINDING AID</a> Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Aiken, David L. (David Lewis), 1945-1986 Access Rights Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies. Some items are online. Open to all people, by appointment, at the <a href="http://www.dchistory.org/research/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DC History Center.</a> Collection is available for “fair use.” Material may be protected by copyright. <a href="http://dchistory.org/uploads/fa/ms0764.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VIEW ONLINE FINDING AID</a> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource David Lewis Aiken, 1945-1986 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1971-1986 Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Text Any textual data included in the document. . rtj&b \«A)e Ln&r ^ I, Jeff Blake, being duly sworn, depose and say: 1. The following is a full and complete statement to the best of my knowledge, based upon my experiences and observations during my employment with the Grand Central Bar and Restaurant as bartender. 2. During the months of November and December, 1974 and January, 197 5, I was employed by the Grand Central Bar and restaurant as a bartender. I was hired by Raul Frias who was at that time one of several employees in managerial positions. My immediate superior who supervised my bartending duties was Joe Fiume. 3. Others in managerial positions during my employment were George Dotson, who oversaw the detail work of many of the employees, and Glen Thompson, George Dotson's superior, who had responsibility for the general operations of the entire restaurant and bar. Although generally Mr. Thompson did not supervise details, frequently I observed him overseeing the functions of the doormen. Most of the employees, including myself, had heard that Mr. Thompson was owner of the establishment; in fact, he was often referred to as "Mr. Grand Central". 4. As bartender I was never directed to check identification of any patrons requesting alcoholic beverages. Rather, I was directed to serve all patrons requesting such beverages regardless of how old they appeared. I assumed from these directions that all patrons permitted to enter the Grand Central were 21 or older or allowed in by the management. 5. On several occassions I heard the following remarks made by some of the waiters: "There sure were a lot of niggers here tonight!"; "The crowd is getting too black here!" 6. Members of the management frequently agreed with the perceptions of the waiters. Specifically, I recall George Dotson using the term "nigger" when describing some of the black patrons at the Grand Central. 7. One evening of the second week of November 1974, I heard Glen Thompson use the term "Black Drag Queens" in a contemptuous way. I was later informed by other employees that the police had been called in earlier when 5 black patrons had become unruly because they had been denied admission. While tending bar later in the evening, a black patron approached the bar and requested a glass of page two water. Although bartenders should charge for water, it was the common practice of all the bartenders not to do so. The management was aware of this practice and rarely - showed any concern. I therefore gave the black patron the glass of water that he had requested free of charge. 8. Glen Thompson, who had observed this transaction, came over to me at the bar and said, "When a customer like that comes to the bar and asks for water, charge him $1.00." I responded, "A customer like what?" He answered pointing to some black patrons, "Any of those niggers!" I told him that it wasn't my job to discriminate and that I would not be an agent of his discrimination. 9. Later that night, around closing time, a meeting was called by Glen Thompson; all employees, without exception, were required to attend. Approximately 40 people gathered for the meeting, 20 of whom I recognized as employees I was surprised at the large number of unfamiliar faces present. Glen Thompson informed the gathered group that the bar was having trouble with the "niggers" and that it would be necessary to toughen up the policy at the door. He claimed that the "niggers" made the bar unsafe. He told everyone to come the following night "prepared to fight if necessary." We were all encouraged to bring frineds who could assist Mr. Thompson by acting as informal bouncers. Each friend' of an employee who would come to help, Glen Thompson continued, would receive free drinks from the bar. 10. I had never witnessed any violent or disorderly blacks during the course of my employment. I saw no reason to exclude blacks from the bar, particularly on the grounds that they made the bar unsafe. The black patrons who frequented the Grand Central were certainly no more unruly than'the white patrons. 11. The following night there was great tension among the employees. George Dotson called an informal meeting of of all the bartenders. He informed us that if a person came to the bar and said that they were here to help out Glen, we were to give them free drinks. 12. During the evening Glen Thompson spent most of his time supervising the doormen. There were certainly fewer blacks in the bar that night and I noticed that from that night on until around the third week in January 1975, when I quit, fewer and fewer blacks were ever seen inside the bar. I, Jeff Blake, being duly sworn, depose and say: that I have read the foregoing statement (numbered 1 through 12) and know the contents thereof; that the same is true of my page three own knowledge, except as to matters therein stated on -information and belief; and that as to these matters I believe the same to be true. Subscribed and sworn to before me this—>^i» day of June, l£76. Notary Pu>M.ic My Commissi™ Expirei March 31, I960 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Deposition of Jeff Blake in regards to discrimination against African Americans at the Grand Central disco Subject The topic of the resource Discrimination against African Americans--Washington (D.C.)--20th century Gay bars--Washington (D.C.)--20th century Depositions--Washington (D.C.)--20th century Description An account of the resource Deposition of Jeff Blake, former bartender of the Grand Central disco, regarding the racist instructions given him by the owners of the Grand Central on how to treat African American customers. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Blake%2C+Jeff">Blake, Jeff</a> Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=40&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1976-06-15">1976-06-15</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=47&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Reproduction+and+use+of+this+material+requires+permission+from+the+copyright+holder.+Please+contact+the+Rainbow+History+Project+for+more+information.">Reproduction and use of this material requires permission from the copyright holder. Please contact the Rainbow History Project for more information.</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Washington (D.C.) 1970s African Americans Bars and clubs Discrimination Gay bars and clubs Grand Central Racism