In 1922, the word “public” adorned South Bend’s first municipal swimming pool. Despite this, the people in charge denied entry to African Americans. The Natatorium became a focus of local resistance to injustice with activists pushing for 30 years to enact change.
In this virtual presentation, Civil Rights Heritage Center Assistant Director and Curator George Garner uses the Natatorium to explore South Bend’s racial history, Black resistance, and the broader experiences of African Americans in the city.
In 2010, the Natatorium was rebirthed as a home for the Indiana University South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center.
This program was made possible with the support of Indiana Humanities.