Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Old photos a boon to historians
thing for black people,” said Thomas’ cousin Frank Thomas, who as a boy often spent time with Richardson and neighborhood friends. “There were really no jobs for black people at that time, only menial jobs. All those guys got a chance to show people they can work and can do anything anybody else can do.”
CCC camps initially were integrated, according to the university, but became segregated by 1935 amid community protests. Out of Michigan’s roughly 150 camps, some 16 were designated for black men. Black membership was capped at 10 percent of the overall corps, which numbered around 3 million over the course of the program.
The Michigan History Center says the state’s black camps helped build a ski area and contributed to efforts to plant millions of trees, fight forest fires, construct bridges and buildings, and establish public campgrounds.
“The CCC camps did tremendous things to better the community for both black and white people,” Frank Thomas said.
Joan Sharpe, president of the Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy, said the segregation in the camps reflected U.S. society at the time. Still, she added, that doesn’t erase the opportunities it provided for people of all races.
“The guys I’ve talked to that were in the CCC camps that were black were very grateful to have access to education, access to vocational training, learn how to lay stone, build roads — things they would not have had before,” said Sharpe, whose group serves and supports CCC alumni.
After leaving the CCC, Richardson continued his hard-working ways, according to Thomas and his cousin. He tended to his 40-acre farm in Manistee County and did odd jobs such as cutting logs and hauling pulpwood to a paper mill. He died in 1959 at age 65.
Frank Thomas, 79, believes “Big Jim” served “as a big ambassador for black people,” and can still be for people who see his picture and hear his story.