Indiana University South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center Oral History Project

[David Healey]: And this is the history of the Natatorium. The Natatorium is a triumph for the Black community. Yes, it was segregated. But it was turned over because of men and women working together to make a change in the community—make a positive change. 

It was a major foundation of forming black political power in this city. Three of the people involved became state representatives: J. Chester Allen, Jesse Dickinson, Zilford Carter. 

We were going down West Washington Street in one of those open trolleys, and I said to Gladys, I said, “You know? Of all the places that South Bend has saved for buildings, they haven’t saved one [that] has anything to do with local Black citizen history!” And it’s like the lights went off.

[Gladys Muhammad]: He said, this is the last building standing that tells the story of segregation in South Bend and also the change that occurred in South Bend. He said, “You should do something about it.” I said, “What should I do about it?” And he said, “I don’t know, but you should do something about it. You know everybody.” 

And I actually, I said, “Okay.” And so, I went back to South Bend Heritage Foundation because we work on the west side of South Bend, Indiana. I said, we could turn it into something—a civil rights heritage center, or something.  

I think it’s—I feel blessed and honored too. I think that it’s a part of our history that we should always remember, and it tells the story of how things changed, and how African American people were involved in that change.