Biography
Jonas Bender was born in Louisiana. He moved to Tougaloo, Mississippi, where he grew up. In Bender's words, Tougaloo was an "oasis of integration."
Bender's father, Reverend William Albert Bender, fought racism in the South. Rev. Bender spent a lot of his life on the front lines of civil rights issues in the Deep South. He was a leader in campaigns to help register black voters and ensure equal pay for black teachers. Rev. Bender was chaplain at Tougaloo College. Bender says that his father is his hero, and taught him about courage and diplomacy. ''Above all, don't hate.''
Bender completed one year of chemistry in college at Tougaloo College before the war. He was planning to become a doctor.
Bender didn't experience racism firsthand until he was drafted into the military at age 18. At the time of Bender's draft, the Marine Corps was an "elite white man's operation." Blacks were accepted into the Marines in a decidedly unequal and segregated fashion. Bender was one of the first African Americans to be admitted to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps after 1942. He was a member of the Montford Point Marines.
Bender served in the 51st Defense Battalion. The highest rank he achieved was Corporal. Bender served from 1943-1946 as a radar operator.
Bender trained with the Montford Point Marines at segregated Montford Point in North Carolina.
Bender left the Marines in 1946. He focused on working to help change society to be more tolerant and accepting. Bender was able to use the GI bill to complete college and earn his degree. He graduated from Tougaloo College and Boston University. He graduated with a masters in public relations. "I learned a lot, saw a lot, and it helped me become the man I am, and at the same time, I have been able to finish college because of the GI bill and all those benefits are worth the effort."
"When we came back from the war, it was another battle - a battle for citizenship and recognition for what we did." Bender became motivated to spend his life making the United States more tolerant and humane to those of all races. Bender worked Knoxville College in Tennessee after completing his education. He met his wife, Ethel, there. She was also working at Knoxville.
Jonas and Ethel moved to Dayton,Ohio, and had two children, Jerri and Michael. Bender joined the Urban League staff in Dayton. He helped underprivileged people secure jobs and housing. Next, Bender worked at Frigidaire. There, he helped to improve employment practices. He finally worked at General Motors doing the same work. They were unsatisfied with their children's education in Dayton and heard about Yellow Springs. Yellow Springs had "good schools and a welcoming attitude to African American families." Jonas and Ethel moved to Yellow Springs, Ohio, in 1965 and lived there ever since. Bender retired in 1982. There is still one area they would like to see improvement: an emphasis on black history in local schools. "As a community we need to think about what needs to be done to make things better and then do it. It takes time and continuing effort to make change." Jerri teaches music in San Diego, California. Michael is the president of Walmart West and oversees business operations of all Walmart stores in 20 western states.
October 1, 2012 was declared Jonas Bender Day in Yellow Springs. This was for his model citizenship and his work to support education for youth, the arts, and equality for all people.
Jonas Bender was born in Louisiana. He moved to Tougaloo, Mississippi, where he grew up. In Bender's words, Tougaloo was an "oasis of integration."
Bender's father, Reverend William Albert Bender, fought racism in the South. Rev. Bender spent a lot of his life on the front lines of civil rights issues in the Deep South. He was a leader in campaigns to help register black voters and ensure equal pay for black teachers. Rev. Bender was chaplain at Tougaloo College. Bender says that his father is his hero, and taught him about courage and diplomacy. ''Above all, don't hate.''
Bender completed one year of chemistry in college at Tougaloo College before the war. He was planning to become a doctor.
Bender didn't experience racism firsthand until he was drafted into the military at age 18. At the time of Bender's draft, the Marine Corps was an "elite white man's operation." Blacks were accepted into the Marines in a decidedly unequal and segregated fashion. Bender was one of the first African Americans to be admitted to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps after 1942. He was a member of the Montford Point Marines.
Bender served in the 51st Defense Battalion. The highest rank he achieved was Corporal. Bender served from 1943-1946 as a radar operator.
Bender trained with the Montford Point Marines at segregated Montford Point in North Carolina.
Bender left the Marines in 1946. He focused on working to help change society to be more tolerant and accepting. Bender was able to use the GI bill to complete college and earn his degree. He graduated from Tougaloo College and Boston University. He graduated with a masters in public relations. "I learned a lot, saw a lot, and it helped me become the man I am, and at the same time, I have been able to finish college because of the GI bill and all those benefits are worth the effort."
"When we came back from the war, it was another battle - a battle for citizenship and recognition for what we did." Bender became motivated to spend his life making the United States more tolerant and humane to those of all races. Bender worked Knoxville College in Tennessee after completing his education. He met his wife, Ethel, there. She was also working at Knoxville.
Jonas and Ethel moved to Dayton,Ohio, and had two children, Jerri and Michael. Bender joined the Urban League staff in Dayton. He helped underprivileged people secure jobs and housing. Next, Bender worked at Frigidaire. There, he helped to improve employment practices. He finally worked at General Motors doing the same work. They were unsatisfied with their children's education in Dayton and heard about Yellow Springs. Yellow Springs had "good schools and a welcoming attitude to African American families." Jonas and Ethel moved to Yellow Springs, Ohio, in 1965 and lived there ever since. Bender retired in 1982. There is still one area they would like to see improvement: an emphasis on black history in local schools. "As a community we need to think about what needs to be done to make things better and then do it. It takes time and continuing effort to make change." Jerri teaches music in San Diego, California. Michael is the president of Walmart West and oversees business operations of all Walmart stores in 20 western states.
October 1, 2012 was declared Jonas Bender Day in Yellow Springs. This was for his model citizenship and his work to support education for youth, the arts, and equality for all people.
Biography
Jonas Bender was born in Louisiana. He moved to Tougaloo, Mississippi, where he grew up. In Bender's words, Tougaloo was an "oasis of integration."
Bender's father, Reverend William Albert Bender, fought racism in the South. Rev. Bender spent a lot of his life on the front lines of civil rights issues in the Deep South. He was a leader in campaigns to help register black voters and ensure equal pay for black teachers. Rev. Bender was chaplain at Tougaloo College. Bender says that his father is his hero, and taught him about courage and diplomacy. ''Above all, don't hate.''
Bender completed one year of chemistry in college at Tougaloo College before the war. He was planning to become a doctor.
Bender didn't experience racism firsthand until he was drafted into the military at age 18. At the time of Bender's draft, the Marine Corps was an "elite white man's operation." Blacks were accepted into the Marines in a decidedly unequal and segregated fashion. Bender was one of the first African Americans to be admitted to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps after 1942. He was a member of the Montford Point Marines.
Bender served in the 51st Defense Battalion. The highest rank he achieved was Corporal. Bender served from 1943-1946 as a radar operator.
Bender trained with the Montford Point Marines at segregated Montford Point in North Carolina.
Bender left the Marines in 1946. He focused on working to help change society to be more tolerant and accepting. Bender was able to use the GI bill to complete college and earn his degree. He graduated from Tougaloo College and Boston University. He graduated with a masters in public relations. "I learned a lot, saw a lot, and it helped me become the man I am, and at the same time, I have been able to finish college because of the GI bill and all those benefits are worth the effort."
"When we came back from the war, it was another battle - a battle for citizenship and recognition for what we did." Bender became motivated to spend his life making the United States more tolerant and humane to those of all races. Bender worked Knoxville College in Tennessee after completing his education. He met his wife, Ethel, there. She was also working at Knoxville.
Jonas and Ethel moved to Dayton,Ohio, and had two children, Jerri and Michael. Bender joined the Urban League staff in Dayton. He helped underprivileged people secure jobs and housing. Next, Bender worked at Frigidaire. There, he helped to improve employment practices. He finally worked at General Motors doing the same work. They were unsatisfied with their children's education in Dayton and heard about Yellow Springs. Yellow Springs had "good schools and a welcoming attitude to African American families." Jonas and Ethel moved to Yellow Springs, Ohio, in 1965 and lived there ever since. Bender retired in 1982. There is still one area they would like to see improvement: an emphasis on black history in local schools. "As a community we need to think about what needs to be done to make things better and then do it. It takes time and continuing effort to make change." Jerri teaches music in San Diego, California. Michael is the president of Walmart West and oversees business operations of all Walmart stores in 20 western states.
October 1, 2012 was declared Jonas Bender Day in Yellow Springs. This was for his model citizenship and his work to support education for youth, the arts, and equality for all people.
Jonas Bender was born in Louisiana. He moved to Tougaloo, Mississippi, where he grew up. In Bender's words, Tougaloo was an "oasis of integration."
Bender's father, Reverend William Albert Bender, fought racism in the South. Rev. Bender spent a lot of his life on the front lines of civil rights issues in the Deep South. He was a leader in campaigns to help register black voters and ensure equal pay for black teachers. Rev. Bender was chaplain at Tougaloo College. Bender says that his father is his hero, and taught him about courage and diplomacy. ''Above all, don't hate.''
Bender completed one year of chemistry in college at Tougaloo College before the war. He was planning to become a doctor.
Bender didn't experience racism firsthand until he was drafted into the military at age 18. At the time of Bender's draft, the Marine Corps was an "elite white man's operation." Blacks were accepted into the Marines in a decidedly unequal and segregated fashion. Bender was one of the first African Americans to be admitted to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps after 1942. He was a member of the Montford Point Marines.
Bender served in the 51st Defense Battalion. The highest rank he achieved was Corporal. Bender served from 1943-1946 as a radar operator.
Bender trained with the Montford Point Marines at segregated Montford Point in North Carolina.
Bender left the Marines in 1946. He focused on working to help change society to be more tolerant and accepting. Bender was able to use the GI bill to complete college and earn his degree. He graduated from Tougaloo College and Boston University. He graduated with a masters in public relations. "I learned a lot, saw a lot, and it helped me become the man I am, and at the same time, I have been able to finish college because of the GI bill and all those benefits are worth the effort."
"When we came back from the war, it was another battle - a battle for citizenship and recognition for what we did." Bender became motivated to spend his life making the United States more tolerant and humane to those of all races. Bender worked Knoxville College in Tennessee after completing his education. He met his wife, Ethel, there. She was also working at Knoxville.
Jonas and Ethel moved to Dayton,Ohio, and had two children, Jerri and Michael. Bender joined the Urban League staff in Dayton. He helped underprivileged people secure jobs and housing. Next, Bender worked at Frigidaire. There, he helped to improve employment practices. He finally worked at General Motors doing the same work. They were unsatisfied with their children's education in Dayton and heard about Yellow Springs. Yellow Springs had "good schools and a welcoming attitude to African American families." Jonas and Ethel moved to Yellow Springs, Ohio, in 1965 and lived there ever since. Bender retired in 1982. There is still one area they would like to see improvement: an emphasis on black history in local schools. "As a community we need to think about what needs to be done to make things better and then do it. It takes time and continuing effort to make change." Jerri teaches music in San Diego, California. Michael is the president of Walmart West and oversees business operations of all Walmart stores in 20 western states.
October 1, 2012 was declared Jonas Bender Day in Yellow Springs. This was for his model citizenship and his work to support education for youth, the arts, and equality for all people.
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