We are All Brothers Under the Skin: Odie Mae and Bernard Streets and the Long Civil Rights Movement in South Bend, Indiana

Title: "We are All Brothers Under the Skin" Odie Mae and Bernard Streets and the Long Civil Rights Movement in South Bend, Indiana
Author: Monica Maria Tetzlaff
Published in: Indiana Magazine of History, Vol. 121, September 2025
DOI: 10.2979/imh.00082
Abstract: The work outlines the history of Odie Mae and Bernard Streets, significant figures in the civil rights movement in South Bend, Indiana. This narrative highlights their roles and experiences, focusing on civil rights activities from the 1930s to the 1970s.

Monica Maria Tetzlaff - Associate Professor of History, Indiana University South Bend
Acknowledgments: - Thanks to Children of Odie Mae and Bernard Streets for family papers.
-** Thanks to Sandra and Bernard Streets Jr., Alison Stankrauff, and George Garner for curating family records.

Civil rights, Odie Mae Streets, Bernard Streets, African American history, South Bend, NAACP, intergenerational activism, police brutality, Head Start Program, Black middle class, community activism, race relations.

Odie Mae Streets (1913–2006): Homemaker, and later, Head Start preschool teacher.
Bernard Streets Sr. (1906–2000): A dentist engaged in civil and human rights activism in South Bend, Indiana, from the late 1920s to 1971.
Their narrative provides a multifaceted view of civil rights efforts through the lens of a middle-class Black family, addressing issues such as segregation, police violence, and the fight for equality.
Odie Mae noted, “Why do I, an ordinary person, think that I have so much to say?” suggesting a personal exploration of the Black experience in America.

Odie Mae Johnson Streets
  - Early life: Born in Chicago, later moved to Kentucky to live with grandparents (Nancy and Ferd Wingo), and eventually settled in South Bend in 1923.
  - Her upbringing included advantages like piano lessons and education at a teacher’s college.
  - Marriage to John Wells Johnson in 1908; experienced loss when he died during the 1918 flu pandemic.
Bernard Streets Sr.
  - Born in West Virginia to a family with a mixed racial heritage and experienced racism firsthand.
  - His family moved to Logansport, Indiana, in search of better educational opportunities around 1909.
  - Demonstrated determination to overcome racial barriers, ultimately achieving admission to the dental school at Indiana University.

Both Odie Mae and Bernard engaged in civil rights and community uplift through organizations like the NAACP, and local activism related to racial equality.
Challenges Faced:
- Segregated schooling, exclusion from local swimming pools (Engman Public Natatorium), and discriminatory housing practices.
- Advocated for Black rights while also participating in wider movements alongside White allies, illustrating intersectionality in advocacy.

The couple adopted liberal-integrationist strategies focusing on legal action and political engagement.
Helped to found groups and organizations aimed at fostering higher education and racial justice, using their professional positions to influence public policy.

Bernard served on the South Bend Common Council and actively engaged in efforts to address segregation in public places.
Odie Mae involved in women’s clubs that operated from a base of uplift – empowering Black communities without an agenda of reforming them.
Significant historical events, including opposition to police brutality and organizing memorial events after notable incidents of racial violence, showcase the Streets' commitment to social justice.

Family life was intertwined with cultural and recreational activities, showcasing resilience against racial discrimination through practices that celebrated their identity.
Odie Mae was an avid participant in sports, music, and community events, contributing to her family's engagement in broader cultural movements.
The Streets family enjoyed leisure and advocated for the right to recreation, reflecting on their experiences with community events and social gatherings.

Throughout the 1960s, Odie Mae focused on women's rights intersecting with various community initiatives, including the establishment of Head Start aimed at low-income children.
Bernard maintained a role in advocating for continued civil rights, especially in mentoring younger generations and addressing educational inequities.
The Streets family ultimately demonstrated the importance of building intergenerational connections in social justice work, emphasizing the continuity of civil rights efforts across decades.

The narrative of Odie Mae and Bernard Streets encapsulates vital themes from the long civil rights movement which include the right to recreation, home ownership, freedom from police brutality, intersectionality of rights advocacy, and the role of community in social justice movements.
Central to their legacy is the message of unity across races and communities: “We are all brothers and sisters under the skin.”

Odie Mae noted, “Why do I, an ordinary person, think that I have so much to say?” This reflects her personal exploration of the Black experience in America. (Tetzlaff Pg 150)
The narrative encapsulates vital themes from the long civil rights movement: “We are all brothers and sisters under the skin.” This central message emphasizes the unity across races and communities. (Tetzlaff Pg 190)