The first black firefighters were hired in August 1955.

His move came three months after another black firefighter sought and received a transfer.

Under the agreement, the association is expected to pay $53,000 in retroactive benefits to black firefighters.

When black firefighters began trying to join or get information about membership, the rules were changed, he said.

He said membership applications were given to two black firefighters in 1991, but were never returned.

But at the time, black firefighters say, there was only one way to correct the imbalance.

But the black firefighters said the hiring would increase racial tensions in the department, which they say lacks diversity.

For some black firefighters, the appointment was remarkable, a sign, they said, of hope.

At that time, the city had no black firefighters even though 20 percent of its population was black.

The city, along with a group of black firefighters, appealed to the Supreme Court.