New York Amsterdam News — 1963-00-00626

8 • N. Y. AMST LM NEWS, . jNBWYORK Amsterdam Netos 3 C. B. POWELL president Sc Editor P. M. H. Savory, Secy-Treas. - J. L. Hicks, Executh* Editor W. B. BmU Ctwwbri K. A. Wall. UwUrtif Dlracur; ». M Jackaoa. ri I. U. Waltar. Cay BdMori J. W. Wata. ClaartAad U«r s ri D. Published weekly by the Powell-Savory Corporation at 2340 .. Eighth Ave., N. Y. Telephone ACademy 2-7800. Brooklyn office, 1251 Bedford Avenue. Telephone ULster 7-2500. rates: l yr*r *7 M - ( MW Report On Unions The New York State Advisory Committee of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission released a broad re­ port last week indicting New York City construction . unions of discriminatory practices and the denial of work and apprenticeship opportunities to local Neg- " roes and Puerto Ricans. ___ _ Our first reaction is to say: “So what else is new?” On second thought, however, we hail the damning • report, even though it is still merely the substantia­ tion of what Negroes have been saying day by day. . This 12-page report, a result of a seven-month study is still only an official statement of what the demon­ strators at the Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, the Rutgers housing project in lower Manhattan and the Harlem Hospital site in Harlem have been saying. The report names' the unions, it cites the con­ tractors and it urges/vide official action on this bias in the building trades which hire out-of-town workers . from as far away as 100 miles while denying em- . ployment to Negroes right here in the city. The Committee has recommended that a federal bureau be empowered to step into the apprentice­ ship programs of the unions and to investigate any charges of discrimination. But even before this re- _ port was made public, the unions had been screaming and howling their protests against anyone but them- _ selves regulating their affairs. But, these are the same unions that have scream- . ed and howled their protests against charges that they discriminate. The same unions which through various and devious methods prevent Negroes and Puerto Ricans from becoming members. The same unions which now shout that they will not subject themselves to any sort of “blackmail” which will force them to open their doors to all workers, especially Negroes and Puerto Ricans. We say this: If these discriminating unions con­ tinue to refuse to permit, at best, only token repre­ sentation of Negroes in their ranks and continue to practice color discrimination on job assignments then there is a definite need for governmental inter­ vention. And the need is immediate, as the continued ■ demonstrations on various construction jobs through- ’ out the city will attest. t. School Boycott The parents of children in 17 Harlem schools have threatened to boycott the public schools come September unless the Board of Education comes up with a definite and practical plan to eliminate de facto segregation. We hope the Board will come up with something of a practical nature which would not force the parents to carry out their threat. Superintendent of Schools Gross has agreed to meet with the parents next Wednesday and hear their . grievances. We hope Dr. Gross can satisfy the par­ ents that the Board has a workable plan in progress for integrating the schools of New York. As a spokesman for the parents stated before the Board of Education: “It is now 9 years since the Supreme Court School integration decision and all we have had in New York are promises, pilot proj­ ects, the tokenism of Higher Horizon and ‘Open En­ rollment’. Where is the plan for desegregating our schools, where is the time table?” Thia is a fair question, and one which should bring forth a forthright statement, abatement that will convince the parents that the Board Is acting In -good faith with appreciable results forthcoming. ~ Otherwise — the boycott. I A Just Who Goofed? If Miss Anne M. Kelly “really goofed” as Mayor Wagner says she did when she applied for a white " secretary at the State Employment Agency, then the Mayor pulled as big a goof with the simple, slight -tap on the wrist both he and Commissioner of Com­ merce Louis Broido (her immediate superior), have handed Miss Kelly. Since both the State Commission for Human Rights and the City Commission on Human Rights have found Miss KeUy guilty of discrimination, a simple admonishment for her actions and an explana- * tion that she has been imprudent and ill-advised seem scarcely enough to follow through with the in­ tent in establishing the state and city laws against discrimination. Are we to assume, by the action taken in this case, that henceforth any city or state official who — through imprudene or intent — discriminates against any group will simply be admonished in a minor fashion, patted on the head and asked not to do it again and chastized for making a really biggoof? On To D.1 We note with satisfaction that some churches and organizations already are organizing their means of transportation to Washington for the August 28 March. However, we are still aware of many inquiries from people asking how to go. We should think that all the churches, fratern­ ities, sororities, social clubs, unions and other or­ ganizations woul< be organizing their members and arranging their busses or trains now for transporta­ tion to Washington on August 28. The more the merrier. So on with the Job. Caught! Along The Way $10 Billion Handicap The reason for the demand thaFan FEP section be included in the President’s civil rights legislative package became crys­ tal clear last week with the publication of the Census Bureau report on the gap in earnings between white and Negro workers. Not only is there a gap, but it has been growing wider, instead of narrower, in the last twenty years. In the last eleven WILKINS years, the whites have gained seven percentage points in an­ nual income. You know who lost those seven points — we did. In 1951, Negroes earned 62 percent of what whites earned. By 1962, the Negro was earning only 55 percent of what white people were earning. We have been dropping behind, going back­ ward. In Labor Class The reading is nearly all bad. Discrimination, just as we have been contending, is responsible for most of the lag. Whereas 8 out of 10 Negro grade school graduates end up with unskilled By RQY WILKINS jobs, only 5 out of 10 white grade school graduates are in such jobs. Among high school gradu­ ates, twice as many Negroes as whites were in the laborer class. This seems to indicate plain, old race discrimination, since both had the same educational back­ ground. In round figures, the lifetime earnings of a white man who had four years in high school were $253,000, while the life earnings of a Negro high school graduate were $151,000—a whop­ ping difference of $102,000. Life span earnings of white four- year college men were $395,000, but their Negro counterparts earned only $185,000 — a dif­ ference of $210,000. A lot of people who are look­ ing for the causes of school drop­ outs might consider these fig­ ures. The cost of racial discrimina­ tion to the Negro is high, indeed. Even if such discrimination .was responsible for only one-half the difference In earnings, It took $51,00G-e«fcqf the life paycheck of a high school graduate and $105,000 out of the pay of a col­ lege graduate. If you like prob­ lems in arithmetic, figure the loss for only 50,000 college grad­ uates and only 100,000 high school graduates. It comes very close to ten and one-half billion dollars. Never Had To Spend This is the ten billion dollars that Negroes never possessed in order to spend in “improving” themselves as so many white people are now telling them they should have done. Anyway, without getting too bitter about it ( because we al­ ways knew we were being cheat­ ed; we did not need the Census Bureau to tell us), this official disclosure certainly underscores the need of including a fair em­ ployment practice section in the Kennedy package of civil rights bills now being considered in Congress. We need FEP. In fact, we need anything that will help us wipe out employment dis­ crimination. Considering what we have been able to do under a mini­ mum ten billion dollar handicap, we believe our score in free com­ petition would be more than respectable. Write your Congressman and Senators a one-sentence letter: include fair employment prac­ tice in the civil rights package. Pulse Of New York’s Public The Amiterdem Newt welcome! be timed. Nt letteri on either Me of eny be withheld on requett. No tubfect. It It preferred that letteri not exceed 259 wordi end be returned. AO swat be addretied to the Kditor. Effective Results Sir: On behalf of the Urban League of Weeteheeter, the staff and I would like to thank you and the Director of Education Depart­ ment for the favorable publicity you gave our program. I thought you would like to know that we have received more applications from the release ir your paper than we have In all the other papers combined In­ cluding the New York Times. We have already placed two of the teachers who read and res­ ponded to the article. William K. Wolfe Executive Director Photo Error Sir: In the Amsterdam News of Saturday. August 3, 1963 on page 43 you have the picture of Mr. William C. Jones of the NAACP presenting a life membership plaque to a group whose'name Is not stated correctly. The correct name of the group is Saint Philip Nurses Alumnae Association of New York, Inc. We would appreciate It very much If you would correct this error. Florence N. Carter; Program chairman Editor's Note: Our apologies to the ladies. Mayor's Inaction Sir: Negroes are demonstrat­ ing currently throughout New York City against discrimina­ tion in all areas—particularly that of employment. With all of this activity no group, however, has protested Mayor Wagner’s In­ action regarding the charges made against Ann Kelly, New York City's Deputv Com­ missioner of Commerce. I am referring, of course, to charges made by an employee of the New York State Employ­ ment Service that Miss Kelly when calling for an office worker stipulated “white only.” Miaa Kelly herself has publicly stated that the had “requested” a white employee. After holding hearings the State Commission on Human Righta recommended that dis­ ciplinary action be taken against Miaa Kelly by the Mayor. That was nearly a month ago. To date he has done absolutely nothing While Mr. Wagner continues to speak against discrimination, when It la committed by the politically faithful it seems to be perfectly acceptable to him. It would seem that our civil rights organizations while dem­ onstrating tor their rights are permitting the city administra­ tion which vows to protect these rights, get away with practising discrimination within a city agency. Antoinette Moultrie, New York Negro Problem Sir: What’s wrong? Hasn't God Almighty made us (Negroes) as other races and has given us five senses to use in our every day life as other races? For the record. I have the highest respect for our local and national lead ers among our race, not all the time I agree with them, but I think they are great Such men as Dr. Martin Luth­ er King, Roy Wilkins, James Far­ mer, Whitney Young, A. Philip Randolph are some of America's 'best Negro leaders, not forgetting Jackie Robinson and scores of others. as much American as any other I cannot 'ape white Christians barring people from public plac­ es of accommodation because of race. Any white person practic­ ing thia kind of behavior is not a Christian, he la not even relig lous. I am not anti - white, be­ cause I cannot be a Christian and hate my brother. Also for the record, we have some wonder­ ful white people who are working for our cause. The above Negro leaders, I am happy to say, I have made con­ tributions to all of their organize tions at one time or another. 1 am interested In the cause of the Negro, because I am one myself. I will still do whatever I can to help the cause. ' For the last hundred years the Negro had to fight for every sin­ gle achievement he has made, especially in housing, education and jobs. Let us take a look at the other side of the coin, the Negro has not and still Is not assuming his responsibility. We are obliged to ourselves and to posterity, what will posterity think of us In the year 2WW’ Much of our demonstrations here in the north are absolutely useless, for an example here in New York City we want a 50-50 in our schools of Negro and white children. What we should be ask­ ing for is more money and bet­ ter teachers for our schools. It seems to me that we are more interested in our children sitting in class rooms with white child­ ren that we are Interested in their getting 8 good education. The Negro has fought In every war in the history of this coun­ try, and our forefathers have worked to help build this great country, and even today we are overworked and underpaid There is no doubt, therefore, that we should clamor for political, social and economic justice of ithla country. The Negro Is Just Where are the middle and up­ per class Negro? What ro|e is he playing in the less fortunate Ne­ gro? Is he trying to hide himself In white society, and forget about the less fortunate Negro? Where are our business corp­ orations? We as members of the Negro race should stop kidding ourselves, and do less demonstra­ tion! and take on more respons ibilily. The Negro as a whole has become too individualistic, he is moitly Interested in himself and himself alone. The only thing we have to offer is a few banks, insurance com­ panies and other small business es such as: grocery stores, res­ taurants, bakery shops, beauty salons, barber shops and candy stores. Thousands of Negro boys and girls are coming out of schools and colleges each year. Do they have any one among the Negro race to look to for Jobs? The white man Is not as bad as some of us think he is. It is not so nfueh what the white man is doing, but it is what the Negro is not doing. I have been beaten, kicked and spat upon by the white man. but I hold no grudge nor hatred against the white man. I realize the moral fabric of our nation is very low. Howev­ er, it is worse with the Negro. Sometimes I wonder about many of our Negro ministers. Are we Interested In reaching the un church people and get them sav­ ed, or are we only interested lu making a show out of Christian! ty’ Out of all our weekly -meetings, isn't it possible to come up with an answer to some of the needs of our people? Arthur Bradford, Pres The Arthur Bradford K van Rfeli Stic arroc 1674 Park Ave., N.Y. Unfair Union Sir: Speaking of bias, I am hoping that the day will come soon when the unfair practices of AFL-CIO local 32J la brought out In the open. I am a paid-up member. About four months ago I left a serious grievance with this local. Until 1 this day they have not helped me with my problem. Letter Of The Week ' Talks Big, Does Little Sir: (Reference:) mass rally at St. Albans, • Bailiwick, of so called VIP’s or well-to-do-folk. • • • ■ ’ © • Twenyt-five hundred persons have a difficult time raising $500.00. They want jobs and equality, but hope someone else will pay the bill. One can easily understand the Negro’s lack of organizational ability when the total Negro popula­ tion is approximately 20 million, compared to a puny 400,000 NAACP membership. Negroes should be ashamed of this fact. If Negroes could support an organization properly in proportion to what they expect to get for “nothing”, the NAACP would be , the richest organization in the world. But the Negro . has a big mouth and little else. Why do I say this? I sat in an NAACP rally in honor of Dr. T. M. R. Howard out in San Francisco • in 1958. A Jewish person had just given a check for1 $2,500.00 to the fund when, five minutes later, on the rostrum, one of the Negro committee members went to great pains to be funny, and related a story, "purported to be about three men; an Irishman, Italian and a Jew. And, of course, the Jew was made to bear the brunt of the joke. That same VIP NegTo probably knocked himself out giving $5.00. One could find the same Negro that same evening “talking big” in someone’s living room and think nothing of spending $10 or $20 for a couple of fifths of liquor, making some white man rich because - of his weakness. A Negro would not financially give all-out support to CORE. But he or she would spend $50 for a seat in the Waldorf, just to be seen in the . J “right crowd.” Speaking of the St. Albans rally, where were all the socially important VIP’s? One could count them on one hand. As E. Franklin Frazier said, “They live in a dream world.” If things happen in this country, I suppose they feel safe in their fashionable estates in St. Aibans and elsewhere. Ask any Jewish Refugee, about this. This same complacency was typical of the wealthy Jews in Germany when Hitler was getting started, as if to say “Not me; he wouldn’t dare annihilate me.” Some persons whom I could name, who aje always in attendance at all affairs in the community, were conspicuously absent from this one. Usually they fight for room on the rostrum at “social events”. Like the wonderful speaker, Reverend Gardner Taylor, said, “We should stand together or we will fall apart.” Negroes should look at past history and learn how to organize. Hitler was wrong, but he knew how to organize; Stalin was wrong, but he knew how to organize; you may not agree with Fidel Castro, but. he organized and carried out a revolution. Does the Negro know how the French under-, ground was formed? Until the American Negro learns how to support his organizations that fight for him; until he learns how to join hands with all of his own kind and form a strong nationwide secret underground organization with a program of new ideas, such as abstaining from swilling the white man’s booze, (or do you know of any Negro distillers or brewers?). When all Negro youth go on a physical culture training program to fit themselves for what “could come,” until we have persons of our group who can train young Negro men in all the necessary details of underground activities, so they may know how to protect themselves if the need should arise. And, if some certain people in this country ever get- into a position of power, there will be a need.-------- In my opinion the Negro will never achieve full equality until he learns and does these things. John Dickerson Jamaica, N. Y. Who’s Kidding Whom? (An Editorial) a- < • It is now near the first of August and there t no evidence of the voter registration drive tha Stanley Steingut, Kings County Democratic Leader made a big noise about some months ago. This week they announced the appointment of th< district bosses who will handle_lhe drive. But fron what we hear both money and manpower as well ai a solid plan are inadequate to do the job. Assemblyman Bertram Baker was given the jol to head the drive and it is alleged that some $5,00 was poured into the effort by the Democrats. Wha are they waiting for? A drive like this takes time to get under way Rev. Gardner Taylor at least is showing some move ment with his own “non-partisan” drive. But tb< Democrats are dragging their feet waiting for Nov ember, perhaps, and nothing will be done. , The danger of this dilatory tactic, is that if th< voters are not registered this year they will not b able to vote in the primary elections next June This is important in view of what lies before us ii 1964. Perhaps the powers that be are doing thi deliberately and really do not want the Bedford Stuyvesant block to register. In that case come oi out and stop trying to kid us. Litterbugs Appreciation Sir: I read in your paper about New York declaring war on llt- terhugs. It would be good if some one would declare war on the city's service. In Manhattan, the garbage is left on the streets for two or three days and the side walks are falling apart, .. The Flying Squad of 40 men patrol should see and bring those who are in 'charge to see that such service is rendered and to give account for not doing their Job. »r: On behalf at th Service Department and than 107,000 who were ii ance at the Everlastln News Assembly in Yan dium I would like to si you tor the coverage gii We know newspaper < is a great aid In helping pie evaluate such Impoi ents. We appreciate very ns efforts in our behalf U. ’ Name withheld Header of your paper. News Service Untitled Document file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrator/Desktop/hello.html2/18/2007 11:01:03 AMThomas M. Tryniski 309 South 4th Street Fulton New York 13069 www.fultonhistory.com