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NAACP newsletters, Fort Madison Branch, Fort Madison, Iowa, 1963

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NAACP NEWSLETTER	FORT MADISON, IOWA	JUNE 27, 1963

NOW is the time! …Are you among the number who are standing up to be counted? Enter your membership NOW! We need YOU!

“Whatever else the Negro is, he is American. Whatever he is to become…integrated, unintegrated, or disintegrated…he will become it in America.” -Loman

	So, it is with us in this community. Fort Madison is a part of America…, and we, in turn, are Americans…entitled to the opportunities, benefits and privileges which are taken for granted by other citizens. We must cast our lot with those Negro American whose zeal and dedication in the fight for first class citizenship, should embarrass any of us who have lagged behind in this quest for equality of opportunity. Patience has won thin,…indeed if there is such a thing left. Today…we are not asking, we are demanding those things to which we, as human beings and citizens of the United States are entitled. As you read of Harlem, St. Louis, Jackson, Detroit, Cambridge, Danville and the many other cities where members of our race are involved in open and dangerous conflict, remember that their victories are yours, just as your refusal to fight the forms of discrimination in our area are a ‘weak link’ in their chain! Pain and progress are inseparable. Until discrimination ends… here and everywhere…we are inextricably involved in the fight for equal rights, whether we like it or not. It is one thing to be a passive part of a movement…, and quite another to have the courage of your convictions and stand up like a man to be counted! Whatever your choice…your stake is as great as ours…for you, too, are a Negro…an American…or both!

Have you heard???

Freesmeier’s Dairy has hired one of our number…,Thomas Humburd. We are dropping our boycott of their products and asking everyone to support them, now, by buying. This is progress!

Woolworths refused to even accept the application of one of our girls…as did Allens and Wilkns. Is this progress?

Ahlstrand Electric is giving one of our young boys the ‘run around’, after asking that we send someone to them. Is this progress?

Applications were filled at Penneys at the managements request, after the Executive Board of the NAACP met with the Executive Board of the Retail Merchants of the Chamber of Commerce. This is progress!

Joe Malkins of Radio Station KOKX of Keokuk, asked what he might do to aid in our project of having Civil Rights Commission formed in Fort Madison. Some of us feel that insufficient effort is being put forth by our Mayor. His promise was made a month ago! Is this progress?

The Mayor in Waterloo, Iowa has appointed a six man commission. He did this on a voluntary basis after attending the meeting of Mayors in Honolulu. This is progress!

In St. Louis, the Negro community planned a march against the Utilities and

University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa Women's Archives

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NAACP NEWSLETTER FORT MADISON, IOWA JUNE 27, 1963 NOW is the time! …Are you among the number who are standing up to be counted? Enter your membership NOW! We need YOU! “Whatever else the Negro is, he is American. Whatever he is to become…integrated, unintegrated, or disintegrated…he will become it in America.” -Loman So, it is with us in this community. Fort Madison is a part of America…, and we, in turn, are Americans…entitled to the opportunities, benefits and privileges which are taken for granted by other citizens. We must cast our lot with those Negro American whose zeal and dedication in the fight for first class citizenship, should embarrass any of us who have lagged behind in this quest for equality of opportunity. Patience has won thin,…indeed if there is such a thing left. Today…we are not asking, we are demanding those things to which we, as human beings and citizens of the United States are entitled. As you read of Harlem, St. Louis, Jackson, Detroit, Cambridge, Danville and the many other cities where members of our race are involved in open and dangerous conflict, remember that their victories are yours, just as your refusal to fight the forms of discrimination in our area are a ‘weak link’ in their chain! Pain and progress are inseparable. Until discrimination ends… here and everywhere…we are inextricably involved in the fight for equal rights, whether we like it or not. It is one thing to be a passive part of a movement…, and quite another to have the courage of your convictions and stand up like a man to be counted! Whatever your choice…your stake is as great as ours…for you, too, are a Negro…an American…or both! Have you heard??? Freesmeier’s Dairy has hired one of our number…,Thomas Humburd. We are dropping our boycott of their products and asking everyone to support them, now, by buying. This is progress! Woolworths refused to even accept the application of one of our girls…as did Allens and Wilkns. Is this progress? Ahlstrand Electric is giving one of our young boys the ‘run around’, after asking that we send someone to them. Is this progress? Applications were filled at Penneys at the managements request, after the Executive Board of the NAACP met with the Executive Board of the Retail Merchants of the Chamber of Commerce. This is progress! Joe Malkins of Radio Station KOKX of Keokuk, asked what he might do to aid in our project of having Civil Rights Commission formed in Fort Madison. Some of us feel that insufficient effort is being put forth by our Mayor. His promise was made a month ago! Is this progress? The Mayor in Waterloo, Iowa has appointed a six man commission. He did this on a voluntary basis after attending the meeting of Mayors in Honolulu. This is progress! In St. Louis, the Negro community planned a march against the Utilities and University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa Women's Archives