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NAACP newsletters, Fort Madison Branch, Fort Madison, Iowa, 1965
Page 003
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- 3 - ( from Birmingham, cont'd....) and dance. Two members of the Klu Klux Klan chose to sit in on one of the meetings and were detected and subsequently ejected, very quietly. Their appearance came as no real surprise...that they were not visible more often, was assuring! Despite the fact that large numbers of the delegates were from out of the state, many admitted to one another that their determination to be among those present could not wipe out those inner fears. The 16th Street Baptist Church, newly decorated, stood as a grim reminder to all present of the violence that was a 'stepping stone' to such a meeting as the NAACP 'Little Convention'. Apprehension on the part of the delegates was not alleviated by the fact that in downtown Birmingham, guns of the type used in the assassination of John Kennedy, were put on sale for $12.00. They were boldly advertised as JFK guns. All in all, the meeting was good for those who went...and the NAACP members in the state of Alabama let you know, in no uncertain terms, that our presence there, was deeply appreciated. Talking to them, of their experiences, one couldn't help but feel how little their contributions have been by comparison to these people whose lives and families have lived in threat of constant danger and violence. The consensus of opinion of delegates...! When the goals of the civil rights groups are realized, the south will indeed be the part of the country which will be a living example of democracy in action. At the same time, however, everyone knows that there is much work which is yet to be done! "We have various ways of dealing with the difficult issues of life. Sometimes we avoid them, like a man coming home from New York on a plane."..."he said, 'I don't trouble about public issues. I just try to live my own life and let others live theirs. When it comes to problems like integration, labor unions, or international affairs I am contentto leave them in the hands of those who are paid to deal with them.' Unhappily, those of us who cherish a free society cannot enjoy the luxury of saying public issues are 'not my affair.' We are deeply and inescapably involved in society and problems are our concern whether we wish it so or not. A free society places responsibility on individual citizens." -Harold Blake Walker The revolution in which we have been engaged, has given to all of America, an opportunity which it has never had before and shall never have again. As time goes on, it becomes more and more evident that the apathy and complacency of the masses needs an all out educational attack if these people are ever to realize that they are not assured of their security until all other Americans are also secure. It is no longer enough to protest by means of demonstrations, though these should not be ignored if needed, but an all out effort must be made to break down the communication barrier which exists between the races and within the races. There are so many areas in which this must be done...and the task cannot be left to a few...no more than the work of a civil rights organization can be left to one or two. Its easy to take the position that none of these things are of immediate concern, to you, as an individual..., but it is not true, for as long as the man in the ghetto doesn't know where he will get his next meal from, or a man in Mississippi or Alabama must fear for his life....each of us should be aware of the fact that the only protection we can give that which we have, ...is to work so that these same things might be available to all men on their merit. Then, in turn, lend a helping hand...to those who were and are less fortunate so that they might be qualified when the opportunity for a decent life presents itself. Its easy to criticize...but harder to give of yourself and your time! America belongs to all of us...how the dream of it turns out,...is in our hands! University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa Women's Archives
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- 3 - ( from Birmingham, cont'd....) and dance. Two members of the Klu Klux Klan chose to sit in on one of the meetings and were detected and subsequently ejected, very quietly. Their appearance came as no real surprise...that they were not visible more often, was assuring! Despite the fact that large numbers of the delegates were from out of the state, many admitted to one another that their determination to be among those present could not wipe out those inner fears. The 16th Street Baptist Church, newly decorated, stood as a grim reminder to all present of the violence that was a 'stepping stone' to such a meeting as the NAACP 'Little Convention'. Apprehension on the part of the delegates was not alleviated by the fact that in downtown Birmingham, guns of the type used in the assassination of John Kennedy, were put on sale for $12.00. They were boldly advertised as JFK guns. All in all, the meeting was good for those who went...and the NAACP members in the state of Alabama let you know, in no uncertain terms, that our presence there, was deeply appreciated. Talking to them, of their experiences, one couldn't help but feel how little their contributions have been by comparison to these people whose lives and families have lived in threat of constant danger and violence. The consensus of opinion of delegates...! When the goals of the civil rights groups are realized, the south will indeed be the part of the country which will be a living example of democracy in action. At the same time, however, everyone knows that there is much work which is yet to be done! "We have various ways of dealing with the difficult issues of life. Sometimes we avoid them, like a man coming home from New York on a plane."..."he said, 'I don't trouble about public issues. I just try to live my own life and let others live theirs. When it comes to problems like integration, labor unions, or international affairs I am contentto leave them in the hands of those who are paid to deal with them.' Unhappily, those of us who cherish a free society cannot enjoy the luxury of saying public issues are 'not my affair.' We are deeply and inescapably involved in society and problems are our concern whether we wish it so or not. A free society places responsibility on individual citizens." -Harold Blake Walker The revolution in which we have been engaged, has given to all of America, an opportunity which it has never had before and shall never have again. As time goes on, it becomes more and more evident that the apathy and complacency of the masses needs an all out educational attack if these people are ever to realize that they are not assured of their security until all other Americans are also secure. It is no longer enough to protest by means of demonstrations, though these should not be ignored if needed, but an all out effort must be made to break down the communication barrier which exists between the races and within the races. There are so many areas in which this must be done...and the task cannot be left to a few...no more than the work of a civil rights organization can be left to one or two. Its easy to take the position that none of these things are of immediate concern, to you, as an individual..., but it is not true, for as long as the man in the ghetto doesn't know where he will get his next meal from, or a man in Mississippi or Alabama must fear for his life....each of us should be aware of the fact that the only protection we can give that which we have, ...is to work so that these same things might be available to all men on their merit. Then, in turn, lend a helping hand...to those who were and are less fortunate so that they might be qualified when the opportunity for a decent life presents itself. Its easy to criticize...but harder to give of yourself and your time! America belongs to all of us...how the dream of it turns out,...is in our hands! University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa Women's Archives
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