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Civil rights and race relations materials, 1957-1964

1964-05-01 Correspondence from Dr. Lionel Newsom

Gerogia Council ON HUMAN RELATIONS
41 Exchange Place, S.E. 404/525/6468 Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Dear Friend:

Imagine yourself in a theater. The curtain goes up....the scene is City Hall, South Georgia. White negotiators address a theatrical aside to you, the audience: "We'll show these Nigras who's boss here". The Negro negotiators say to the audience: "The white folks will never understand what we're after".

Meanwhile, each person on the stage is exchanging polite dialogue. Though the actors are talking to each other, it is meaningless talk, not communication. For the players are separated by an iron curtain of distrust and suspicion. 

In a play, the author could arrange for both sides to understand each other. But in real life there is no instant cure for centuries of oppression and injustice. Replacing suspicion with understanding, contempt with respect, fear with trust, is a slow, day-by-day job, full of hard work and heartache.

To create a real dialogue between the races is the job of the Georgia Council on Human Relations, the oldest inter-racial organization in the State. Sometimes we do that job through meetings and workshops, sometimes through the printed word, sometimes by the full use of all the publicity media; sometimes behind the scenes with government officials.

Sometimes ours is the voice of quiet persuasion; sometimes, as in the enclosed pamphlet, Albany, Georgia: Police State? it is shock treatment for the callousness and heedlessness of the white community.

We in the Georgia Council ask your support because of the very special role we play in our state -- as the builder of bridges of understanding.

We ask all Georgians who share our dream - the full freedom of every citizen, black or white, in an atmosphere of mutual dignity and respect to join us.

Won't you give today to help make that dream a reality?

Sincerely yours,
Lionel Newsom
Dr. Lionel Newsom
Chairman

May 1, 1964
Morehouse College

DR. LIONEL NEWSOM, CHAIRMAN

THE REVEREND AUSTIN FORD
FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT

MR. A. J. MCCLUNG
SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT

MRS. HARRY V. RICHARDSON
SECRETARY

MR. JOHNNY GLUSTROM
TREASURER

MRS. FRANCES PAULEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

THE REVEREND OLIVER W. HOLMES
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

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Gerogia Council ON HUMAN RELATIONS 41 Exchange Place, S.E. 404/525/6468 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Dear Friend: Imagine yourself in a theater. The curtain goes up....the scene is City Hall, South Georgia. White negotiators address a theatrical aside to you, the audience: "We'll show these Nigras who's boss here". The Negro negotiators say to the audience: "The white folks will never understand what we're after". Meanwhile, each person on the stage is exchanging polite dialogue. Though the actors are talking to each other, it is meaningless talk, not communication. For the players are separated by an iron curtain of distrust and suspicion. In a play, the author could arrange for both sides to understand each other. But in real life there is no instant cure for centuries of oppression and injustice. Replacing suspicion with understanding, contempt with respect, fear with trust, is a slow, day-by-day job, full of hard work and heartache. To create a real dialogue between the races is the job of the Georgia Council on Human Relations, the oldest inter-racial organization in the State. Sometimes we do that job through meetings and workshops, sometimes through the printed word, sometimes by the full use of all the publicity media; sometimes behind the scenes with government officials. Sometimes ours is the voice of quiet persuasion; sometimes, as in the enclosed pamphlet, Albany, Georgia: Police State? it is shock treatment for the callousness and heedlessness of the white community. We in the Georgia Council ask your support because of the very special role we play in our state -- as the builder of bridges of understanding. We ask all Georgians who share our dream - the full freedom of every citizen, black or white, in an atmosphere of mutual dignity and respect to join us. Won't you give today to help make that dream a reality? Sincerely yours, Lionel Newsom Dr. Lionel Newsom Chairman May 1, 1964 Morehouse College DR. LIONEL NEWSOM, CHAIRMAN THE REVEREND AUSTIN FORD FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT MR. A. J. MCCLUNG SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT MRS. HARRY V. RICHARDSON SECRETARY MR. JOHNNY GLUSTROM TREASURER MRS. FRANCES PAULEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE REVEREND OLIVER W. HOLMES ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR