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WORKING PAPER FOR PROGRAM EMPHASIS ON CITIZENSHIP

1. [[underlined]]PROBLEMS[[/underlined]]

Americans do not register and vote in anything like the proportions expected. Negroes vote to a much smaller degree. Much of this is due to planned disfranchisement in many sections of the country. The Civil Rights Commission is established to mitigate this situation. Further, all the segregation legislation on a State and local level stems from elected officials for whom we have by and large not voted for or against.

2. [[underlined]]FACTS[[/underlined]]

In those areas where we are free to register and vote, we do not register and vote in anyway comparable to the rest of the population.

Many of the matters from which we suffer can be resolved through the election of good elected government officials.

Negroes are highly skilled in election campaigns for private organizations. The skill needs only to be utilized in the election of public officials.

Negroes are the balance of power in many areas and their power is greater than their actual power in terms of numbers.

3. [[underlined]]PROPOSED OBJECTIVES[[/underlined]]

Overall objectives should be to create a climate for, stimulate activity on, encourage participation in, assist individuals and groups working on; emphasize; educate for; and provide information on any and all activity or program on the register and vote aspect of citizenship, and to assure to the maximum potential that the Civil Rights Commission achieve all of its objectives.

4. [[underlined]]HOW CAN NCNW ACHIEVE THESE OBEJCTIVES THROUGH PROJECTS SUCH AS[[/underlined]] -

  1. Register and vote campaigns starting first with our own membership.

  2. Educate on the provisions of the Civil Rights Commission and assist in its enforcement.

  3. Assure that Negroes are on all City, County and State governing bodies of each party.

  4. Assure that Negroes actively participate in party activity.

  5. Educate our membership and the public on public issues.

  6. Act as clearing house on issues, candidates, parties, public officials, resources for information and organization.

  7. Cooperation with other organizations - American Heritage Foundation, League of Women Voters, labor political action departments, parties, etc.

  8. Study proposed legislation.

  9. Providing information on the function of public agenceis.

  10. Providing information on voting records and behind the scenes activity on legislation.

  11. Encouraging women to become candidates for public office.