Viewing page 73 of 252

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[image - black and white photograph of Jesse Jackson and Roy Wilkins]]
[[caption]]Jesse Jackson and Roy Wilkins[[caption]]

July 2-7, 1973
Minneapolis, Minn.

1973 Convention of the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

The decade of the seventies may well prove to be the most crucial in the more than 63 year history of the NAACP, the nation's most effective civil rights organization.

During the 12-year period since 1960, the fight for freedom experienced many climatic advances and some reverses. More than one hundred lives, both black and white, were sacrificed in order to move the fight for freedom one step forward. Determined attempts were made to subvert the historic Supreme Court Decision of 1954 outlawing public school discrimination. While most of these efforts were in the South, many Northern communities also tried to halt the forward march of black Americans.

The Sixties saw the rise of violence, separatism, and riots, the triple products of despair and frustration resulting from long years of denial and increased injustices in many areas of our national and local life. During 1971, we realized a slight overall diminishing of this trend, and this should continue as long as we can be assured of the continued progress toward the creation of a single, integrated society. Separatism and exclusion, however noble the motives of its most recent advocates, is a built-in guarantee for continued inequality and deprivation based on race and color. Black Americans have been suffering through three and one half centuries of this evil; it is clearly not a path toward freedom. Integration is the indispensable condition to equality and freedom. It is the only sane way for America - in spite of the violence of a misguided few, or the explosive, divisive rhetoric of many of the nation's political leaders; "advocating the Resegregation of Education through a call for a moratorium on busing. This action is essentially designed to nullify the 1954 School decision".

The NAACP is leading the fight to protect the vital gains of the past six decades and at the same time to expand the nationwide programs that are crushing the evils of racial injustice. Political power is a vital example. Over two million Black voters have been added to the rolls since the Voter's Rights Act of 1965 was passed, and extended for 5 more years in 1970. these black votes were critical in the election of more than 2200 Blacks to public office in 1971-1972. Yet many Blacks still remain to be registered. It will take money - and the NAACP.

The fight to secure for each American adequate, decent housing has made many impressive gains as evidenced by the 1968 Housing Act outlawing discrimination in the sale and rental of private housing. Yet housing is still unfair and the fight dare not abate. It will take money and the NAACP.

The vital issue of school desegregation is a major area of advances and setbacks. Until our children are integrated, how can any of us be free? The NAACP has been and still is in the forefront of the school integration battle, but it also takes money; "The NAACP has long advocated the use of busing of children as one way of escaping the disabilities of inferior segregated schools. We further support busing as a most effective means of achieving the best possible education for Black children."

Then there is the fight within the trade unions. Most unions are still segregated: it will take much prodding and long hours to push back the barriers of prejudice. It will take money. It will take the NAACP.