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VERNON JORDAN DISCUSSES SOCIAL REFORM, ROLE OF BLACK PRESS

According to Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Executive Director of the National Urban League, "That fruitful period during the past decade of social reform and advancement of black citizens is a second reconstruction that seems to have ended." But, he added, it remains as unfinished as the first reconstruction era of over a century ago.

Jordan, speaking before a group of publishers at the 33rd Annual National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) convention at the Houston Oaks Hotel, discussed the need for social reform in the country and emphasized the publishers' important role in contributing to its realization.

In focusing on the future role of the black press, Jordan reminded the publishers that a flaming path for justice began with John Russworm and his Freedom's Journal more than 146 years ago.

HOOKS SAYS "DESTINY IN HAND"

"It is time for black men and women to take destiny in hand, to come to grips with our alienated children, to police our communities, to move to end our crippling dependency on welfare and to chase the drug pushers from our neighborhoods," declared Commissioner Benjamin L. Hooks of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in a speech before the 33rd annual National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) convention.

Hooks, addressing a gathering at the Houston Oaks Hotel, reminded the publishers that they were in part responsible for his appointment to the Commission. He stressed that he is one of those people who believe in the black press.

"It is my belief that it is impossible to be a complete man unless you know what's going on in the black world...you can only know that by dealing with the black press," said Hooks.

MARINE COMMANDANT STRESSES FAIRNESS, EQUALITY

"We try to bring out the best in each Marine," General R.E. Cushman, Jr., commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, told a luncheon crowd of nearly 200 conferees at the opening session of the 33rd annual National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) meeting at the Houston Oaks Hotel.

In his remarks, General Cushman stressed that it is essential that black opinion-makers whose influence dates back a century and a half get the message clear about what's really happening in today's Marine Corps.

The belief of the Marines, said General Cushman, is the same as the closing sentence of the credo of the black press: "The firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back."

Among the Panelists:

JOHN H. POWELL, Chairman, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
DR. GLORIA E.A. TOOTE, Assistant Secretary of HUD
STANLEY S. SCOTT, Special Assistant to President Nixon
H. MINTON FRANCIS, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
EDWARD D. FAILOR, Administrator, Social & Economic Admin. the Census
WILLIAM O. WALKER, Cleveland Call & Post
CLARENCE B. JONES, New York Amsterdam News
JOHN H. MURPHY, III, Afro-American Newspapers
WILLIAM H. LEE, Sacramento Observer
FRANK L. STANLEY, Louisville Defender
MRS. OPHELIA DEVORE MITCHELL, Columbus Daily Times
NORMAN W. POWELL, Amalgamated Publishers, Inc.
LONGWORTH M. QUINN, Michigan Chronicle

[[image - various black & white photographs of key speakers at the NNPA convention including General R.E. Cushman, Jr., Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps]]

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