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NATIONAL® U JH Family Editorial Supplement
Credo For Justice And Equity I
Whereas, the federal government of the United States of America recognizes that our nation is comprised, on the one hand, of a large eaj>
eiyg majority “melting pot" of ethnic groups, who can identify as white, and, on the other hand, of “affected class” minorities (largely black), eng
SB “who, by virtue of past discrimination, continue to suffer the present effects of that discrimination" in a manner that has not allowed these
“affected class” persons to identify with White America.. .And,
Whereas, black people in America and elsewhere are beginning to recognize more and more that the long standing oppression to which they
gjg have been subject for so many centuries has been based solely on skin color.. with little or no distinctions made to the educational attain- Skjo
ments, economic status or other merits of the individual .. And, Szg
gw® Whereas, black people everywhere recognize that since this discrimination and denial have been applied to them as a group, they must unite (Sjjg
ge! as a group in many ways to help overcome these conditions.. .And,
Whereas, our federal government and others are beginning to recognize it is obvious that this use of race as a weapon, both deliberately and
gffe systematically, to excluse blacks and certain other minorities from the economic mainstream of American life, has resulted in an economic,
qbß psychological and political arrangement that is demeaning and unjust.. And, 3kg
Whereas, this denial has been long-standing and so broadly pervasive that many persons with limited inner security have felt a need to engage gg
in counter-moves to this frustrating inhumaneness.. And,
Whereas, to overcome these historic and tragic injustices.. and to build equity for all, major corporations and others in economic control
SS have begun to realize that compensatory or “make-up” adjustments have to be made by every institution in America, if any of us hope to
live together harmoniously and without fear.. .And,
Whereas, all other previously-oppressed minorities have had to get themselves together to take leadership in—and give guidance and moral
gig support to —changes toward building equity... And, Bag
jgjgj Whereas, our experiences with long-suffering make us more acutely concerned about all citizens (while or black) being treated fairly and that gug
oppressed peoples get long over-due consideration in educational, job and other economic opportunities through both confrontation and
sag support... And, SBs
Whereas, business persons, firemen, policemen, teachers and others who do not live within our communities almost consistently have shown
lack of regard for the reasonable and deserved needs of our communities.. And, |mk
Whereas, we recognize that all of us (black and white) are linked together in survival and all of us will suffer from the great economic and
needlessly inhumane costs unless we all strive together for equitable changes. .
Therefore, as citizens who understand that we can never realize the full promise of America until all blacks and other oppressed minorities jag
are empowered to stand in a peer relationship with others via I) genuine self-awareness, 2) keener insights into the realities of our society and Sgg
Sbg 3) vastly improved economic opportunities, we pledge the following as a means of helping to make our society more jnsl and equitable for
every American: K/g
1. that, for a more rapid shift toward psychological and economic freedom for our community, and except where comparable values are
not available with reasonable convenience, all of our needs for goods and services will be from within our “affected class” com-
jKg munities... Kap
2. that, to insure the best possible education for our youth and to insure the best police and fire protection, we will insist that only those
Sag who, along with their families, live within our communities, be able to serve as teachers, policepersons or fire fighters for our gig
gfiS communities...
Szg 3. that, on the basis of the simple equity needed to achieve peaceful and harmonious relationships among all in this nation, we will make
Sag every effort possible to encourage our employers to employ more minorities and engage more minority contractors on an equitable gjs
basis... SjE
4. that, since the media of every community are a major voice for that community and therefore should come from within that community Kajj
ifflS (not be outsiders), we will do all in our power to support those who support our true leadership voices.. and will actively discourage gyS
support for any media purporting to represent us but which are not owned from within our community and accountable to the black
community... Wflß
5. that, for redemptive and equity-building purposes, we will encourage group unity, promote community control and work in non-violent Sjg
but aggressive ways for survival and growth of our people on all fronts and in our nation, .particularly with programs oriented for
our youth... a®
gjg 6. that, if any company should engage in any new venture which is ethnic related, we will do our best to help them see the wisdom of joining 3e
with blacks and other “affected class” minorities in this one area remaining open to them for quickly and easily establishing economic
9RS equity... SB
7. that, in order to keep blacks from continuing to be forced out of business, prevent deception, and help regain control of our own Sag
economic community, we will do all in our power to encourage non-minority owned ventures from needlessly exploiting black (or other Kg
gjjs “affected class” minority) pride, and giving the impression that they may be minority owned by using “soul” names unless our brethren gK
actually own majority control of these enterprises..
8. that, for our own continued economic survival, we will support these needed efforts for creative change to which all thinking people must
SIS be committed by encouraging all of our friends—including black business people and professionals who stand to gain most immediately ggjg
—to support in every possible way those institutions committed to work for the principles of this pledge. . SbP
K/S5 9. that, for simple self-respect, and for the development of group strength (as all other ethnic groups have had to do), we will work to Sg
strengthen our educational system, develop our own community organizations like-SCLC, Operation Breadbasket, Opportunities gyig
gig Industrialization Center (OIC), People United to Save Humanity (PUSH), local NAACP Chapters, etc., in every way possible and help
by making the alternatives more clear to those black brothers and sisters who continue to unwittingly or otherwise work against our
gig self-development. And finally... sljE
Sbrj 10. that, because the black church (along with the black-owned press) has been in the forefront of the struggle for freedom and dignity for all
ggjg men in this nation, and because we all need the moral strength which it imparts, we will do all we can to support it financially and other- Kg
wise even if we live in other communities and cannot regularly attend.. for, this is chief among our precious institutions. gjgj
New Nat ionol BL ACK MON' TOR ■ January, 1978