Newspaper Page Text
March. 1978 ■ New National BLACK MONITOR
IFRI’B NATIONAL V W Family Editorial Supplement
■Jalack-Manitoii
I Credo For Justice And Equity I
fits Whereas, lhe federal government of the United States of America recognizes that our nation is comprised, on the one hand, of a large
AgJ majority “melting pot” of ethnic groups, who can identify as white, and, on the other hand, of “affected class” minorities (largely black),
"who, by virtue of past discrimination, continue to suffer the present effects of that discrimination” in a manner that has not allowed these
ffl® “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
‘V® have been subject for so many centuries has been based solely on skin c010r... with little or no distinctions made to the educational attain- Sag
ments, economic status or other merits of the individual.. And, gftjg
Whereas, black people everywhere recognize that since this discrimination and denial have been applied to them as a group, they must unite Sy®
as a group in many ways to help overcome these conditions.. .And,
w® Whereas, our federal government and others are beginning to recognize it is obvious that this use of race as a weapon, both deliberately and jEjg
- SA systematically, to excluse blacks and certain other minorities from the economic mainstream of American life, has resulted in an economic, S® ytX
SBg psychological and political arrangement that is demeaning and unjust... And,
W hereas, this denial has been long-standing and so broadly pervasive that many persons with limited inner security have felt a need to engage
SO® 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 gw® ;
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 SjK
live together harmoniously and without fear.. And, gfijg
gura Whereas, all other previously-oppressed minorities have had to get themselves together to take leadership in—and give guidance and moral gw® ,1,
Skg support to—changes toward building equity.. And, Sig
jaUg Whereas, our experiences with long-suffering make us more acutely concerned about all citizens (white or black) being treated fairly and that jgug
§s® oppressed peoples get long over-due consideration in educational, job and other economic opportunities through both confrontation and gK® i; ;
at? support .. And, M
Whereas, business persons, firemen, policemen, teachers and others who do not live within our communities almost consistently have shown jettK
Jj;; lack of regard for the reasonable and deserved needs of our communities.. .And, JjJ
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
Skg needlessly inhumane costs unless we ail strive together for equitable changes...
jSgg Therefore, as citizens who understand that we can never realize the full promise of America until all blacks and other oppressed minorities Sig
gffl® 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
SHg 3) vastly improved economic opportunities, we pledge the following as a means of helping to make our society more just and equitable for Sjjg
every American: Si
1. that, for a more rapid shift toward psychological and economic freedom for our community, and except where comparable values are Kt
I ' nol ava >l with reasonable convenience, ail of our needs for goods and services will be from within our "affected class” com- 3F
gflS munities... Kw
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
who, along with their families, live within our communities, be able to serve as teachers, policepersons or fire fighters for our gag
gZS communities... gig
jfzg 3. that, on the basis of the simple equity needed to achieve peaceful and harmonious relationships among all in this nation, we will make $69 I®
every effort possible to encourage our employers to employ more minorities and engage more minority contractors on an equitable gjs
ecSsj basis...
gxjg 4. that, since the media of every community are a major voice for that community and therefore should come from within that community ’
gfc (not be outsiders), we will do all in our power to support those who support our true leadership voices.. .and will actively discourage gIE
gag support for any media purporting to represent us but which are not owned from within our community and accountable to the black |g||
aS® community... ffiA jaK
JWJ 5. that, for redemptive and equity-building purposes, we will encourage group unity, promote community control and work in non-violent SSR
but aggressive ways for survival and growth of our people on all fronts and in our nation.. .particularly with programs oriented for A,.
SIS our youth...
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 gjg
ggg with blacks and other “affected class" minorities in this one area remaining open to them for quickly and easily establishing economic gjfrgj
SWS equity...
Sag 7. that* in order to keep blacks from continuing to be forced out of business, prevent deception, and help regain control of our own gg
economic community, we will do all in our power to encourage non-minority owned ventures from needlessly exploiting black (or other aap
“affected class” minority) pride, and giving the impression that they may be minority owned by using “soul” names unless our brethren gg
actually own majority control of these enterprises... jeajg
8. that, for our own continued economic survival, we will support these needed efforts for creative change to which all thinking people must
be committed by encouraging all of our friends—including black business people and professionals who stand to gain most immediately
Sjg —to support in every possible way those institutions committed to work for the principles of this pledge...
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 J
strengthen our educational system, develop our own community organizations like SCLC, Operation Breadbasket, Opportunities am
ajg Industrialization Center (OIC), People United to Save Humanity (PUSH), local NAACP Chapters, etc., in every way possible and help SIK
by making the alternatives more clear to those black brothers and sisters who continue to unwittingly or otherwise work against our
gK self-development. And finally...
sb|> 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 Bjg yty
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
wise even if we live in other communities and cannot regularly attend.. .for, this is chief among our precious institutions.