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WIINATIONALI
pSlack-Moiutor.
I■— ■■■ Credo For Justice And Equity .... I
H# Whereas, the federal government of the United States of America recognizes that our nation is comprised, on the one hand, of a large
majority “melting pot” of ethnic groups, who can identify as white, and, on the other hand, of "affected class” minorities (largely
W black), 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
■SS they have been subject for so many centuries has been based solely on skin color.. with little or no distinctions made to the educational
attainments, economic status or other merits of the individual.. And,
Whereas, black people everywhere recognize that since this discrimination and denial have been applied to them as a group, they must
unite as a group in many ways to help overcome these conditions.. .And,
3E Whereas, our federal government and others are beginning to recognize it is obvious that this use of race as a weapon, both deliberately
H? and systematically, to exclude blacks and certain other minorities from the economic mainstream of American life, has resulted in an
economic, psychological and political arrangement that is demeaning and unjust.. .And,
Whereas, this denial has been long-standing and so broadly pervasive that many persons with limited inner security have felt a need to
engage 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
X control 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 support to —changes toward building equity.. And,
Whereas, our experiences with long-suffering make us more acutely concerned about all citizens (white or black) being treated fairly
» and ,hal °PP ressed P«»Pl«s 8« lon 8 over-due consideration in educational, job and other economic opportunities through both con
frontation and support. . . And,
M 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,
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...
g Therefore, as citizens who understand that we can never realize the full promise of America until all blacks and other oppressed
minorities are empowered to shoulder their own responsibility in a peer relation with others via I) genuine self-awareness, 2) keener
insights into the realities of our society and 3) vastly improved economic opportunities, we pledge the following as a means of helping to
make our society more just and equitable for all Americans—both black and white:
I. that, for a more rapid shift toward psychological and economic freedom for our community, and except where comparable values
SJ, are not available with reasonable convenience, all of our needs for goods and services will be from within our “affected class”
communities and/or from those enterprises that provide the most benefits to our communities as a whole.
2 ’ thal, to insure lhe best P° ssib,e 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
iSF communities... a?/
’'Jj. 3. that, on the basis of the simple equity needed to achieve peaceful and harmonious relationships among all in this nation, we will
make every effort possible to encourage our employers to employ more minorities and engage more minority contractors on an
> equitable basis.. as long as these minority contractors have the primary goal of further strengthening our communities...
4. that, since the media of every community are a major voice for that community and therefore should come from within that
community (not be outsiders), we will do all in our power to support those who support our true leadership voices.. and will
actively discourage support for any media purporting to represent us but which are not owned from within our community and
accountable to the black community...
W 5. <hat, for redemptive and equity-building purposes, we will encourage group unity, promote community control and work in non
||| violent but aggressive ways for survival and growth of our people on all fronts and in our nation.. particularly with programs
oriented for 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 with blacks and other “affected class” minorities in this one area remaining open to them for quickly and easily
establishing economic equity.. .
7. that, in order to keep blacks from continuing to be forced out of business, prevent deception, and help regain control of our own
economic community, we will do all in our power to encourage non-minority owned ventures from needlessly exploiting black (or
111- other “affected class” minority) pride, and giving the impression that they may be minority owned by using “soul” names unless
our brethren 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 be committed by encouraging all of our friends—including black business people and professionals who stand to gain
* most immediately— 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
strengthen our educational system, develop our own community organizations like SCLC, Operation Breadbasket, Opportunities
Industrialization Center (OIC), People United to Save Humanity (PUSH), local NAACP Chapters, local United Black Funds, etc.,
in every way possible and help by making the alternatives more clear to those black brothers and sisters who continue to unwit
tingly o r otherwise work against our self-development. And finally...
<:*/ ,0 - *hat, because the black church (along with the black-owned press) has been in the forefront of the struggle for freedom and dignity
for all 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 otherwise even if we live in other communities and cannot regularly attend. . .for, this is chief among our precious institutions.
New National BLACK MONITOR - April. 1980