The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1945-07-04

the afficilated branches of the Ur1
ban League of Portland, which
has just been organized.
The Urban League is a move
ment 70 Americans. people of good
will, people of all colors, ereeds
and national origins. who believe
that COOPERATION, not coer-
sion, intelligence and not ignor-
ance. will solve the multitude OF
minority problems which we have
In our land.
The Problem
Black hands built ships, hewed
timber. cleared fields, plowed
land, bridged streams and raised
cities. Black bodies strained over
the steel rails and the wooden
ties to send the railroads, the ar
teries of the nation, spearing
through mountains, tunneled by
Negroes. across bridges built by
Negroes. beyond prairies and
syamps marked by Negro graves.
Black bodies cleaned in the seeth-
ing heat of the steel mills and
writhed in agony on the battle
fields of our wars. So the Negro
has a stake in America. Yet,
what happens to this one-out Of
ten Americans?
When the jobs are few, he
staryes. When there are nearly
enough jobs for everybody, he gets
the hardest work at the lowest
wage. When there are more jobs
to be done than there are people
to do them, even then he gets only
the job from which he is most
easily fired. and, often the Jobs
go begging because some employ
ers would prefer not to have the
job done than have Negro do it.
His children become discourage
ed with preparation for skilled
and professional jobs, because
they see so few example of Ne
groes who are permitted to hold
them.
His home costs him more to buy
or rent than a comparable one for
a white man. Even If he does
have the money to live in a good
house. he frequently isn't allowed
to have the house.
In court he finds It advisable to
hire white lawyer, because white
judges and white juries sometimes
won't listen to the best Negro law
yer.
Hospitals - there are few ex-
ceptions--won' accept him as an
intern or his sister as nurse.
Principles
The Urban League does not be-
lieve in this dual system of citi-
zenship - one set of rights and
priveges for white citizens and
another set for Negro citizens.
The Urban League believes in
America and the principles of dem,
ocratic government.
Purpose
1t is the purpose of the Urban
League to assist the community in
the process of integrating Negro
Americans, to the end that condi-
lions under which they live, work
and play may be improved. The
League seeks to expand employ
ment, housing, health, welfare, ed
ucational and recrtational oppor-
tunity.
The Urban League of Portland
has on its Board of Directors vii.
liam L.. Brewster, Jr., President;
James Hamilton, Vice President;
Rev. l.. o. Stone, Vice President;
Mrs. Kenneth Smith, Secretary
Harry A. ID. Smith, Treasurer; DE
Norval Unthank, Md, Rev. j. j
Glow, Mrs. Clifford Walker, Il. ID
MacNaughtOn, Mrs. Elliott Cor
bet, Oliver Smith, Ed Benedick
Roy Hill, Don Green, Kelly Eos
ter. STAFF - Edwin C. Berry
Executive Secretary; Mrs. Alex l.
RunneIs, Administrative Assistant
Brilliant Reception
To welcome Mr.. Gerry, Execu
tive Secretary, and his charming
wife to Portland, a committee
Mesdames Thelma Unthank, Cliff
ford Walker and Elliott Corbet
arranged a brilliant reception il
St. Philips spacious parish hal
on Sunday afternoon, June "a. A
least 800 civic minded folk en-
Enthusiastically greeted Mr.. and Mrs
Berry, formerly of Washington
d. c., who have in a few week
acquired a large circle of friend
and we'll wishers.
II Glimpsed among the throng wa
Mrs. Thelma Johnson Street. bac
after ten years, being deluged wit
questions about her paints an