Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-07-25
Community Responsibility

NOmMuhSy NC0POhy
Even in those communities where Negroes approach int
grafton In communtyOr should fuller Indignation
there will be for many certain responsibilities which
Negroes accept Negroes individually AZ we'll az col
ectiyey.
There are several other nationality creeda groups who
are the position which the American Negro group
finds itself 1--WE are sure readers know whom such
groups aTe) The situation may be unfair but it's fact that
tradition certain sectional American the slavemaser
pattern white supremacy thinking the lack Of education
and lack Of between whites and Negroes OF
equal and interests all contributes TO situation which
makes necessary for any individual Negro and the whole
group IL possible recognize the responsibility which must be
assumed
For example IL IL important that Negro family be
good neghbor The family which recognizes this docs
both itself and fellow Negroes world Of good in an era
where still whites who apt TO Judge the Negro
group from the casual experience with an individual
a family When that experience happens to be bad 1t
mAgnfies the myths and sereoypes about the Negroes
alleged inherent deficiencies which have been the stock
in trade Of the raCiSts, for time immemoria
The upright citizen Of the group who works fam
y pays his bills promptly educacs his children when
sbc supports his church community institutions owns upon
loose careless living crime and their concomitants Is assum
ing his community responsibility aud bringing credit to his
group.
Many Negroes and communities of Negroes do not
their proper responsibilities citizens Some lchargc
lack well developed leadership with sound programs
others will recognize support the best de
vsed. However, In every community there IL constant
plant about determinations prejudice which the lot of
the average Negro On the other hand Of tho prejudice
and Of the discrimination is of the Negro making
II all comes back we believe to n lack Of community
planning and action II Ia difficult get Negroes
excited about overt act Of discrimination but
they usually do not excited long enough TO lay plans
to make subsequent overt act less possible to happen
Many Negroes who parents take lightly their
sponsby to the children they bring in the world leaving
the schools and the settlement houses the responsibilities which
really those belonging To parents.
The recent outbreak of Juvenile delinquency which traced
the murder of human being Minneapolis youths has shock
cd the Negro community because revealed large number
Of youths who should be the hope of future generations
volVed In suggingS aud other crimes
Parents of about - youngsters hcwldcrcd and Of
aroused at what discovered II is possible that II
they had but been assuming little responsibility and
interesting themselves in better community with greater
Of moral values Of the delinquency could
prevented. And young would not face long
prison terms.
Youth with It's natural problems Of to the
entire country, chiefly because every community and In
every group there enough adults who nee.
esSiy Of giving the various organized youth programs
some Of the time, energy and brains
In the Twin Cities there are several hundred Negro boys
of Boy Scout Yet their
organized Boy Scout groups among Negro lads with
few boys belonging to mixed troops There something the
Boy Scout movement for normal boy yet the Twin City
Negro community has been dreadfuy in establish
sencc.
We mention the Scout movement just example Of
what is lacking in community Of responsibility We
have repeatedly urged Negro parents of school chill
dren of the tremendous value they he their chdrcn
the school system and the community by participation the
Parent Teachers At this date only small percent
Of Negro parents either Minneapolis Paul affiliate
actively with PTA groups
Wherever there is such participation the Negro stu
dents get better grades the Of belonging greater
and there Is benefit TO the community a whole
Negroes do fully support the NAACP volunteer or.
ganEaon with long record of achievement for the civil
rights of the Negro American We have pounded type
writer fingers off urging the people their rrspon
Sibity 20 that organization Local membership still
proportionately small
OF the eleven Of discrimination reported 70 this
Newspaper 20 far this not single Of the aggev
cd individuals paid up members of the NAAcP Is
this assuming responsibility II Is not,
The is true of the Urban Leagues Of both cities \
large portion Of the who take yearly memberships
themselves do need the personally the league
but feel that Is important for the entire community Hun
eds of Negroes who have benefited from the league program
jobs and adjustments who spend hundreds Of