St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-07-25
Community Responsibility

Even in those communities Negroes approach int
grafton in community-or should say fuller inegraton
there will many certain responsibilities when
Negroes accept Negroes individually as well as col
lectvely
There are several other nationality ceedal groups who
are in position which the American Negro as group
finds itself eve are readers know whom suci
groups are) The situation may be unfair but it's fact thai
tradition certain sectional American the aVemaste
pattern the white supremacy thinking the lack OF education
and the lack of between whites and Negroes
equal and common interests all contributes to situation which
makes necessary for any individual Negro and the whole
group if possible to recognize the responsibility which must be
assumed.
For example it is important that Negro family be
good neighbors The family which recognizes this does
both itself fellow Negroes world of good in an era
where still whites who apt to judge the Negro
as group the casual experience with an individual
or family When that experience happens to be bad 1t
magnies the myths and stereotypes about the Negro
alleged inherent deficiencies which have been the stock
in trade of the racists, for time immemorial
The upright citizen of the group who works. raises fam
iy pays his promptly, educates his children when
sbe supports his church. community Institutions frowns upon
loose careless living crime and their concomans
ing his community responsibility and bringing credit to his
group.
Many Negroes and communities of Negroes do not assume
their proper responsibilities citizens Some are lethargc
some lack well developed leadership With sound
others will recognize support the best program ever de
vsed However, in every community there is constant com
plant about DETERMINATIONS prejudice Whc IL ot
the average Negro On the other hand of the prejudice
and of the discrimination is of the Negroes making
It all comes back we believe to lack of community
planning action 1t is too difficult to get Negroes
excited about some overt of discrimination but
they usually do stay excited long enough to lay plans
to make subsequent overt act less possible to happen
Many Negroes who are parents take too lightly their
sponsby to the children they bring the world leaving tC
the schools and the settlement houses the responsibilities which
are really those belonging to parents
The recent outbreak juvenile delinquency which traccC
the murder human being Minneapolis youths has shock
ed the Negro community because revealed large number
of youths who should be the hope of future generations in
volved in sluggings and other crimes.
Parents of about "a youngsters bcwidered and OF
course aroused at what discovered is possible that
they had but been assuming little responsibility
interesting themselves better community with greater
moral values the delinquency could have beer
prevented. And young would not face Ions
prison terms
Youth with its natural problems of to the
entire country chiefly because every community and
every group there enough adults who feel the
essty of giving the various organized youth programs
some of the time energy and brains.
In the Twin Cities there are hundred Negro boys
of Boy Scout Yet far ascertain their only
organized Boy Scout groups the Negro lads with
few boys belonging mixed troops There something in thu
Boy for any normal boy yet the Twin City
Negro community has been dreadfy remss in establish
ing Scout troops and supporting those that in
isence
We mention the Scout movement just example o
what is lacking in community of responsibility w
have repeatedly urged upon Negro parents of school chill
dren Of the tremendous value they be to their children
the school system and the community by participation in tn
ParentTsachers At this date only small percent
age of Negro parents in either Minneapolis St Paul afat
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 not fully support the NAACP volunteer
ganizaton with long record of achievement for the cv
rights of the Negro American We pounded type
writer fingers off urging the people their rspon
sbty to that organization Local membership still remain
proportonately small.
OF the eleven of discrimination reported to this
newspaper far this year. not single of the aggev
ed individuals paid up members of the NAACP Is
this assuming responsibility 1t is not.
The same true of the Urban Leagues of both cities
large portion of the who take yearly memberships
themselves need the assistance personally of the league
but feel that is important for the entire community
re of Negroes who have benefited from the league
in Jobs advancements and adjustments who spend hundreds
dollars year for the fobes of life will take So yea