The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1952-09-20
Our VKIN" IN SOUTH AFRICA
az WALTER |. STEVENS

E,ervone fortunate enough to have attended church
service last Sunday at St Marks was nucn impressed ~
the discourse on native conditions in South AFRICA "c
s 81 dramatically revealed to large and attentive con-
gregation by Dr. George Haynes formerly secretary q w
SciI ~ Churches of America and DR. q r. Matthew's,
MIL, educated native and student of African AFFAIRS Our
emotions were aroused when the latter explained that egh
million blacks own but 70 one-haf percent OF tner o"
country as against the 81 onehaH percent owned Dy TWO anu
b.H rllion Europeans He went to tell OF the abuse
and discrimination practsed upon the natives by ne Nan
Regne how man wishing to travel to an industrial center
Il fnd work to support himself and family must first walk
miles to obtain travel permit from white ocaL Inen
another permit must be obtained upon arriving at his desna
ton Another permit is required to cover tne ]oo hat ne
homes to obtain While another to allow him to lodge IN
certain place These police papers must at all tunes De
carried on his person. and in the middle OF the night the
police NAV forcbly enter his for the purpose OF
inspection of the various permits and lacking the possession
Of them the unfortunate workman is taken to jail
Much more Dr. Matthews told his audience in similar
vein which left them visiby affected both with sorrow and
resentment and resulted in collection of more than 500
being taken for the Still under the influence of Dr.
Matthew's remarks many in the congregation stayed for an
after meeting discuss further help for ther Kin" across
the seas To this end they formed temper ganization
which later may take permanent form ar motion as
clearing house raise funds and give moral support to the
of the natives Of SouhArca In this audibe under
taking they hope to obtain the assistance and contribution OF
all clubs organizations societies and the general public
CARELESS color who believe in helping the oppressed
Unfortunately, when emotions simmer down and the
practical part of our nature asserts ITSELF find ourselves
committed to great undertaking One that will challenge
our greatest effort It is to be successful permanen
headquarters and stenographer the first requisite to
start such movement and to enable the chairman and his
assistants if he has any, to prepare dagrammatic chart
showing the organization finance and operation of such an
enterprise Even in the initial stages considerable amount
Of money needed for postage publicity and Office equip
ent Then speakers bureau be created made up of
men and trained to disseminate information South
Africa in such fashion will reach the hearts and pockets
of their listeners These steps and taken by the
director of the recent NAACP membership drive with but
fair of The the returns not
overwhelming is because the people of Boston not yet
NAACP conscious II will be thousand times difficult
to create consciousness in Boston people that will
extend to kin thousands of miles It will take
years of hard work before folks Boston
will realize and appreciate that under their very there
stands the NAACP the greatest organization of its kind in
the world to defend their human rights Yet difficult
during the recent membership drive to "se" them the
brutal murder of Harry Moore and his wife in southern
town nearby, that the blood of the victims almost
splaered their clothes How much greater then to feel
and respond to what happening South Africa Of
want to do all within power to relieve the distress
of people both here and abroad This has already been
made evident by contribution of S48 at one church
meeting But to succeed task more difficult than putting
NAAcP membership drive and without the equipment
and mechanics of this organization is to face possible defeat
TO let our lights so shine.