Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1957-02-16

then, is a real challenge to the
Negro community" he pointed out.
He urged leaders Of educational in
stitutions, business and labor to
undertake programs which would
provide the youth with the knowl-
edge of job opportunities which
will give them reason to seek high
err training. They should be pre-
serted with tangible, visible evil
dence that such training is worth
while and will yield rewards in
terms of profitable employment
and careers, he said.
Secretary of Labor James P.
Mitchell told the conferees that
less than 4 percent of all en-
ployed Negroes are in professional.
technical and kindred work as COM
pared to five times as many white
workers. He said the nation must
discard the barriers which deprive
the country of the potential skills
and productivity Of millions of cit
liens.
"If we are to make use of the
enormous potential of the Negro.
and help him to lift himself from
the unskilled to the skilled cate
gorv. we must first see that he is
motivated to take full advantage
of his educational opportunities"
he said. At present, about 5000
Negroes graduate from high school
each year. 1t has been estimated
that the number could be increased
to $4,000.
1--WE must find ways to make
them aim higher, for greater a
chievements than were possible for
them ten years ago-or even yes
terday. Youth now entering school
must strive for goals which, while
they may not be widely recognized
today, will be we'll within reach
by the time they are ready for
employment" he added.
Brig. Gen. David Sarnoff, Chair
man of Radio Corporation of
America, called upon industrial
leaders to help in the training OF
minority groups so that they will
be able to take their places on the
skilled labor job front. He said
that his firm places qualified Ne
groes in positions of high respon-
sibility, in all divisions of the COM
PAW.
He said industry must work
closely with organizations active
in the intergroup relations field
and participate in conferences
sponsored by Negro churches and
other community organizations
with a view toward stimulating
the interest of high school students
in Neurological careers. His own
company sends scouts to many Ne
gro colleges to search for promls-
ing young men and women.
Boris Shishkin, Director Of the
Civil Rights Department OF the
AFL-CIO, said the unity and IN
tegrity of the nation itself Is
threatened by barriers that block
the flow of students into suitable
training for skilled work. He urged
that the U. S. Employment Service
discontinue all racial classified
tions.
Speakers from Chicago, Cincin-
natl and Detroit described steps
already being taken in those cities
to motivate more youth to seek
higher training.
Other speakers included DR.. Cliff
ford p. Froehlich, Berkeley, Calf,
President of the American Person
mel and Guidance Association;
Thomas H. Coulter, Chief Executive
Officer. Chicago Association OF
Commerce and Industry; DIR. Ken
meth Lund, Assistant Superintend-
ent of the Chicago Public Schools;
Dr.. Claude v. Courier, Superintend-
ent of the Cincinnati Public
Schools; Russell Leach, President,
Local 155 of the JAW, Detroit;
William E. Stirton of the Automo-
tive Tool and Die Manufacturers
Association, Detroit; and DR.. Sam
uel NJ. Brownell, Superintendent
of the Detroit Public Schools and
former u. S. Commissioner of Ed
ucation.
Cities represented included At
lanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincin-
natl, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianap-
oils, Kansas City, Mo-, Los Angeles,