Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1959-02-13

! Tor the American Negro Is sfill
challenge that confronts religious
leaders Al the prstensi0ns ~
American democracy and u ths
Jewish and Christian heritage 70 a
concern wfth brotherhood and the
sanctity " tho Individual are test
"a In our response 10 this problem
Tine Voice u religion should be-
/ heard proelaaming most persua-
sivciy and firmly those insights Of
/ American faith that brand pre-.
Junieo and inhumanity as sinful
II shh,ild affirm In specific re-
Iationahipa and actual teat aitlia
tluna those ethical values which
win afford 10 America The moral
leadership she 10 sorely needs.
Church going and synngogue-at-
Tendance without clearly express.
sed and sacriflclaliy served dedica
ton 10 the fulfiiiment. without rea-
srvatlon. of this Ideal n human
brotherhood IL empty mockery Of
the Fundamental concept % man
which liz the insscapabie conae
quence ~ Jewish tradition and
/ Christian belief
I Measured against TINS IDEAL the
effectiveness ~ religious forces on
thlH laaue has been diAappolntingly
inadequate on the national level
The testimony Of Individual clergy
linen and congregations who by
.pronruncemeut aud action have
made clear the aincsrity Of their
ptotratatians has, however. been
heartening Where the three faith
groups have spoken and acted in
concert the results have been real
and rewardiug
The hunger % the American
community for an unrqutvoeal and
Authoritative moral voice waa dem
onatfatod in is response % the
lunfationalised and uuoomplicated
statement of little gifl q high
school student la Van Burcn Ar
Kansas who had boldly ard nalvely
stated hsr heiief that aggregation
t. va Christian
We can and must with equal
simplicity and clarity declare that
any action which humtllates an
other human being o. dlmlnishcs
hla opportunity 10 develop hia tul
human potential Ia Jewish The
question Of human equality before
God ls one on which Judaism shod'
clear and direct light our tradi
tlon and It's value IN this area ~
concern have been moulded by thu
story ~ the common origin o. man
kind recorded IN the opening chap
terra ~ Genesis with Is inspiring
and provocative thought that th'
, image % God IL present In MAJ
, not black man, or white man q
yellow msn hut generic Man arr
, the emldrrn ~ Man
. rhia view - man IA ~ one pieg
with the prophetic tnslatrnce tina
the Ethiopiaus ard the Arnmasan
can elaim Gods protection an
4 ,iads towing concern equally wit
1 the Iafariltya, and u receives 4
, clpareat delneatinn IN ths epocha
, injunction ~ the nineteenth char
tor OF lscvtticus THE strange
!, tina, soiouFnsth with you shall b
unto You as the horne born am0n
\ yon and thou shalt hove him =
i myself. tar We were Strangers
. tbs land N Egypt
Having known the evils ~ dli
elimination az It's victims We a.
hidden 70 reverse the normal mecl
anism ~ projection and 20 cus
cern ourselves lovingly with a
v those against whom dsscrtmlnl
tinn may be practiced 90 aSsu'
n equal treatment and the resps'
q thle Gods image to All men whru
, sr stranger or hosnshurn. uen,hei
t ~ the tribe or outsiders, jew (
IA non jew israplite on ethiopian
t,once any Jew who discrmu
!. stcs against hls celorrd broth.
~ or who hsrhprs prejudice again
the Ncgru n hts heart II unfaitl
IS nil n hls tradition
X II We are 70 lnvr ear asighh0N
an ourselves WE must take arfirn
u atlvr action 10 secure for the
this rights Wv ourselves eheris
Paramount among those rights
b. the right 10 learn the righ, Of 4
a men 70 have Access Ia accorlant
with ahihty and On ne ether teg