St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1960-06-24

nuaI convention of the National
Association for the Advancement
Of Colored People.
In his first appearance at an
NAACP convention as chairman
of the Associations Board of Di-
rectors, DR.. Weaver hailed the
courageous and effective direct ac-
ton Of Negro college students in
connection with the sit-ins. We
applaud their actions, rejoicing
that they have evidenced an ap-
probation for, and dedication to,
real, functioning democracy"
Many of these students, he con-
tinued in his prepared keynote
address, ARE affiliated with us.
Young NAACP college chapter
leaders were among the first to
demonstrate in North Carolina,
South Carolina, Florida, Virginia,
Tennessee, Georgia and Texas.
Il hazard to add that as they
participate further in the Associa-
ton, they will discover in our ac-
tiWty an insurance against early
abandonment of the fighting spirit.
Our membership reports since
March l, reveal an increase of al
most Is per cent in the youth div
ision."
The NAACP, DR.. Weaver de-
clared, has had its goals firmly
in mind for over so years. We have
never wavered from the detectives
and we never will. In the half
century of our existence, we have
worked with other groups which
accepted and articulated similar
aims. At the same time we have
had the courage and integrity to
oppose others which have either
compromised with Jim Crow or
resorted to black chauvinism. On
these issues we are resolute-and
this goes for racial opportunists
who would advance themselves at
a cost of other Negroes and for
the Garveyites of yesterday and
the black Muslims of today"
While the support of non-Negro
allies is important, DR.. Weaver
cautioned that at times we may
have to part company with some
of our allies. The most recent in
stance of this occurred only weeks
ago when, in accordance with our
convention resolutions, Roy Will
kins supported the Powell amend
ment to the federal school aid bill
Many of those who parted COM
pany with the Association on this
issue place a higher priority on
education than immediate achieve
ment of civil rights. Before we
condemn and resolve to have no
further association with them, let
us remember that among Negroes
there are honest differences as to
priorities and strategy.
Just as the NAACP must have
tolerance for those who have pri-
critics which differ from ours, so
our usual allies must develop and
evidence tolerance for our peculiar
set of priorities. When we temper
arily part company, neither is de-
sorting the other; rather each Is
holding firm to its primary objec-
tive. Fortunately, throughout the
years, the instances of temporary
schism have been of short duration.
They need not and must not divert
us from our mutual assault upon
bigotry, inequality and Ignorance"
The United States, DR.. Weaver
asserted, is ION the brink Of what
promises to be one of the most
dynamic periods of intergroup re-
lations in the nation and in the
world In this country, the legal
basis of racial segregation in public
facilities has been destroyed, and
slowly and surely we are translat-
ing a legal right into reality"
Elected last January to succeed
Dr. Claiming H. Tobias as NAA-
CP Board chairman, DR.. Weaver
is a member Of New York City
new three-man Housing and Re-
development Board. He was New
York State Rent Administrator
WIZ - - ~