Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1960-06-24

to real change when the whites
realize that the Negroes just aren't
having II any more"
The leaders and representatives Of
the new generation Of Southern
Negroes who have shown that In
spite of jeers, threats, jails or mobs
they just aren't having 1t any
more" assembled Easter weekend
at Shaw University In Raleigh,
N. c., and affirmed that the move
ment they began with the lunch
counter demonstrations was only
the beginning Of their struggle for
fun equality.
II there had been any possibility
that the spirit of protest born IN
the student sit-ins that have brolS-
en- out in every state in the South
would peter out as a passing fad.
there was no such possibility after
this conference. The meeting, which
was sponsored by the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference
"a new organization led by the
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and
other young Southern Negro min
isters) established goals, strategy
and lines Of communication for the
future in a series Of discussions
and workshops held by the students
Up to this point, the student DEM
onstrations have been spontaneous;
in the future they win not be. The
students now have their own or
ganization, which win work with,
but not be led by, adult groups
such as the Southern Christian
Lea d ership Conference, CORE
Congress on Racial Equality and
the NAACP, as well as local church
and civic groups.
HOumB W. OAd
The question Of the role Of ad-
ults in the student movement was
a tclxlish one, for in a sense the
movement is a protest not only
against segregation practices, but
against the older Negro leaders.
Where many sit-ins have taken
place, older Negroes have been
skeptical and fearful Of the re-
suits, feeling that the students
were going too far" at the pres
emit time. At a recent meeting Of
the Montgomery Improvement As
ISOLATION, the organization which
carried out the Negro bus boycott,
the Rev. s. s. Seay chided his
fellow elders by saying that "a
lot Of our people don't seem to
understand what the young people
are doing-they say they don't
agree with them. Well, that just
means they aren't catching the
significance Of events-it's a case
of intellectual sluggishness."
The conflict on tactics has ac-
tually been going on for some time
throughout the South. In Atlanta,
for instance, the local NAACP
lawyer who had led the Negro COM
munity's battle for civil rights for
several decades opposed a group of
younger Negroes, in their late
/ twenties and early thirties, when
they wanted to boycott the city's
segregated trolley cars several
years ago. The elders felt that
it wasn't the right time, but the
young Turks" won out, the boy
colt was successful, and the young
er men emerged as the more in
fluential leaders in the Negro COM
munity.
The sit-ins have brought the stu
dents feeling Of protest over the
adults slow tactics into the
open, and after some initial reluct.
ance, most Of the adults have got
ten behind the movement with
moral, legal and financial help
The student action has, in fact
become a great source Of pride
and new morale for their elders
who have been In the battle 81
long.
4 Miss Ella ]. Baker, executive d.
] rector Of the Southern Christian
: Leadership Conference, told thG
9 adults at the rally that ''Th1
8 younger generation Is challenging
E you and me-they are asking US t
e forget our laziness and doubt anC
= fear, and follow our dedication t
I the truth to the bitter end"
And King, In the evenings mar
d speech, hit hard at the same theme
= saying that the student movement
y els also a revolt against thu
e apathy and complacency Of ad
= ults in the Negro community
n against Negroes in the middle
: class who indulge in buying car
{ and homes instead Of taking Of
n the great cause that viii reall!
n solve their problems; against thos'
= who have become so afraid the!
yielded to the system"
ii (COntinued Next Week)