Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-06-16

didn't live happily ever
nth, could be relied upon to be
James Farmer, himself q formel
staff member Of the National As.
ISOLATION for the Advancement Of
Colored People (NAACP), callec
on NAACP Executive Secretary
Roy wilkins to apprise him OF TIN
trip. Certain aspects Of the ride:
are at variance with basic NAACF
policy and wilkins could do little
more than suggest local NAACF
people who would possibly givt
the riders aid and comfort along
the way.
When the rides resulted in blood
shed at Montgomery, DR.. Martin
Luther King was in Chicago. II
was Sunday and DR.. King was
scheduled to fly into New York for
an appearance on "Open End" a
television program, with wilkins,
DR.. Gardner Taylor, Jackie Robin
son and myself. Instead, and ]
think rightly so, King flew into
Montgomery and used his towering
influence to contain the Negro
population.
In reality, King had nothing to
do with the freedom ride; nor, as
have said, did the NAACP. Yet
they all combined to offer comfort
and bail to the embattled riders.
More, as Montgomery was making
headlines, additional Freedom Rid
ers under separate auspices were
boarding buses in Atlanta for
further assaults against segrega-
ton.
This kind Of ground-swen action
cannot be contained. No one leader
or group of leaders for that mat
ter-can promise anything. They
didn't start the rides; they cannot
control them.
Secondly, the point of compro-
mise was passed at Montgomery;
the issue is defined and we are
now in a fight to the finish. The
various civil rights organizations
differ on many things, but in this
they are one: The assault upor
segregation must get stronger, moi
weaker; more intense, not less FIRE.
quent- predict a most amazing
summer: The slogan will be "GC
South for Your Vacation" and thu
South will be overrun by youths
and adults, Negro and white, flout
ing the traditions Of segregation
Thirdly, current events have re
duced the civil rights struggle to 1
moral issue. The Attorney Gen
erals plea that we cease our eff
forts Is like the policeman telling
the good man not to shoot tn,
thief for fear that the report nigh
disturb the slumbering community
Would the Administration admon
ish the Africans Of Angola to relaI
rather than upset the North At
lantic Treaty Organization? o
would 1t advise the Africans o
Kenya not to press for independ
ence because the white settlers ar
not quite ready to surrender tn
cherished white highlands?
Finally, I am moved to commen
that we Negroes are convinced tina
we are, on the whole, better Ameri
cans than our white brothers. w,
believe in what our freedom docu
ments say; the white power struc
ture does not. 1t follows them
least in our minds 1t does that 1
this country Is to be saved. II It 4
to assume the posture IT processes
we must carry the load by insist
ing that the Republic become wha
It swears 1t already Is.
Although we file our suit In tn
name of civil rights. we actual.
appear as a friend Of freedom an
human justice. II our plea is hear
and acted upon, the West-th
United States, really viii TAX
q long step toward correcting IL
relationships with the non-whit
| peoples Of the world. Most Of thes
peoples are Western in mind an
temperament; their estrangemen
they call it "neutralism" -
largely due to our default on tn
matter Of mistreatment and ex
Iploitation.
In basic terms, then, this Is wha
the freedom rides are about. tn
unpredictable Negro is on tn
loose; he is apt to oppose segrega
ton anywhere, anytime, in an,
manner. And when he does tn
powerful leadership organization
win forget their pickering an
close ranks about him.
We know the Republic Ia EN-
barrassed by these incidents. Blu
experience has taught US that on
relief II coincident with that en-
barrassment We deny, however
that we occasion the embarrasl
ment- When we sit in a waitin
room. we are taking the Conatiki