St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-04-27

inually weaving
clients away from Maurice White
the established Mill City barber
shops.
However, it is not his barbering
ability which warrants my writing
about this newcomer from Flint,
Michigan, but his opinions about
the Mill City Negro community.
Bob believes there are three
things needful in the Minneapolis
Negro community: a Negro on the
city council, brighter outlook
for the future for the youth, and
greater race solidarity.
Bob says, "We've got to have
voice downtown. We need someone
in the city council who knows the
Negroes problems and will fight
for them, and no one knows the
Negroes problems but a Negro.
You've got to be in California to
know what California is like.
White people say they know the
Negroes problems, but that's not
true. Only a Negro knows what
his problems are because he has
grown up with them and lived
with them and lived with them all
of his life"
Bob went on to say that, mot
just any Negro will do. He must
be the right one. You don't want a
man who will put on white shirt,
drive a Cadillac and say to hell
with the people"
1 stated that the Minneapolis
Negro population was neither large
enough nor was it concentrated
enough to support Negro can
didate for a council seat and point
ed out what had happened when
Judge L. Howard Bennett ran for
reelection.
Bob replied that this was just
an excuse people used to find an
easy way out, which was due to
a lack of a sense of civic respon-
IF the man is the right
man, even the white people will
vote for him They did in Flint |
(Michigan)."
Bob said he realized that the
first attempt to put a Negro on
the city council might fail. 1T may
take two or three times before
we can get a man in the council,
but the main thing is that we keep
trying"
The second thing Bob believes the
Negro community should work to-
ward is to secure a brighter future
for the Mill City Negro youth. AS
for employment, %. they have
to grow up to but Honey
well or that other plant" II as
sumed the other plant was Mime
apolis Moline.)
"And socially, from what 1 hear
from the kids who come into my
shop, all they have to look for
ward to are house parties, where
they either turn into drug addicts
or DRINKS" AS a replacement for
house parties, Bob proposes that
the Negro businessmen sponsor
such things as baseball teams for
the youths.
Also, Bob says there should be a
Dairy bar where the youth could
meet and mingle.
Lastly, Bob said, "As a group we
will continue to be low position
people until we establish greater
group unity among ourselves.
Sure, we have some individuals
who are doing fine, but what good
is it unless we help each other"
But before we can achieve I'M
ity," Bob went on, I'VE must first
have respect and confidence in
each other. When we have respect
and confidence in each other then
we will grow and gain the same
thing from the white people"
Nevertheless, on the whole, Bob
predicted a bright future for the
Negro in Minnesota IF he
will work for it." Bob said that
Is why he came here. He hopes to
help build that bright future.
Bob Campbell, 33, lives with his
wife, Barbara, and three of their
four children - Robert and Robin,
two and one-half and Rodney, 16
months - at 3239 Fourth Av. s.
The fourth child, Jennifer three
and a half, is still in Michigan.
~