St. Paul recorder., 1963-10-24
Continued from Page II

active NAACP member since 1924,
said in an interview that there
always had been a race problem
in Milwaukee. She pointed to the
fact that Negroes living here 40
years ago felt it necessary to or
ganize an NAACP chapter.
Sees Progress
She does not feel that the out
look for the Negro here is bleak.
On the contrary, she cites specific
evidence Of some progress.
One Of the most important, she
said, was the fact that more white
people are becoming aware, inter
ested and active in the struggle
for Negro equality. More Of them
are realizing that they have a
stake in the Negro problem, she
said.
There Is, however, some division
among Negro leaders themselves
AN of them agree the problem
must be solved and solved fast.
They disagree on methods.
At one extreme are the Black
Mushms, who want an all-Negro
state. At the other extreme there
is a go Slow group. These are
not organized and consist Of Ne
groes that profit from or have self
interest in continued racial segre-
cation. Both extremes represent
probably less than So of the Ne
gro population.
More Militant Than Not
The bulk of the Negro popula-
ton subScrdbes to neither view.
But most Of them agree with the
more militant stand Of CORE and
the NAACP, than with the more
moderate position Of the Urban
league.
Il have no time 10 be generous
with those who feel that the Negro
should be more cautious" said
Atty. Lloyd Barbee, president Of
the Wisconsin NAACP.
The NAACP has never had more
than $500 members and CORE can
claim less than 200. But though
not active in these groups, the
overwhelming majority of Milwau-
KEGS Negroes endorsed the recent
demonstrations here over the social
development commission.
The Negro problems are appar-
ent 10 the most dedicated leaders,
One of these Is crime.
Although about one-tenth of the
population, the Negro represented
almost one in three of the arrests
made in 1862 by Milwaukee police
-11,012 Negroes in a total OF
1881.
Figures May Mislead
Negroes quickly point out that
this arrest figure Is not necessarily
indicative Of a crime rate. Police
frequently stop Negroes - COM
pletely innocent ones - for no ap.
parent reason, they say. The reaj
cause, of course, is their high Wis,
ibthty and their place at the bot
tom of the socfo-economic ladder
Said one Negro spokesman:
There are some places in the
city where it would not be un-
usual for a Negro doctor to be
stopped and even arrested by po,
lice just because he happened tc
be in the neighborhood."
Illegitimacy is another problem
Forty per cent of the unwed
mothers in Milwaukee county are
Negro. Sociologists and welfare
workers say this is a direct result
of adverse social pressures that
grow out of racial discrimination
But only 81 of the unwed Negro
mothers give up their babies for
adoption, compared with 66% OF
the white mothers.
The death rate for Negro babies
born in Milwaukee is nearly double
that for white babies. The rate is
As per 1000 for Negro babies, &c
for white babies.
TB Rate Higher
The tuberculosis death rate in
1859 for Negroes in Milwaukee was
25 per 100000 while the death
rate for whites was Sc per 100, 1000.
These figures do not prove a
denial Of medical facilities to Ne
groes, but reflect conditions and
culture.
Automation Is taking its toll
among Negro workers and when
the unemployment compensation
checks stop and the severance pay
Is spent, these families go on the
relief rolls.
Negroes make UP a dispropor-
ttonate number Of those on public
welfare.
Once a Negro family starts re-