St. Paul recorder., 1963-12-26

that these are the sad facts of life
concerning the Negro in this coun-
try.
In 100 counties in eight southern
states surveyed in 1855, only five
percent of Negroes Of voting age
could vote.
Today, after the passage of two
civil rights acts and the bringing
of some SO voting rights suits by
the Department of Justice, NEGRO
registration in these counties has
risen to no more than 8.3 per cent.
Today, 10 years after the Su-
preme Court said school segrega-
ton was Illegal, Negro school chill
dren attend segregated schools in
all parts of the nation.
The report points out that for
the school year of 1962-63, Ne
groes are attending formerly all
white schools in less than 1000 of
the 5000 school districts in the
Southern and Border states with
both Negro and white school-age
populations. 1t adds:
with few exceptions, truly vol
UNFAIRLY desegregation has been
rare. Where desegregaHon has oc-
CURED the typical pattern has been
'tokenism' and the action taken
has either followed a court order
or has been precipitated by pend
ing or threatened litigation"
The report emphasizes that al
though the Federal government has
spent millions in job-generating
programs, 7 out of 10 Negroes en-
ployed as a result of these pro-
grams were hired as laborers.
And in the nationwide technic-
ian training programs, the report
states "only 80 percent Of all
trainees were Negroes las COM
pared to 20.5 percent in the Fed
eral job-generating programs)."
After investigation, the Commits.
sion concluded also that the ad-
ministration of justice has rarely
been equal when 1t came to Ne
groes and that the Constitutional
rights of protest demonstrators in
Birmingham, Baton Rouge, Jack
son and Memphis had been violated
by state and local officials.
1t came as no surprise to Ne
groes to hear the Commission say:
"Protestors in these cities were
for seeking to use public
ly owned or operated facilities.
The Supreme Court has consistent
ly held that State and local gov
ernments may not segregate such
THE Commissions study of
health facilities and services re-
vealed that institutions in every
section of the country discrimin-
ate against Negro patients and
physicians.
DISCRIMINATION ranges from
total exclusion or separate facil-
tiles to segregated Accommodations
within the same facility"
The Commission was not loathe
to point out that the Federal gov
ernment, through the Hill-Burton
program, has - and Is - paying
for this segregation to the tune Of
some 81 billions.
The situation is hardly any bet
ter in the area Of housing, in spite
of the Presidents Housing Execu-
tive Order Of Nov. 20, 1862 which
covers only FILA and VAInsured
mortgages (after that date), but
failed to include conventional mort
gage activities Of federally assist
ed lenders.
The Commission report finally
noted, unfortunately for the Negro,
that the racial issue "is too fraught
with moral implications to be cap
able Of exclusively legal solutions"
One Washington newspaper
thought this to be a striking revel-
alton by the Commission, adding:
I'VE think this Is profoundly right.
The problem presents a challenge
bo the religious and educational
and civic leaders of the American
people.
IT." the papers editorial con-
hnues, ''is a problem that can be
solved only through an awakening
Of the American conscience. This
Is the supreme task Of leadership"
Patronize Your