Minneapolis spokesman., 1963-10-03
Irresponsible Picketing
Not The Answer

Not The Answer
The piclceting of the Minneapolis Athletic Club
last week is an example of the rresponsbility, which
can be product of the resentment, and Illustration
Of the American Negro discrimination in many
areas Of employment
We call the pdcketing irresponsible" because
the Minneapolis Athletic Club, private organiza-
ton, which has services it sells to the public, has
hong record Of employment Of Negroes.
Many of the leading Negroes in Minneapolis had
their first jobs at this private club and there
still about 40 Negroes employed there. A complaint
had been lodged against certain alleged discrmin-
atory internal practices of club management with
the Minneapolis fair employment practices commits
sson This complaint was being Investigated at the
time the picket line was established
We fail to see the logic of pdcketng private
club which has a long record of employment of Ne
gToes and which has no services which sold to
the Negro population, especially when there are
dozens OF business firms in downtown Minneapolis
which hire no Negroes in any capacity and firms
which hire them and discriminate in upgrading and
promotions.
In the struggle for American Negro rights
which is going on in the United States and in
the armed forces overseas, this newspaper thinks
that the technique for protest and advancement
should vary in detail with each community, and be
In Minneapolis and ST. Paul this newspaper is
in favor of direct protest pickeng and demonstra-
tions only after the ordinary channels communca-
tion and negotiation which exist and have been built
up through the years have been exhausted and
fail to bring results.
AS early 1884, 20 years ago this newspaper
organized effective picket line the Minneapolis
Nortnside which brought a number of jobs for the
Negroes, whose patronage was keeping a number Of
f1ha firms in Elft tba
only last resort and only after negotiations and
conferences failed to bring satisfactory results In
those days picxetng and demonstrating were not
the popular pasarne they are now Nor did they have
the wide public appreciation, and the possibilities
for individual fame and prestige
This newspaper has supported and been in
volved in a number Of picket hnes-always after
communication had broken down between the Negro
community and the offending parties. One such
picket line was the which marched 20 years ago
before a downtown theatre which was showing the
angled anti-Negro film '"The Birth Of the Nation"
which was discontinued after the public protest cut
down the receipts We remember among those
pdcketing the theatre were such well known persons
as Mrs. w. D. Brown, Sr. Miss L. o. Smith the at
torney, and Hilda Smms the actress.
In Minnesota each Of the three large cities have
fair employment practices commissions where dis
elimination in employment be dealt with If
has an agency which has been set up for the same
purpose.
IF these governmental units have not made a
real dent in the stin too prevalent job discrimination
in Minnesota the fault lies as much with the people
the agencies were set up to protect as with the
sman budgeted regulatory public agencies. These
agencies not set up to go out and hunt job bias
but must act only complaints furnished by per
sons who claim their rights TO employment have
been denied ON account of race or religion.
For several reasons, public apathy being one of
Them none OF these agencies do as effective Job as
they ought. Negroes and other mnorites do not use
their services and often when they do, they expect
miracles to be accomplished with poor cases.
In the meantime If those who are so anxious
10 picket would do their demonstrating before COM
mercial firms catering to the public where Negroes
annually spend thousands Of dollars, they will obtain
public support from both white and Negro provid-
ing of course there has been prior attempt to
negotiate with offending firms
There Is widespread sympathy in the white pop
ation of the Twin Cities for greater extension Of
job opportunities to Negroes. Many corporations
which have dragged their feet for years are now
bEdly and seriously recruiting Negro workers at all
levels. This has been going for weeks without
picket lines and for the communitys sake we are
anxious that the progress continue and not be ham,
pered by precpitate action Of ambitious and some
time well meaning persons seeking recognition and
power without consideration for the solid progress
which Is being made here and the great number of
friends the Negro community enjoys in it's struggle
for equality.
Al Too.+ 0-o EI:Ao To%