Minneapolis spokesman., 1963-10-24

~---S S~@N
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
MuSlims, who want an an-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-
tion 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.
II have no time to be generous
with those vino 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 car
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 socia,
development commission.
The Negro problems are appar'
ent to 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 1852 by Milwaukee police
lit ,012 Negroes in a total O.
38,311.
Figures May Mislead
Negroes quickly point out tina
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 rea
cause, of course, is their high Wis
ibdhty and their place at the bot
tom of the socio-economic ladder
Said one Negro spokesman:
There are some places in tn,
city where 1t would not be un
usual for a Negro doctor to b,
stopped and even arrested by po
lice just because he happened h
be in the neighborhood."
nlegftimacy is another problem
. Forty per cent of the mweC
mothers in Milwaukee county an
Negro. Sociologists and welfar
workers say this Is a direct resul
of adverse social pressures tina
grow out of racial discrimination
But only 6% Of the unwed Negrt
mothers give up their babies TO
adoption, compared with 66% o
the white mothers.
The death rate for Negro babde:
born In Milwaukee Is nearly doubl,
that for white babies. The rate L
45 per 1000 for Negro babies, q
for white babies.
TB Rate Higher
The tuberculosis death rate II
1859 for Negroes in Milwaukee wa!
rs per 100000 while the deatl
rate for whites was Sc per 100, 900
These figures do not prove &
denial Of medical facilities 10 Ne
groes, but reflect conditions ant
culture.
| Automation Is talking its toll
among Negro workers and wher
the unemployment compensation
checks stop and the severance pay
ts spent, these families go ON tn.
lrelief rolls.
Negroes make up a dispropor
tionate number Of those on publ.
welfare.
] Once a Negro family starts re