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Th* Kernar Report Plus On* Y**r—onCalmingRacialTensions(EDITOR’S NOTE: A year ago next Sunday the Kerner d Commission reported there was i a growing gull between black t and white Americans which0 might result in separate and1 hostile societies. As the anniversary approached, UPI reporters in II cities that have exper*j ienced violence each asked a white and a black leader what has happened in die past 12 months. Arnold Sawislak of s|UPI’s Washington bureau sums up their findings in the following dispatch.)schools, police behavior and the quality of local public services.And even among those who said tension was easing there were few confident predictions that riots could not occur again.ViIIf99By ARNOLD SAWISLAKTwo Chicago aldermen speak of racial tensions and the conditions that cause riots:“A black-white polarizationhas increased in the last year [land the causes of deep11 disturbances remain.’‘Progress in the last year has been good. The greatest advances being made in housing and employment The first observation is from Leon M. Despres, a white man representing Chicago’s halfblack 5th Ward. The second is from Kenneth E. Campbell, the Negro alderman of the almost totally black 20th Ward.They, and local government and community leaders in 10 other U.S. cities that have felt the lash of civil disorder were asked as the first anniversary of the Kerner Commission report approached: “What progress, if any, has been made in your city during the past year toward reducing racial tensionand alleviating conditions thatcause riots?”The replies given United Press International reporters byone black and. one white observer in each city were almost as conflicting and varied as the responses to the Kerner Commission report itself just a year ago. The commission said there was: a growing gulfbetween black and white Americans and filled a good-sized book with proposals for reversing the trend.Some See Progress In general, the replies did not divide by race or the position of the person interviewed. Some Negroes saw progress and some whites were pessimistic, as the Chicago replies demonstrated. Some public officials spoke glowingly of new programs to ease the problems, and others said nothing was being accomplished.There was some consensus on the problems—jobs, housing,Here are some of the replies in capsule form:New York: No improvement seen. Herman Badillo, Bronx borough president, said “The Kerner report has been totally ignored.” The Rev. Milton Galamison, Negro vice president of the Board of Education, said “there have been no substantial changes which would appreciably reduce racial tensions and the possibility offuture riots99waysnBoston: Racial divisivenessseen as the continued problem. Ruth Batson, a black community leader, said “the confrontation has gotten worse in manyMayor Kevin White said There will be no security and no fulfillment to be found in Boston as long as white and black remain symbols of groups in conflict. The highest aspiration of this administration will be to reconcile this city’s peopleHouston: Progress, starting before the Kerner report, was reported. Blair Justice, Human relations aide to the mayor, cited a long list of police community relations, youth employment and ghetto business programs, among others, as helping. Roger Rosenberg Sr., aNegro community leader, said“I look for a cool pleasant summer with no racial trouble in the near future if things keepimproving.”Cleveland: No improvementseen and more trouble predicted. Lewis G. Robinson, cofounder of the Jomo Freedom Kenyatta House, said “it looks as if America has a suicidal tendency—we (blacks) are just a separate country and it is actually getting worse.” Edwards Katalinas, a white city councilman, said “unemployment, education and housing in the problem areas are worse today than eight months ago during the Glenville riot.” Atlanta: A mixed report. Dan Sweat, aid to Mayor Ivan Allen, listed a series of programs aimed at easing tensions, adding “our response to the Kerner report was the key factor to our not having any disturbances last summer.” But Negro state Rep. Julian Bond, while praising Allen, said “I don’t think too much of anything has been done to implement the rccommenda-nearby Plainfield, N.J., said the Model Cities program, with heavy Negro involvement, has been the principal activity over the past year aimed at ccoling off community tension.”San Francisco: Like Atlanta, two views. Mayor Joseph L. Alioto said “There may have been a cooling of tensions because substantial progress was made in overcoming social ills in ghetto neighborhoods.” But Negro councilman Terry Francois, while noting “some significant steps,” in the job and housing-fields under Alioto, said “police-community relations have worsened” and there is unrest in the schoolsfttions.* yNewark: Some progress seen. Phillips E. Schrager, a Negro antipoverty agency official, said “there has been a substantial reduction in tension and substantial progress*made against those factors that contribute to an overt riot situation.” Kenne-Detroit: Progress reported on jobs, but police - communityproblems and other remain. Negro editor Russell Jackson said industry is “trying harder” to solve problems than in mostcities, “but I still don’t think there’s been a great deal of improvement.” Tom Johnson, of the state civil rights agency, spoke of some progress,especially on jobs, but like Jackson saw police relations as the critical issue.Milwaukee:Her white council colleague, Clarence Miller, also mentioned job programs and changes in school courses, adding “I think if we continue along the programs we have now and also accelerate them we can forestall any future riots.”Washington: Opposite views from black and white, The Rev. Channing Phillips, a Negro, said “I haven't seen any evidence of any significant change.” he said police - community, education, employment and housing problems were basically untouched. But former city council chairman John W. Hechinger said progress had been made in consumer protection, citizen involvement in government, and police - community relations. “We are making gains despite the lack of local autonomy,” he said.SEEKING HELPdy Shaw, city administrator inOpen housing cited as progress, but problems remain. Mrs. Vel Phillips, a Negro city council member, said open housing legislation “had a good effect in reducing tensions.” but lost “some of its meaning” because of relocation problems due to urban renewal.WASH INGTON (UPI)—The Nixon administration is seekinghelp from the younger generation in planning for the 1970White House Conference on Children and Youth. Undersecretary John V. Veneman of the Department of Health Education and Welfare told the National Governors Conference Thursday that the preparation for the conference itself would be a device to bridge the generation gap.Coming Events, Phone 663-3112.
Newspaper Details
Greensburg Daily News
Greensburg, Indiana, US
Fri, Feb 28, 1969
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
University O.
MI, USA 13 Jun 2019
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