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NAACP newsletters, Fort Madison Branch, Fort Madison, Iowa, 1968
Page 005
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-5- young people and adults who do not live under the burden of poverty and prejudice. A 30 minute film it is a serious approach to poverty and prejudice. "GRADUATE TO OPPORTUNITY" shows 64 jobs which are held by Negroes. A sound and color filmstrip which lasts 28 minutes, it is especially appropriate for youth and young adults. Excellent and fast moving. Sound and scenes can be useful in attempting to raise vocational aims of Negro youth. *PLAN NEGRO FARM PLACEMENTS - Racial Justice Now Task Force which is sponsored by the Iowa Conference of the United Church of Christ met in Grinnell on March 1. Those at the meeting initiated steps to bring two more Negro farm families from the Mississippi Delta area to good jobs with good housing on two Iowa Farms. There is a recent surplus of Mississippi farm workers and a current shortage in Iowa of qualified married farm workers. "For I am you, staring back from a mirror of poverty and despair, of revolt and freedom. Look at me and know that to destroy me is to destroy yourself. You are weary of the long hot summers. I am tired of the long hungered winters. We are not so far apart as it might seem. There is something about both of us that goes deeper than blood or black and white. It is our common search for a better life, a better world. I march now over the same ground you once marched. I fight for the same things you still fight for. My children's needs are the same as your children. I too am America. America is me. It gave me the only life I know - so I must share in its survival. Look at me. Listen to me. Try to understand my struggle against your racism. There is yet a chance for us to live in peace beneath these restless skies." -From an article in LIFE March 8, 1968 by Gordon Parks "WHAT I WANT...WHAT I AM...WHAT YOU FORCE ME TO BE...IS WHAT YOU ARE The new concept for the proposed relocation of Highway 61 through the city of Fort Madison, provokes much thought. First of all, it makes one wonder just HOW much thought was given the proposed concept by those who stood up and said they were in favor of it! It was interesting to note that not one of these persons lives in the area that will be affected,...nor were any of them people who at any time would have had trouble buying a home north of Avenue L. When one looks at where land can be obtained and houses,...not projects, can be build that will be in the price range that will be within the reach of many of the people who will be affected. n-one, and certainly not the persons who have given their approval to the plan, is going to want to rent after they have worked hard for years to buy or build their own homes. It is even more though provoking when you stop to consider that there are quite a few people in the area to be affected who are at an age where they are unable to get jobs. It has been said that there will be "relocation"..., but, more than that is needed. Where,...and how? This is not a matter or concern, just because Negroes will be affected, but because there are people in this area who will be literally forced out of their homes, not for a project that will benefit the community, as a whole, but for reasons which still have not been explained in satisfactory manner. In one part of the affected area,...we do have a ghetto,...but Fort Madison is responsible for that! In fact, though the contrary has been stated, there are nice homes in the area as well as some which would be sub-standard,...anywhere. On the other hand, there are people living in this area who are as much of a citizen of this community as the city fathers, and their rights are just as important as are the rights of those who take the stand that the proposed concept is the most 'feasible'. All over this country, highways are being built to by-pass smaller and larger towns than this, and anyone who spends any amount of time traveling on the highway, knows that you only top in those towns you plan to. The bypass is an aid in helping you to reach your destination. The rights of every citizen should be respected! University of Iowa Libraries. Iowa Women's Archives
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-5- young people and adults who do not live under the burden of poverty and prejudice. A 30 minute film it is a serious approach to poverty and prejudice. "GRADUATE TO OPPORTUNITY" shows 64 jobs which are held by Negroes. A sound and color filmstrip which lasts 28 minutes, it is especially appropriate for youth and young adults. Excellent and fast moving. Sound and scenes can be useful in attempting to raise vocational aims of Negro youth. *PLAN NEGRO FARM PLACEMENTS - Racial Justice Now Task Force which is sponsored by the Iowa Conference of the United Church of Christ met in Grinnell on March 1. Those at the meeting initiated steps to bring two more Negro farm families from the Mississippi Delta area to good jobs with good housing on two Iowa Farms. There is a recent surplus of Mississippi farm workers and a current shortage in Iowa of qualified married farm workers. "For I am you, staring back from a mirror of poverty and despair, of revolt and freedom. Look at me and know that to destroy me is to destroy yourself. You are weary of the long hot summers. I am tired of the long hungered winters. We are not so far apart as it might seem. There is something about both of us that goes deeper than blood or black and white. It is our common search for a better life, a better world. I march now over the same ground you once marched. I fight for the same things you still fight for. My children's needs are the same as your children. I too am America. America is me. It gave me the only life I know - so I must share in its survival. Look at me. Listen to me. Try to understand my struggle against your racism. There is yet a chance for us to live in peace beneath these restless skies." -From an article in LIFE March 8, 1968 by Gordon Parks "WHAT I WANT...WHAT I AM...WHAT YOU FORCE ME TO BE...IS WHAT YOU ARE The new concept for the proposed relocation of Highway 61 through the city of Fort Madison, provokes much thought. First of all, it makes one wonder just HOW much thought was given the proposed concept by those who stood up and said they were in favor of it! It was interesting to note that not one of these persons lives in the area that will be affected,...nor were any of them people who at any time would have had trouble buying a home north of Avenue L. When one looks at where land can be obtained and houses,...not projects, can be build that will be in the price range that will be within the reach of many of the people who will be affected. n-one, and certainly not the persons who have given their approval to the plan, is going to want to rent after they have worked hard for years to buy or build their own homes. It is even more though provoking when you stop to consider that there are quite a few people in the area to be affected who are at an age where they are unable to get jobs. It has been said that there will be "relocation"..., but, more than that is needed. Where,...and how? This is not a matter or concern, just because Negroes will be affected, but because there are people in this area who will be literally forced out of their homes, not for a project that will benefit the community, as a whole, but for reasons which still have not been explained in satisfactory manner. In one part of the affected area,...we do have a ghetto,...but Fort Madison is responsible for that! In fact, though the contrary has been stated, there are nice homes in the area as well as some which would be sub-standard,...anywhere. On the other hand, there are people living in this area who are as much of a citizen of this community as the city fathers, and their rights are just as important as are the rights of those who take the stand that the proposed concept is the most 'feasible'. All over this country, highways are being built to by-pass smaller and larger towns than this, and anyone who spends any amount of time traveling on the highway, knows that you only top in those towns you plan to. The bypass is an aid in helping you to reach your destination. The rights of every citizen should be respected! University of Iowa Libraries. Iowa Women's Archives
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