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NAACP newsletters, Fort Madison Branch, 1967-1970

1970-05-14 Newsletter, Fort Madison Branch of the NAACP Page 1

Fort Madison Branch 
OF THE 
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

NEWSLETTER, MAY 14, 1970

Fort Madison, Iowa 52627

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING - 5:30 PM
REGULAR MEMBERSHIP MEETING - 6:30 PM
Sunday May 17, 1970
Council Room -City Hall

"Economically, blacks in America are climbing up a mountain of molasses in snowshoes while white Americans are riding up in a ski lift."
- Julian Bond on the economic plight of blacks in America

" TIME TO SPEAK UP "

'The deepening schism within the Negro community over tactics and goals, gleefully fostered and distorted by insensitive and irresponsible news media, is headed toward a major internal crisis requiring each of us to stand up and be counted. Differences among black folk in this country are no new, but a new ingredient has been added --- the attempt by a small minority of black extremists to force compliance with its views and tactics. This nihilistic minority professes disdain for all "white" values while at the same time invoking and utilizing, as instruments of controversy, the worst practices of the most benighted stratum of white society, to wit, obscene name calling, threats, intimidation, suppression of opposing views and violence. 
The emergence of this swaggering band   of black extremists demanding abandonment of democratic methods and goals and a reversal of the trend toward integration must be met head on by the vast majority of Negroes who reject the minority's tactics and goals. To be sure, the new mood has been generated by white America's historic racism. In turn, the new black mood nurtures further white racism. 
Campaigning in New York City last month, Senator Edmund Muskie, the Democratic nominee for Vice President, challenged responsible people of both races to speak up. "We must break through the terrible cycle of action and reaction, assault and counter-assault, hatred and response to hatred. " he said. 
"The only way to break this vicious cycle," Senator Muskie continued, "is for the moderates of both communities to cope with the merchants of hate and violence within their own ranks. To date, the moderates both black and white --- have been too silent."
On our part, as on the part of white folk, there is urgent need for strong and unequivocal reaffirmation of our commitment to the democratic processes as a means of attaining, here in our homeland, full, equal and unfettered rights for America's 22,000,000 black folk. This means a repudiation of this nihilism of the extremists who are shrilly and insistently espousing apartheid; racism, including anti-Semitism; intimidation and violence. 
Most famous of the extremists' exhortations is the call for "black revolution" -- the seizure of power by the Negro minority. Any revolution remotely possible in this country at this time would not be one that advances the position and cause of Negroes.

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Fort Madison Branch OF THE National Association for the Advancement of Colored People NEWSLETTER, MAY 14, 1970 Fort Madison, Iowa 52627 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING - 5:30 PM REGULAR MEMBERSHIP MEETING - 6:30 PM Sunday May 17, 1970 Council Room -City Hall "Economically, blacks in America are climbing up a mountain of molasses in snowshoes while white Americans are riding up in a ski lift." - Julian Bond on the economic plight of blacks in America " TIME TO SPEAK UP " 'The deepening schism within the Negro community over tactics and goals, gleefully fostered and distorted by insensitive and irresponsible news media, is headed toward a major internal crisis requiring each of us to stand up and be counted. Differences among black folk in this country are no new, but a new ingredient has been added --- the attempt by a small minority of black extremists to force compliance with its views and tactics. This nihilistic minority professes disdain for all "white" values while at the same time invoking and utilizing, as instruments of controversy, the worst practices of the most benighted stratum of white society, to wit, obscene name calling, threats, intimidation, suppression of opposing views and violence. The emergence of this swaggering band of black extremists demanding abandonment of democratic methods and goals and a reversal of the trend toward integration must be met head on by the vast majority of Negroes who reject the minority's tactics and goals. To be sure, the new mood has been generated by white America's historic racism. In turn, the new black mood nurtures further white racism. Campaigning in New York City last month, Senator Edmund Muskie, the Democratic nominee for Vice President, challenged responsible people of both races to speak up. "We must break through the terrible cycle of action and reaction, assault and counter-assault, hatred and response to hatred. " he said. "The only way to break this vicious cycle," Senator Muskie continued, "is for the moderates of both communities to cope with the merchants of hate and violence within their own ranks. To date, the moderates both black and white --- have been too silent." On our part, as on the part of white folk, there is urgent need for strong and unequivocal reaffirmation of our commitment to the democratic processes as a means of attaining, here in our homeland, full, equal and unfettered rights for America's 22,000,000 black folk. This means a repudiation of this nihilism of the extremists who are shrilly and insistently espousing apartheid; racism, including anti-Semitism; intimidation and violence. Most famous of the extremists' exhortations is the call for "black revolution" -- the seizure of power by the Negro minority. Any revolution remotely possible in this country at this time would not be one that advances the position and cause of Negroes.