Box 15, Folder 1, Document 96

Box 15, Folder 1, Document 96

GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
September 17, 1967

Whitney M. Young Jr.



Biracial Coalition,

Leadership Crucial

This summer’s racial vio-
lence has caused a crisis of
leadership. The riots have made;
it easy for ‘“backlashers’’ to;
justify resistance to necessary
social changes. But this leads to
a dangerous polarization of at-,
titudes which could lead to more
violence.

Negro leadership has lived up
to its responsibility by speaking
out against riots and by pro-)
posing rational programs to end
their causes. Now it is time for
white leader-'
ship to speak
out and con-
demn the
backlash er s
and start do-
ing something
to end the
ghetto’s prob-
lems.

Chure he §s,
= , liberal organi-

zations, politi-
SOUNG cal clubs, bus-
iness and labor, interracial and
human relations groups, all.
have to speak out now and re-
gain the initiative from the|
backlashers. They have been si-
lent for too long.

There are signs that some
leaders realize the urgency of
the situation and are willing to
join the coalition so desperate-
ly needed if our country is to}
have peace and progress. I took’
part in a recent meeting to!
form just such a group. i



It is called the Urban Coali-
tion, and our first meeting in-
cluded leaders of business, la-
bor, religion, city mayors, and
civil rights groups. From this;
came proposals for an emer-
gency work program to provide
jobs and training for the unem-;
ployed, the establishment of job.
centers in cities, and the com-’
mitment of private industry to
take all steps necessary to in-
sure full employment. ;

This last item is especially’
significant because business has:
not done enough to provide the.
jobs and training needed. Ne-
gro workers are unemployed at:
a rate more than twice that)
for white workers and Negro,
family income is $3,000 less per!
year than for white families.:
Something has to be done about
this—now.

Many business leaders under-
stand that they have a tremen-
dous stake in urban peace and
some of them realize they can’t
afford to continue old ways of
doing things. But the real test
will come at the local level.
Businessmen and community
leaders are going to have to
come forward with vigorous
support for radical changes.

That is why various local ur-;
ban coalitions are now being
formed. In New York, for ex-|
ample, Mayor Lindsay, who,
was at our meeting, has set up:
a New York Coalition of local!
leadership to attack ghetto|
problems. Other cities and re-|
gions will do the same. '

The Urban Coalition could he
the most extitmg mew develop-
ment in a long time—but only
if its members are sincere in
‘pushing for radical change. The
time is long past for mere lip
service to the ideals of equality.
Responsible leaders and estah-
lished organizations must be
given the resources to deal ade-
quately with ghetto problems.
Negro citizens are tired of be-
ing promised jobs and not get-
ting them, they have been lied
to once too often.

The business and civic lead-
ers now forming such coalitions
in their communities will have
to deliver on their promises.
This coalition will have to cre-
ate jobs and strengthen the eco-
nomic life of the ghetto. It will
have to end racial barriers in
housing, health and education.
These can't be temporary steps
to stave off a riot; they must
be steps which get at the heart
of the problems caused by rac-
ism and solve them permanent-
ly.

We really have little choice.
This country can take the high
road to social progress and

equality by a strong commit-

ment to far-reaching programs
to create jobs and better living
conditions for the urban poor.
or it can take the low road to
social disaster and violence by
letting the backlashers speak
for it and allowing ghetto con-
ditions to worsen. We have to
take that high road.