We Are All Blood Brothers Nationalism James

Home , Another Bag, Blood Brothers (comics), Blood Brothers (musical), James Baldwin, Liberator (Nedor Comics), No Jive

LIBERATORVol . IV, No. 7 JULY 1964 35c

EXCLUSIVE THIS MONTH We Are All Blood Brothers MALCOLM X

Nationalism Harold Cruse

James Baldwin Official Angry Negro Review; Blues For Mr. Charlie Clebert Ford

LIBERATORVol . IV, No . 7 July 1964 1,1111-R .ITOR : is the voice of the Afro-American protest movement in the United Sta.tes and the liberation movement of Africa . Copyright 1964, by AFRO-AMERICAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC. Office: 244 East 46 Street, New York, N .Y . 10017 tel: YUkon 6-5939, area code 212 Subscription Prices: within Continental United States Single copy: 35~ 1 year $3 .00 ; 2 years $5.50 foreign surface mail 1 year $5 .00; foreign air mail 1 year $11 .00 All manuscripts, letters, subscription orders, change of address should be sent to:///;/:R ITIIK 244 East 46 Street, New York, N .Y . 10017 ADVERTISING RATES SENT UPON REQUEST

Daniel H, Watts editor-in-chief EDITORIAL BOARD

Harold Cruse NATIONAL Clebert Ford Carlos E . Russell THE ECONOMICS OF BLACK NATIONALISM (part 1 of 3) Charlie L. Russell by Harold Cruse . . . 8 C . E . Wilson JOHN LEWIS OF SNCC STAFF An Exclusive Interview Clebert Ford . . . 14 by Lowell P . Beveridge, Jr. UN REPORT by Daniel H . Watts . . . 16 production editor NATIONALIST STUDENT Evelyn B . Kalibola CONFERENCE ex . secretary by Don Freeman . . .18 James C . Finkenstoedt THE BAG'S TOO HEAVY distribution by Herb Ottley . . . 19 C lebert Ford UNCHAIN THE LION advertising by Rolland SneIIings . . .20 Leo Carty AFRICA Tom Feelings i Ilustrators WE ARE ALL BLOOD BROTHERS L. Haggins by Malcolm X . . . 4 Robert Mc Lucas U .S . IMAGE IN GHANA Leroy by T . D . Baffoe . . .17 photographers Carty-Esannoson Assoc . THEATRE promotion JAMES BALDWIN : OFFICIAL ADVISORY BOARD ANGRO NEGRO Review of "Blues for Mr. Charlie" James Baldwin by Clebert Ford . . . 7 Ossie Davis SPORTS Len Holt L. H . Michaux BOXING : BLACK HOPE, Richard B . Moore WHITE COP-OUT by Clayton Riley . . .12 Willard Moore Capt . Hugh Mulzac PO ETRY George B . Murphy, Jr . A . Salaam GHOSTS Uthman by Langston Hughes . . .21 Selma Sparks Pau I B . Zuber BOO KS . . . 22

EDITORIAL

Who Speaks For The Negro?

"It matters not what our friends may do; they may make OUR CAUSE theirperpetual theme . . . yetall will be of no avail,so far as we,ourselves, are personally interested without our thinking and acting, as a body, for ourselves ." (Philip A . Bell in the Weekly Advocate, New York, January, 1837) The above statement was made 127 years ago, yet a century later we are still fighting for the right to speak for ourselves . Congressman Adam Clayton Powell is one of the few authentic black leaders who has been democratically elected by the black masses as their spokesman . Despite this incontrovertible fact, the white community through their propaganda mil Is continue to impose on the black community their hand picked handkerchief head "responsible leaders", KING, WILKINS, YOUNG and FARMER . The recent dispute between Congressman Powell and the kindly old professor (complete down to his pipe) from City College, is another clear indication of how the white power structure maintains its stranglehold on the black community . This kindly old professor (a Negro) from the Gothic bluffs overlooking Harlem performed a greatly needed service to the community : his monumental document on Harlem, its ills and its cure is a testament to his personal integrity as a scien- tific researcher . There can be no argument with his conclusions and proposed cures; with the publishing of his report, it was expected by all concerned, including the professor, that he would return to the classroom on the hill . But now we learn that this "naive non-political" professor has solicited the support of the darling of the white Iiberals,our do-nothing Mayor Wagner, to impose once again a hand-picked "nigrah" leader to direct the affairs of this much needed first step program of rehabilitating Harlem . Immediately the white press and the Greek chorus (Uncle Toms) launched the verbal assault; Congressman Powell was being "irresponsible" for insisting that the director of the project must be a black man who has been with the joint project from the beginning and has his roots in the black community, not one who takes the rubbernecking sightseeing tour of Harlem every four years . On the other hand, the white press insists that Mayor Wagner and the professor are for motherhood and against sin; translated into Mau Mau talk, Harlem was once more to be on the receiving end of the shaft . The phrase that is being bandied about today by the white liberals, "who speaks for the Negro," is another device the power structure has come up with in order to divide and rule . No black community has elected King, Wilkins, Young or Farmer as their spokesman; they have never campaigned for "public office," yet we are constantly being told that they speak for us . This lesson should not be lost to the freedom fighters in the South who are giving their lives in order to increase Afro-American voter registration . Even if the right to vote is gained, we must vote for the approved "responsible leader. " Even in the so-called democratic processes, the will of the black people is ignored . Now, White Man, hear this: Adam Clayton Powell was nominated and elected via the secret ballot by the black people of Harlem as our spokesman and leader; until we vote him out of office, he will continue to represent us. No amount of phony white liberalism and missionary tears can change this fact! The one remaining service that the kindlyold professor can perform for Harlem is forhim to retire tothe weed-covered eclectic Gothic structure on 137th Street and Amsterdam Avenue and leave the "driving to us," the black people of the community . DANIEL H . WATTS

LIBER.-ITOR` july 1964 3 We Are All Blood Brothers

Malcolm X

Malcolm X poses beside a statue of President Nkrumah inscribed with The collective African reaction his famous statement, "Seek ye first the political kingdom and all other to America's treatment of the 22 things shall be added unto it. million Afro-Americans first came to my attention in Beirut, Lebanon, where 1 stopped for three days on my way back to Coiro from Mecca . When it was learned that I was in Beirut, the African students at the American University of Beirut immediately arranged for me to lecture at the Sudanese Cultural Cen- ter . The overflow audience received the lecture warmly and gave me a glimpse of the interest, sympathy and support our case has among the people abroad once they fully understand our deplorable plight herein America . The Sudan- ese and Lebanese Muslim students kept me up until 3 a .m . after my lecture, trying to learn how they themselves could help the Afro- American in his struggle for freedom and human dignity . In Nigeria I received an even warmer response at the University of lbadan . After my lecture there, a visiting professor from the West Indies triedto defend America with a verbal attack upon me during the question and answer period . The young Nigerian students leaped on the stage and grabbed the micro- phone from him . Then they ran him off the stage, out of the hall, off the campus, and wou Id have I ynched him had not Dr . Essien Udom (authorof "Black Nationalism," who

Nkrumah's Government has welcomed Afro-American exiles to Ghana ; above are Julian Mayfield (left), Shirley Graham DuBois, Maya Angelo Make, and Alice Windom . is teaching at the University of land of the past in current history, patriates, others as exiles . Many Ibadan) intervened . Africa was definitely the Land of Afro-Americans and West Indians At a banquet that night the stu- the Future . who have migrated to Ghana have dents made me an honorary member Ghana is one of the fastest mov- played a prominent role in the very of the Muslim Student's Society of ing countries on the continent . She progressive intellectual atmosphere Nigeria, and bestowed upon me the knows what she wants and where that prevails throughout the coun- name, Omowale , which in Yoruba she isgoing; her leaders are flexible try . Some of the more famous names means "the child has returned ." enough to experiment with all sorts involved are the late Dr . W .E .B . l appeared on Nigerian T .V . of ideas and methods in order to DuBois, his charming wife (the and radio explaining the plight of take the Ghanaian people forward former Shirley Graham), George the Afro-American to the Nigerian on the path of progress . Padmore, Miss Cecil McHardy, Dr . people . I had private discussions Signs of modernization and in- T .R . Makonnen, and many others . withmony governmentand religious dustrialization are everywhere,and The Ghanaians regard the 22 leaders and other persons of the Ghanaian people show an un million Afro-Americans as their prominence in Nigeria . All showed quenchable thirst for education . long lost brothers, and their con- genuine concern for our problem, President Nkrumah told me himself cern with our plight reflects itself and expressed a sincere desire to that the T .V . network now being at all levels of government . They help . installed in Ghana will be used invited me to lecture at the Uni- Nigeria has unlimited natural primarily to educate his people . It versity of Accra at Legon, at the wealth and beauty . It is impossible will not be misused to corrupt the Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Insti- for that country to be so heavily moralsof the people by giving them tuteat Winneba,and also permitted veg stated and not have h igh I y fer- an overdose of western movies as me to address the Members of the tile, productive soil . With modern has been the case in some of the Ghanaian House of Parliament . agricultural methods Nigeria could other African countries . In fact the My topic in all these speeches easily become the "bread basket of Director of Ghana's T . V . network was the "22 m i I I ion colonized Afro- the world ." In fact, most all of the will be Shirley Graham DuBois,the Americans," the violation of our African continent has this same wifeof the late world famous Afro- human rights by the U .S . govern- natural wealth and beauty . American scholar who renounced ment, and the necessity of the inde- One white American whom I his American citizenship and made pendent nations of Africa, Asia and met in Nigeria, stated emphatically Ghana his home . Latin America giving us their active that Africa was the "last frontier," Ghana probably has the largest andopen support in our struggle for the only continent left with un- Afro-American community on the freedom and human dignity . I en- I im ited untapped suppI ies of notura I continent . The Nkrumah govern countered no closed minds . I found resources . He agreed that if ment has welcomed all of them . open ears and sympathy everywhere . America was to be considered the Some refer to themselves as ex- They told me that injury to us was con nef page

t11;/.N irOrr July 1964 5

Brother Malcolm poses with Shirley Graham DuBois in Accra, Ghana

MALCOLM cont. state todeclare the open support of injury to them, that our problems his government and its 800 million were theirproblems . We are all one people behind the Afro-American people-Africans or of African struggle for freedom and human Somorl;4 descent . We are al I blood brothers! dignity in America . During my hour long audience The Cuban Ambassador, a small, with President Nkrumah he made it boyish-looking man, was an expert ure To clear that he would not consider on Africanaffairs . I proudly visited Samory Toure; (1830-1900), much Ghana free until all Africa and all his embassy and accepted an invi- maligned African warrior-king, was people of African descent are free . tation to his home where I met his the most fearsome adversary that His philosophy of Pan-African ism beautiful wife and children . They the French met in Africa. He de- isthe most advanced political doc- mademefeel likeone of the family . manded, and he set the example, for trine being voiced on the African He was so down-to-earth and un- unfaltering fidelity to principles and Continent today, and for this reason assuming, it wasdifficult to remem- tenacious determination in the face President Nkrumah is both feared ber that he was actual ly H is Excel- of overwhelming odds . An astute and hated by the White Western lency Armando Entralgo . He also political analyst, courageous soldier, Powers who are stiI I trying to main- gave a dinner in my honor to which and masterful strategist, he exempli- tain a neo-colonialist foothold on he invited the entire diplomatic fied "Freedom Fighters" of past and that continentof beautyand wealth . community . present, who have led and will lead While in Ghana I was able to Another very impressive diplo- their people to a better life . confer with ambassadors from at mat was the Algerian Ambassador . Boldly illustrated by Tom Feelings, least fifteen African, Asian and He had a razor-sharp mind, and was and produced by young Afro-Amer- Latin American countries . The en- well-versed in the principles of icans, this booklet will inform and tire Dark World is beginning to see revolution . His image of militant delight everyone . America as the 20th Century's lead- sincerity isstill strongly pictured in ing neo-colonial power . my mind . He led the five ambassa- Your I had tea at the home of the dors who accompanied me to the COPY . $1.5 Chinese ambassador, who later gave airport on the moming that I left a dinner in my honor at the Chinese Ghana for Senegal, Morocco and Send your order to: Embassy . He was very impressive, Algeria . on Travel broadens one's scope . NOMMO associates. inc. intelligent and well-informed Afro-American . My outlook after my five weeks' 1367 Sterling Place, B'klyn 13, N.Y. the plight of the reminded me that tour of the Mid-East and Africa is SL 6-3256-CI 1-0.867 He very politely Mao Tze-Tungwas the first head of much broader than before I left . Theatre

James Baldwin : off icial Angry Negro

Review of "Blues for Mister Charlie" Clebert Ford

My first observation at "Blues Rip Torn and Diana Sands . face the only image of the Afro- for Mr . Charlie" was the racial When one looks closely at the American to be exposed on the composition of the audience . Yes, play its faults, however, become American stage? All blacks don't there were Negroes in attendance, quite obvious . Cases in point : Are desire to love or be loved by our about 20% of that night's audience . the Negroes projected on stage the white society, and Mr . Baldwin But they were not the "jungle" Ne- truthful representation ofthe South- should realize that what the black groes of Harlem or the "box" Ne- ern ruralNegro? WouldnotRichard man wants is just that-to be a free groes of Brooklyn ; rather those E . Henry, the "crazy nigger" pro- man, a free black man, and not Franklin Frazier types who, like tagonist of the piece, be silenced necessarily an "integrated" man . If their liberal white bourgeois by the Negro community long be- Baldwin finds himself becoming brethren, seem to be compelled to fore he was allowed to go far past more alienated from the black com- keep abreast of the revolution as it the point of any reality in Lyle munity hehas onlyhimselftoblame . takes its various courses . This par- Britton's rural country store? Does The black community needs his ticular relationship between audi- Baldwin want to hate or does he talent, his passion, his intelligence ence racial composition and play want to love and be loved? I might and fervor . The James Baldwin of may seem tenuous, but one cannot add that fully fifty percent of "The Fire Next Time" seems to be help but feel that there is o positive "Blues" is devoted to a white point no more . In "Blues" Baldwin the correlation between the lack of of view . Would "Blues" have been playwright instinctively begins to total black support of "Blues" and produced by Actors Studio, certainly say certain truths about freedom, an increasing disenchantment and the establishment of the American black manhood, and the white so- disillusionment with Baldwin in the theatre, had it been written by a ciety . But James Baldwin the offi- Negro community . James Baldwin, Negro other than Baldwin? cial angry Negro intrudes . As a after oil, has become an "inte- It is impossible not to be im- friend of mine said, "in the be- grated" Negro in the fullest sense . pressed by Baldwin'simmense talent ginning he was groovy, but he got Indeed, one could go as far as to after viewing "Blues," but is his lost somewhere ." saythat Boldwinhas beenappointed the "official ongryNegro in charge" or "resident house Negro" by the establ ishment, and we a I I know what James Baldwin at the March in Washington, August, 1963 . this means . Baldwin now finds him- TON NA IRE-TAYLOR self less and less involved in hard core, black community centered activities and more indulged and courted by the white power structure . "Blues" is essentially a rework- ing of the Emmet Till Mississippi lynching of several years ago . Written in a rather eclectic style, imaginatively lighted and surpris- ingly well directed by Burgess Meredith, "Blues" remains con- sistently interesting if not particularly enlightening or fresh in idea or conception, Mr . Meredith has gleaned at least three brilliant performances from AI Freeman, Jr . (who is rapidly becoming one of the finest actors on the American stage),

rru1PI/IM, July 1964 The Econom ics of Black Nationalism Harold Cruse PART ONE OF THREE great conflict between In the attempt to explain the characteristics of the leaders . In The fundamental W .E .B . DuBois and Marcus Garvey conflicts between DuBois and his this fashion was the early 1920's had its roots in rivals, the historians have done the economic question that first split in the Washington, and then the earlier leadership rivalry be- Negro a serious disservice by elab- DuBois and and Booker T . Wash- orating on the slogans and the DuBois and Garvey, almost com- tween DuBois ac- ington that had agitated Negro ideologies of these leaders without pletely lost in the historical circles from the turn of caring to explain the fundamental counts of these men . Thus, both the leadership fol- the century until 1915 when Wash- economic compulsions behind these historians, and also the partisan ington died . The basic, underlying, ideologies . For neither Washington, lowers of these leaders-Washing- ton, DuBois,and Garvey-will have issues that gave rise to this Wash- nor DuBois, nor Garvey can be ington-DuBois-Garvey continuum understood in their proper contexts you bel ieve that these three leaders were fundamentally economical- unless one, at the same time, com- represented three, clearly defined, though Negro historians do not tell prehends the basic economic reali- separate schools of racial thought the story this way. The historians, ties and motivations behind Negro concerning the Negro in America . Negro and white, have so dis- class ideologies at any given time . But forall these seeming differences both at torted and confused the issues in- For, while it is true that ideologies -and they were very marked volving Washington, DuBois, and move men, it is economics that certain times - these differences Garvey that it is impossible for the feeds, clothes, and shelters them . were essentially tactical rather generation to comprehend Hence, if ideologies are not under- than substantive . This can be shown present up the real meaning of the roles these stood in terms of economics then by the fact that DuBois wound leaders played . There were deep these ideologies are not understood essentially agreeing with both conflicts between DuBois, firstwith at all . Individual leaders can pro- Washington and Garvey on the ne- Washington and then with Garvey . ject ideologies of many kinds and cessity of the "black economy" But in reality these confl icts were color them with the hues of their which was Washington's original more concerned with leadership ownpersonal aspirations which very idea, and then on the "back to tactics than with certain racial often obscure the very fundamental Africa" possibility which was Gar- principles involved in such goals as issues which are of crucial interest vey's main platform which in turn "civil rights," "racial equality," to the people for whom the leaders was a further elaboration of the "higher education," "voting rights, " speak . Then the historians come "black economy" theme . In his "gradual isrry" "accommodationism," along and completely forget or autobiography Dusk of Dawn (1940), "political power," "back to Africa," overlookwhat the basic issues were W .E .B . DuBois protested against "separatism," "integration," "no- for the people in the mass and cen- the charge that he had any serious tionalism," etc ., etc . ter their attention on the personal differences with Washington . He EDITORS NOTE The split between Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammed that occurred in the Muslim Movement last March was the result of a profound crisis not onlywithin the Muslim ranks but within the entire Negro civil rights movement as a whole . The real compulsions behind this split lie in the fundamental economic problem that is inextricably bound up with the Negroes' struggle for racial equality . This basic economic factor is obvious, but it isobscured only because of the ideological, religious, political and racial ideas by which the Muslim split is being ex- lained publicly . This split was heralded in the press both radical and liberal as a "step forward" for Malcolm X cause of his expressed desire to participate in the "broader" civil rights movement . But this remains to be seen because in departing from the Muslims official organization, Malcolm X actually exchanged one movement's crisis for another inasmuch as the official civil rights movement is also in a crisis . The fact that it was the con- cealed economic realities of the Negroes' existence in America that worked to force a split in Muslim ranks is proven by the fact that Malcolm X could not avoid projecting the idea of the "black economy" and the "economic control of the jobs and businesses,etc ." in the Negro community . Whatever Malcolm X says about "politics," "Black Nationalism," etc ., has its importance but the crucial issue is economics-black economics . But this idea of the "black economy" is by no means anything new . It has been discussed many times before in our history but it has never been thoroughly understood . Thus it becomes necessary again to examine this question of economics but from an historical point of view because that is the only way in which this complex economic factor can be understood today in terms of the Negro movement as a whole .

stated he was "not against Wash- very thoroughly and also very ob- Money to such an extent as ap- ington's ideas" but he insisted on jectively, without the partisan parently almost completely to the rights of other Negroes to ex- emotionalism common to most Ne- overshadow the higher aims of press their ideas . But DuBois ad- groes these days, one can arrive at life . (Underscoring ours .) mitted in his book that Washington a clearer comprehension of what Here the question of economics, was the undisputed leader of ten the Negro problem is all about and the real underlying social com- million Negroes of his time . If so, also better understand what iswrong pellent,forces its way into the pic who were these "other Negroes" with the Negro movement today, ture . DuBois, then, elaborates on and what were their views on Ne- and why this movement is hung up this economic theme as follows: gro leadership . DuBois admitted of in a programmatic crisis . "(Mr . Washington) is striving himself," I was not a natural leader Booker T . Washington had stated nobly to make Negro artisans of men ." But then he argued that his position in 1895 with his famous business men and property "the question was as to how far (or infamous-depending on how owners; but it is utterly im- educated Negro opinion in the U . S . you look at it) Atlanta Exposition possible, under modern competi- was going to have the right and op- speech . DuBois quoted him : tive methods, for workingmen portunity to guide the Negro "In all things purely social we and property owners to defend group ." can be as separate as the five their rights and exist without Here were the seeds of DuBois' fingers,and yet one as the hand the right of suffrage ." "talented tenth" elite leadership in all things essential to mutual Washington's views on "suff- conception . In other words, DuBois' progress . " rage" were expressed as follows: Thiswent down in Negrohistory as Washington's "Atlanta Compro- mise" which, according to DuBois and others (mostly from the safer Northern states), was a "civil rights" sell-out . Washington's soft- pedalling of civil rights agitation in the South was interpreted as counselling Negro submission . And so it might seem if we were to look at the South of 1895 to 1910 and mistake that South with the South of today . DuBois' attitude was: "Mr . Washington's counsels of submission overlooked certain elements of true manhood, and that his educational programme was unnecessarily narrow ." Notice the reference to "edu- Booker T . Washington cation" theory . However, DuBois conflict Gritk Washington was a hadto recognize that circumstances "Brains, property, and character leadership powerstruggle expressed had elevated Washington to the for the Negro will settle the mainly through a difference of rank of "the one recognized spokes- question of civil rights . The theories of Negro education . man of his ten million fellows, and best course to pursue in regard DuBois, being a Northern-born one of the most notable figures in a to acivil rights bill inthe South product of Fisk, Harvard and Berlin nation of seventymilIions ." There- is to let it alone; let it alone Universities, would naturally have fore, DuBois softened his criticisms and it will settle itself . Good a much different point of view on of Washington by saying : school teachers and plenty of education of the Negro than Wash- "One hesitates, therefore, to money to pay them wi I I be more ington, a southern product of slave criticize a lifewhich, beginning potent in settling the race ques- parentage . But DuBois had, thirty- with so little, has done so tion than many civil rights bills seven years before Dusk of Dawn much . " and investigation committees . " was published, stated much more Then DuBois continues with what DuBoiscountered this byvoicing clearlythe real basis of his opposi- is the essence of his conflict with the sentiments of his own and "the tion to Washington's "undisputed Washington's leadership : other class of Negroes who cannot leadership ." In his Souls of Black "This is an age of unusual eco- agree with Mr . Washington . . ." He Folk (1903), he summed up his views nomic development, and Mr . said, " . . .Such men feel in con- un Washington most thoroughly in Washington's programme natur- science to ask of this nation three his essay, "Of Mr . Washington and ally takesan economic cast , be- things: 1) the right to vote ; 2) civil Others ." if one analyzes this essay coming a gospel of Work and equality ; 3) the education of youth next con+ Poqe

lIRI R fIOR July 1964 9

to placate in the development of their rights" and "politics" Southern opinion in order to further according to ability ." people . " hisown "economic" platform which This reference to "education of He speaks of the "Contempt for considered more important than youth according to ability" was a Negroes on the part of educated he "civil rights ." The latter, he felt, reflection of the Wash ington-DuBois Negroes" and added that : could not be won under Southern disagreement over "education theo- "Negro scholars taught in uni- conditionsof that time . But DuBois, ries ." Washington favored "com- versities outside the South- as we shall see later, didnot really mon-school and industrial training" languages, mathematics, and disagree with Washington over for Negroes in the South and, ac- science-may serve well . . . But "economics" but had to force Wash- cording to DuBois, "depreciated in- what has been taught in eco- ington's hand on "civil rights'.' by stitutionsofhigher learning," which nomics, history, literature, re- posing 1) the right to vote; Z) civic implied that, for most Negroes in ligion, philosophy ispropaganda equality ; 3) higher education,aso the South, what Washington was and cant and a waste of time civil rights program . This DuBois teaching at T uskegee was not and has misdirected Negroes on civil rightssoon flower- "higher learning ." Here, again, thus trained ." position into the Niagara Movement-a DuBois' educational "elitism" and Th is was, without a doubt, a slap ed composed of the very "talented tenth" ideas were in con- at the DuBois "talented tenth" idea . protest group small group of articulate critics of flictwith Washington's "functional" Woodson added that "classical edu- Washington . This dissident group or "practical" educational ideas as cation "produced noNegro thinkers absorbed by white liberals concerns the mass of illiterate or or philosophers . Woodson did not was soon disagree with Washington's "industrial Education" theory in principle but observed that it resulted in no uplift of Negroes as artisans and mechanics because of lack of facilities, obsolete methods and techniques which did not equip Negroes to keep up with rapid changes in industrial techniques based on division of labor . As was to be expected the inevitable "economics" of the race question found its way into Woodson's re- marks . He observed that: "In the schools of business administration Negroes are trained exclusively in the psychology of andeconomics of Wall Street and are, therefore, made to Garvey Carter G . Woodson Marcus despise the opportunities to run Socialists to form the semi-illiterate Negroes who had to ice wagons, push banana carts . . . and assorted NAACP . Thus it was that the offi- be fitted into an industrial society . among their own people . cial civil rights protest movement Washington did not see what the Foreigners, who have not studied was forever separated from the study of "French, Latin and Greek" economics but have studied Ne- basic economics of the Negro situ- had to do with enobl ing the class of groes, take up this business and ation in America as first posited by Negroes he was most concerned grow rich ." Booker T . Washington and given with to earn a "practical" living . From all of this it must be seen organizational form in the National This educational controversy is no that the Wash ington-DuBois contro- Negro Business League established longer valid today, but it is note- versy over race leadership and by him in 1900 . This business worthy that Carter G . Woodson in politics was fundamentally eco- league still exists in Washington, his book The Miseducation of the nomic but fought out in terms of D .C . Negro (1933) apparently favored rivalry over "education" theories But time has proven that the is- the Washington school of thought mainly because the Washington sues first raised by Washington and and does not mention DuBois any- school of thought was getting the DuBois are still very much with us . where in his study . Woodson ob- lion's share of white philanthropy Neitherthe "civil rights" of DuBois served that : for Negro education . Hence, Washington "The large majority of the Ne- Washington had more pull with the nor the "economics" of have won their full measure ofac- groes who have put on the "big white folks" than DuBois . But and the "education" prob- finishing touches of our best Washington's position in all this ceptance on another level is more a bone colleges are al l but worthless in forced him to soft-pedal "civil lem

1 0

IF RATS AND ROACHES COULD VOTE . . .

of civi l contention among the races class . Or that it is even necessary in blithe ignorance of the inner than ever before . Moreover, even in terms of capitalist development workings of American capitalism . DuBois' educational "elitism" was that such a class should come into These Negroes have been kept given the critical downgrading by existenceor else strive to cultivate in ignoranceabout economic reali- Carter G . Woodson, the founder of a capitalist (bourgeois) ideology ties not only by themselves but by Negro H istory Week and the Associ- even though a real capitalist class their white liberal, radical, and NegroHistoryWeek andthe Associ- well entrenched in the corporate "revolutionary" friends from left of ation for the Study of Negro Life structure of American capitalism is center to left . The liberals have and History . But fundamental to all never achieved . This has been a promised them "full integration" issues growing out of the original unique problem for the American withouteconomic integration above clash between Washington and Negro . We have cultivated among the level of token jobs, which is a DuBois is the central fact that has us a very strong bourgeois outlook lie . The white Leftists have advised still not been resolved in Negro among our articulate, educated them to forget about capital ist eco- thinking : It is impossible to separate classes . Butthis bourgeois mentality nomics of the market place today civil rights from the economics of is not matched by any parallel and place their hopes on "social- the problem of Negro existence in achievements as capitalist pro- ism" tomorrow, which isa dishonest America . And by civil rights and ducers, entrepreneurs, or managers . deception . It took DuBois almost a economics we do not simply mean Hence,this bourgeois mentality be- lifetime to see through the first lie the question of "jobs" and "dis- comes, in many ways, a troublesome of the white liberals concerning crimination in employment ." The intellectual abnormality in many "civil rights ." Washington saw question is much deeper than this . Negroes . These bourgeois trappings through that tale by pure common- This was brought home to DuBois are worn like expensive but ill- sense reasoning . But then DuBois more profoundly several years after fitting clothes bypeople who harbor had much longer to Iive than Wash- his conflict with Washington when exaggerated bourgeois ideals but ington and a much broader life's the Garvey Movement came into who lack the substance to back up canvas to paint on and more being . For Garvey, even before he these ideals . It would not be half horizons to conquer . Right after come to America, had been a stu- so bad if these bourgeois ideals Washington died Garvey came on dent of Booker T . Washington's grew out of a profound knowledge the scene . Hence, Washington's "economics" which DuBois had al- of economic thought which the original "black economy" theories ready said grew out of "an age of public libraries are full of . But our took on broader implications than unusual economic development ." bourgeois-oriented Negroes are, he gave it in 1900 . For now the This was an important observa- economics-wise, the most ill- "black economy" theory was pushed tion on the part of DuBois for it is equipped of all people . They clut- onto the international scene and assumed by too many people of ter up the Negro civil rights move- had to include the continent of various political persuasions (both ment with their strident protests Africa and the American Negroes' Negro and white) that there is and really believe that American relationships to that continent . something verystrange that Negroes capitalism is going to grant them BE CONTINUED would want to develop a capitalist racial equality while they remain TO

Mill? 110R j u ly 1964 Sports

Black Hope,White Cop- Out Boxing: Clayton Riley outburst was For longer thananyone now liv- United States when Muhammad Ali hysterical journalistic froth on white ing can remember, prize fighting -formerly called Cassius Clay-- a public display of lips . The brutally has enjoyedon enormous popularity boasted he would win the heavy- sports writers' sport would have to be in this country-a popularity due, in weight championship from Sonny savage became the cry as it had no smolI measure, to the favor with Liston, won it, then outraged the abolished, attending the which it has historically been white establishment by declaring been in the furor Paret and looked upon by the nation's press . himself a disciple of Elijah Mu- deaths of Benny "Kid" However, no fatality John L . Sullivan, Jack Dempsey, hammad and the Nation of Islam . Davey Moore . involved in Muhammad Ali's Gene Tunney and others were, and Indignation swelled like a malig- was in fact continue to be, lionized as nant tumor in sports columns every- Miami Beach triumph . Why then boxing? heroes by white sports writers where . The fight surely had been the renewed effort to ban or tan throughout America, as living sym- fixed, it was asserted . Liston was At the moment, black of the six major bols of all that is masculine, an over-rated fraud, said many who fighters hold four and, in addition, righteous and upstanding in this so- had previously claimed he was in- division titles first time in history to ciety . Recently, however, pugilism vincible by virtue of the fact that, seem for the hosfallen into a state of il I repute ; in their view, he was not a human be earning and holding on to con- witness the tumultuous roar of pro- being . siderable sums of money . Many of well test from newspapers all over the All that was missing from this the top contenders are quite

1 2

fixed financially . Floyd Patterson, why . Just as we know why the WBA for example, has become a wealthy hasnever raised a finger to end the man and, it seems, will remain one, exploitation of hundreds of fighters having wisely engaged trustworthy by their unscrupulous handlers and lawyers and advisors to guard his managers . Theft and other mol- earnings . Sonny Liston and Muham- practices are holyendeavors inthe mad Ali have tapped a goldmine eyes of organizations like the WBA which, after two more bouts to- so long as they are carried out by gether, will probably leave them other white men . For Teachers the dollar champions of boxing his- It is becoming, however, in- tory . The good old days, so regu- creasingly difficult for theoverseers larly lamented by America's white of boxing's vast plantation to rob press, are gone . Those were the their chattel any longer . Far too "GUIDE FOR TEACHERS ON days when boxing made white men many fighters today can read and CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE rich and black men cripples . There write and are no longer the smiling, AFRO-AMERICAN TO THE are, the Caucasian columnists con- trustful charges of yesteryear, a AMERICAN CULTURE" tinue,no longerany decent fighters cause for increasing alarm and for in the ring . Freely translated, this chagrin in the white community . grades Kindergarten - 6th grade means there are no more white With boxing's money and its cham- fighters of more than mediocre pionships out of the grasp of ability in the ring today . schemers and sophisticated The situation has crystallized criminals, it should come as no sur- Scholarly, easy to integrate more clearly in the heavyweight prise that a campaign is being into year-round lesson plans-in ranks, where the purses, like the mounted to abolish the venerable all curriculum areas! Stories, are the largest and the title ring sport, for this is nothing more poems, activities and an anno- fighters, tated calendar plus sketches. is the most coveted for its prestige . than a reaction to the possibility of New York City faculty research . It is an exclusively black domain; Negroes seizing the reins of an ex- Received initially by 6,000 en- probably no white fighter will ever tremely lucrative enterprise . Of thusiastic educators from coast again rule this roost, a fact which course, no one can deny boxing's to coast who state "it is just white fans and writersfind most un- inherent dangers as a sport; men what we need today! " palatable . There are no more are killed or maimed in the ring Recipientof two grants from the Dempseys,TunneysorMarcianos nor every year . But instead of pushing Jamaica NAACP in 1962 & 1963 . ever be again on these for its abolition, the white press will there Nowpublished bythe developer effete Anglo-Saxon shores . This be- might give some consideration to and editor, Edwina C . -Johnson . ing true, prizefighting can no longer making the prize ring a safer place be called the "manly art of self- than it is now . If this means federal defense;" boxers can no longer be control, then so be it . heroes, for in this republic it is On the day when America can dangerous to consider Negroes offerNegroes consistent opportuni- either men or heroes . ties for sharing in the nation's In keeping with this ancient wealth, boxing may die a natural American tradition, the World Box- death, at least on a professional ing Association, an organization level . What youngster would risk peculiarly silent in other matters, a scrambled brain in the ring if Order from : attempted to void Muhammad Ali's there were sufficient possibilities "Guide for Teachers" title after the youthful fighter had elsewhere to earn the big money to 114-53 207th Street publicly admitted membership inthe purchase the posh goods and ser- Cambria Heights, N .Y. 11411 Black Muslims . Such an allegiance vices presently available only to a or chosen few in this country? Those LIBERATOR Book Service +f504 is detrimental to the best interests (see coupon on back page) of boxing and conduct unbecoming opportunities are not now accessible a champion, this august body of to young black men; boxing money Price : $1 .00 boxing senators decided . Looking is . Until Negro youngsters can think back a few years, one wonders why in concrete terms about being presi- former middleweight king Gene dent of these United States, white Fullmer'smembership inthe Mormon America and its newspapers would faith, whose tenets include an be well advised to direct their assertion that all black people are passionate abolitionist sentiments eternally damned, was not viewed to something like professional ten- as at least equally "detrimental ." nis, which at last report was still a The question is academic . We know lily-white operation .

LIBERATOR duly 1964 13

EXLUSIVE INTERVIEW John Lewis of SNCC Clebert Ford

curtly, "We would be willing to strong in commur,iry support as op- meet with him at any time, how- posed to Negro college student ever ." support . "You see, our name can John Lewis was born and raised be quite misleading," he added . in Troy, Alabama some twenty-odd This writer's observations on years ago . He attended Baptist Atlantawere confirmed by Lewis in Seminary where he received an A. B . his co^9ments concerning the racial in Religion and is three hours short situation here . "Atlanta is unique of a second A .B . in Philosophy in a sense," Lewis said, "I know of from F isk University . " I expect to no other city like it . The press has finish up some day when the struggle advanced the image of Atlanta as a is over," he says . Lewis' SNCC ac- 'progressive' city, but the visitor to tivities have led to his being ar- this 'gateway to the South' will be rested thirty-one times inthe South gravely disappointed . There are as well as the North . "I've been only 140 Negroes in the entire city arrested in Tennessee, Alabama, in desegregated schools ." He con- Georgia, Mississippi, Illinois tinued, "One of the Negro schools (Cairo, Illinois is a typical southern is on triple shift . Only T4 out of city . We had a demonstration at a more than 100hotels and motels are swimming pool there), and Mis- desegregated, and there are less souri," he said . than 20 restaurants in downtown I asked Mr . Lewis how SNCC Atlanta where a Negro can eat . personnel were recruited . "We send The administration here has refused out questionnaires to college stu- to take a stand on a public accom- dents," he answered, "but most of modations law and has even re- our people are gotten through per- quested the House Committee on sonal contactwith staff people . We Un-American Activities to investi- SNCC PHOTO Atlanta, Georgia-" You'l I have alsohave 'Campus Travelers,' work- gate 'Communist' infiltration in the to excuse my bad mood today," ers who visit colleges for the spe- Civil Rights Movement ." As to John Lewis, National Chairman of cific purposeof recruiting students . SNCC's image in Atlanta, Lewis the Student Non-Violent Coor- We geta great deal of student par- said, "Mayor Allen thinks of SNCC dinating Committee, said after I ticipation in the summer months, as a bunch of irresponsible nuts . had been in his office only a few but we do have a problem getting Atlanta is also a stronghold of the minutes . "You see, an agent of the Negro summer participation since black middle class, and this pre- Federal Bureau of Investigation was it is generally a financial problem sents some problems ." Lewis went here this morning to question me for them to get funds to support on to say that SNCC's traditional about something ." Mr . Lewis re- their college training . However, "uniform" of workingmen's overalls frained from further comment on private Negro colleges are becom- and rolled up sleeves were not be- his "morning meeting," but it was ing increasingly willing to give ing readily accepted amongst Ne- obvious that he was somewhat con- student scholarships, and we are groes in Atlanta and would have to cerned by the United States trying to get more funds to finance be re-examined at SNCC's upcom- Government's interest in SNCC our summer program . " ing national conference . "The free- activities . In the course of the in- "What about whiteparticipation dom struggle here in Atlanta is go- terview I was to learn at least part in your activities?" I asked . ing to require a long, hard cam- of the reason why . "The national "Out of a staff of 150 we have paign, one that is going to become atmosphere with regards to civil about 45 white workers . We are increasingly dirty," Lewis said . rights has definitely changed since not a membership organization, but "Demonstrators are not going to the late President Kennedy's assas- there are areas (some 100% white) stand in lines smiling and cheerful . sination . Kennedy represented in which 'friends of SNCC' number There's going to be a great deal of youth and change and was willing in the thousands, " Lewis said that non-cooperation . In 1960 the to listen to us . I don't get the same there are areas in Mississippi and picket lines were dignified and feeling with Johnson ." He adds Alabama where SNCC is quite beautiful, full of college students;

but now it has got to become a mass the Negro community . He must put movement . Mass demonstrations on his sandals and walk the dirt have got to become a type of force . roadsof Missouri andtheMississippi If a restaurant is going to serve at Delta . There are hundreds of kids all it is going to have to serve on a in SNCC, CORE and SLC who are Black desegregated basis ." the real leaders of the movement . I Throughout the interview John wouldn't like to say that our leaders Lewis used the term "aggressive are selling out, but too many of non-violence ." "Aggressive non them are committed to political violence is non-cooperation," ends . . . and I mean the Democratic America Lewis said simply . "It is civil dis- Party . "Lewis failed to enlarge up- obedience on all levels ." on this very sensitive area of the We spoke of the North and movement; and sensing a hesitancy Lewis said, "I don't have any real on his part to discuss the matter Speaks knowledge of the North since further, this writer did not press the basically I'm a southerner, but it issue any further . the coming appears to me that there is too much It was getting late in the Atlanta revolution civil rights activity without the afternoon and I asked Lewis for a necessary support of the mass of brief comment concerning the Black ARTICLES BY black people . In New York, for in- Muslims . "Black Muslims are serv- I ,_ James Baldwin Harold Cruse Clebert Ford Lorraine Hansberry Langston Hughes Julian Mayfield C. E. Wilson William Worthy Paul Zuber LIBERATOR 11 magazine , NCC PHOTOstance, there is an absolute need ing a useful purpose in American for civil rights people to go into society," he said . "They're doing 35C per copy the dens and dives of Harlem and things for the forgotten mass of On Sale at your Local Newsstand get a mass movement started, a black people all over the country . movement that must be led by these SNCC,for instance, could well use SUBSC RIBE_ NOW Negroes who are the true victims some of the disciplines of the Mus- a12s- ;~ r issuesof 0- N-tea53.00r . ;- of the system . If Harlem Negroes I ims . It would work wonders in our S1 .20 could go downtown and block organization . Do you know that 11.11U It 1 I UR 1 244 East 46tK Street traffic on a summer's day, Detroit their paper, "Muhammad Speaks," New York 17, N.Y . would soon follow suit . I get a reports more of SNCC activities Plaari enroll m. 4 a wbscrlber for: O ane year, $3 . DO a, G two years; $5 .50 sense of pride when I am in Harlem, and of the entire freedom struggle I get a kick, A mass movement in than any other paper in the United Name_ Harlerlawould have a significant in- States, black or white ." Lewis Address fluence on Negroes across the smiled when asked about a possible United States . The Harlem Rent liaison between SNCC and the I City- State I Payment enclosed_ me later Strike is a fine thing and should be Muslims . "No," he said, "there's no LEI © sill developed on a national basis . I connection, but Jeremiah X here in tion and tolerance fromwhite know Harlem's potential ." Atlanta is a good friend of ours ." liberal sources, and much more ex- On the subjectof Negro leader- Our interview ended on an in- tremist Klu Klux Klan and White ship Lewisbecomes quiteanimated . teresting note . A cliche question Citizens' Council activities-bomb- "There are too many 'symbolic' pertaining to the outlook or fore ings, fires, etc . But our immediate leaders in the movement today," cast of things to come in the revo- job will continue to be liberating Lewissaid . "A leader must lead not lution evoked the following re- an oppressed people with emphasis only by words but by actions . He sponse on the angry and now of the whole mustgo into the bars and taverns of "I see a great cry for modera- situation . "

15 Daniel H . Watts

say so, a racial factor in such a BIG POWERS ABSTAIN ON when projected operation . In 1945, VOTING CONDEMNATION dropped over atomic bombs were OF SOUTH AFRICA Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, there was a widespread feeling in The United States, France and manyparts of Asia thatthese deadly the United Kingdom abstained on a atomic bombs were dropped on resolution sponsored by 58 delega Japanese cities because the Japan- tions, calling for an end to the ese were non-whites, and it was also "arbitrary" trials of anti-apartheid argued at that time that the atomic leaders and to call off the execu- bombs would never have been tion of those already sentenced to SECRETARY-GENERAL dropped over cities in Nazi Ger- death . Under the guise of not want- SPEAKS OUT AGAINST many at that time . As you know, ing to inflame a flammable situation AMERICAN RACISTS Nazi Germanywas also at war with in South Africa, the big powers, re- Recently Senator Goldwater, the Allies . So there is also a racial sorting to their worn-out hypo- concerned appealing to his right-wing lunatic element in these things which I critical position of being ves 9,000,000 fringe and other racists, suggested would commend to the attention of for the safety and I i of the possibility of using "low yield those-who are th ink ing of launching South Africans, refused to support a atomic bombs" in Vietnam, in order such atomic blasts ." resolution sponsored by the repre- to destroy the foliage and flush out Many of the African and Asian sentatives of the imprisoned African say,was the Viet-Cong . delegates at the UN were pleased leaders . What they did not It was encouraging to the Afro- to hear the Secretary-General theirmain concernwas "protecting" American community to learn that speak out against the racist attitude their billion dollar investment in Secretary-General U Thant, who of Senator Goldwater and his neo- the racist government of South normally maintains a hands-off po- Nazi cohorts . Africa . sition on internal American affairs, felt compelled to speak out force- fully against the suggested use of atomic weapons, particularly in on area populated by non-whites . At his press conference recently, in Ottawa, Canada, when he was asked to comment "on the suggestion that atomic bombs should be used in South Viet-Nam," the Secretary- General replied : "As you are no doubt aware, I am against the use of atomic weapons for destructive purposes anywhere, under any circumstances . Anybody who proposes the use of atomic weapons for destructive purposes is, in my view, out of his mind . . . Such action is sure togenerate widespread resentment and bitter criticism, particularly from quarters which so for have not been very vocal, and have not been very outspoken regarding the situation in South-East Asia . Secretary General U Thant receiving a special phonograph album Lastly, and this in myview is a very important element, there is, if I may of the opera "Aida" from Miss Leontyne Price, world famous opera singer . 1 6

U.S . Image in Ghana

The following article appeared officers whisked off the man, Odis terical drama . in The Ghanaian Times (5/30/64) Hyde, to his place of work in a The Afro-Americans' struggle under the by-line of its Editor-in police car and were to stay with strengthened by the successes of the Chief, T. D . Baffoe, who recently him wherever he went, from the African Liberation movement and social and ideological toured the U.S. as a member of a toilet to the lunch room, while a the revolu- third rather well-mannered giant of tion raging in our continent, is now Ghana delegation . a -security agent was put on the beyond the point of appeasement President Lyndon Johnson of the wife, Ruth . and empty civil rights platitudes . United States was due on a visit to I learnt from investigation that What has made his struggle so Chicagoan April 23 for an election similar warnings like those in our fruitless for decades is not because campaign dinner by his Party . hotel rooms were distributed to all the African-American turned the In the morning we had notices the hotels, offices, shops and build- other cheek after he had been of security warnings stuck in our ings in the area of the Democrats' struck in one, but mainly because hotel rooms . campaign dinner, with thousands of his cause had lacked organization, The warning said :"Dear Shera- secret police numbering more than leadership and direction . ton-Blackstone Guest: We have half of the reception crowds . The feeble leadership that had been requested by Security Per I learntalso thatwhot happened risen every now and then had only sonnel that during the visit of Presi- to Mr . and Mrs . Hyde was not an led the struggling and angry masses dent Johnson to Chicago, April 23rd, isolated case, but a well-known in demonstrations into the cages of that you refrain from either opening highly practiced security police police assaults and into floods of the window in your room or any offensive . despair and humiliation, while the gesturing inside the windows which Nobody is grudging the United so-called civil rights leaders only might cause alarm to any of the States any police state methods to escaped into safety to dine and Security Personnel . Thank you very tighten its internal security and to wine with so-called white sym- much for your cooperation . protect the life of its President es- pathizers to their own prestige and And as if this keep-off-your- pecially after they had murdered brief sensations as "heroes"-their window inconvenience and threat their beloved President John shortlived militancybought over by were not enough, we were soon to Kennedy . powerful interests that desire to see experience another method of But when their journalists, who the black man perpetually kept operation by U .S . security, for at havenot carefully studiedevents in down under the borderline of human this stage America was donning its Africa and seem not to know the progress . robes as a police state to protect history of America's own struggle As more and more enlightened the life of its President . for independence and the difficul- Americans throw in their voices in An Afro-American couple we ties of reconstruction and the tears support of new civil rights legisla met among some friends in Chicago and tragic effects of the years of tion, and as race-conscious senators were startled early in the morning the depression in U .S . economy, engage in inciting speeches to ob- on the day of President Johnson's dare to moralize to Ghana, and to struct the work of the Administra- visit by secret police . Africa, about the I iberty of the in- tion, white resentment toward Ne- This poor worker and his wife, dividual in a democratic society, gro pressures appear to be growing, who hold strong views opposed to then it is the duty of the press and thusnursing the dangerof violence . the capitalist systemwhich has sen Governments in Africa to tell off Nor is the feared outburst of ra- tenced millions of Americans, the holier-than-thou hostile U .S . cial violence in the United States black, white, ebony and yellow, to press which ignores the beam that the only major problem facing the a life of humiliation, poverty and is in the American eye and points U .S . Government . Automation and frustration, were told that their falsely and hypocritically at an the introduction of new production house had been under police sur- imaginary mote they behold in the skills have produced for America a veillance for some time and that eyes of Africans and the other op- booming economy that should pre- they were to be under close guard, pressed nations in Asia, Latin sent a picture of general prosperity, night and day, throughout Mr . Lyn- Americaand the Middle East where but hasmany Americans, blacks and don Johnson's visit . Uncle Sam cannot create puppets to whites, hoping against hope in areas Two p istol-packing secret poI i ce dance in its anti-communist hys- of acute distress .

rir1ER i ruin July 1964 1 7

Nationalist Student Conference

carty-essannson presents Don Freeman Economy, Bourgeois Nationalists __a new concept! National ist m inded Afro-Ameri- failed to recognize the colonial can students from North and South nature of the exploitation of the A TESTIMONIAL ART EXHIBIT convened in Nashville, Tennessee, black ghettoes and were thus in- to form a Black Nationalist Youth capable of taking the kind of ac- given for Movement last May 1-3 . The con- tion necessary to achieve their vention asserted the vanguard role goal,nomely,a "strategyof chaos," has called TOM FEELINGS of young nationalists in the Black as Rev . Albert Cleague Revolution in America, and agreed it, involving more devastating civil JULY 10th, 11th, 12th, 1964 that they must create : ])an organi- disobedience than undertaken by zation to translate Nationalist established reformist groups . A young African scholar pre- at ideology into effective action, 2) black financing to insure black sented a paper on Pan-Africanism control of such an organization, 3) in which he suggested that African THE ARTISTS SHOWPLACE dedicated, disciplined and decisive leaders today, in their narrow pre- youth cadres wi I I ing to make sacri- occupation with the elimination of fices to build and sustain a dynamic the remnants of overt colonial rule 248 West 139th St . Nationalist Movement . in Africa, have lost sight of the A conference session on Bour- equally important elements of Pon- N . Y. C . geois Reformism concluded that the Africanism as outlined in the Man- present crisis within the integra chester Conference of 1945 . He as- tionist civil rights organizations serted that only permanent revolu- substantiates the position of Dr . tion that annihilates neo-colonial- W .E .B . DuBoi s that "capitalism ist puppet regimes and establishes cannot reform itself, a system that completely socialist African socie- enslaves you cannot free you . " In- ties can achieve the goals of Pon- creasingly frustrated young militants Africanism and relate Africa mean- AGENTS are gravitating to a nationalist po- ingfully to the Afro-American sition . It is the responsibilityof the struggle . WANTED emerging Nationalist Youth Move- The conference agreed that a ment to forge a concrete alternative fundamental cultural revolution or TO SELL to Bourgeois Reformism, now . re-Africanization of black people A discussion of American Marx- in America was a prerequisite for a The ism resulted in support for the posi- genuine Black Revolution . Re-Afri- tion which Harold Cruse stated in canization was describedas the re- "Marxism and the Negro" (LIBERA- pudiation of decadent materialist LIBERA TOR TOR, May '64), i .e ., that the es- values and pathological egoism in- sential ly racist and reformist nature herent in American society . It em- of the white working class leaves braces a humanism derived from the LIBERAL Marxists without a revolutionary African heritage which exalts aes- proletariat to lead, and that the thetic, intellectual and spiritual COMMISSIONS only revolutionary force in this so- development and communalism or ciety, the Afro-American freedom cooperation rather than the ex- struggle, must be led by black ploitation of humanity . Set Up Your radicals, not opportunistic white Afro-Americans must know their authentic history in Africa and Route Now! Marxists . The reasons for the impotence America in order to demolish the of traditional Bourgeois Notional- psychological rapeof white Ameri- Write To : IIHI H IloR . The Afro- Circulation Dept . ism were examined . It was decided can indoctrination 244 E . 46 Street that emphasis on rhetoric rather American self-image must be revo- N Y 17 N Y than action left no programmatic lutionized to foster a sense of col- Call : YUkon 6-5939 alternative to Bourgeois Reformist lective ethnic identity as a unique civil rights activities and that in Black People before Black Na- projecting an autonomous Black tionalism can emerge triumphant .

The Bag's Too Heavy

Herb Ottley

I've been reading this here are marching and you cats are at, is where it always has been, out magazine for about a year or more . writing letters to each other . That's therein the jungle, where it always It's saying some boss stuff . It shows not where it's at . Where it's really will be . the black man like he is in the jungle-rough and tough . And like it shows him screaming on those jive cats who's pick-pocketing the piggy-bank when the soul brothers are out there trying to make it . It attempts to get inside the problem of the black struggle not just for civil rights, but to keep twenty million black people alive on this jive scene . But the hang up is the magazine just can't begin to say the soul brothers are restless and stop . 'Cause the soul brothers always been restless . Baby, hunger makes them restless . And empty stomachs don't know no peace . Dig,my brother suggested that I read "Marxism and the Negro," by this cat named Harold Cruse . My brother said Cruse was one of the toughest cats that hit the scene in a long time, and that he could give me some answers . My brother gave me a dictionary and told me to use it if necessary . Shit! I read more Websterthan Cruse . Dig, man! I'm no dummy . I finished high school, but I'm no Einstein either . My brother is one of those screwball cats, too . Just nineteen, dig the shit he writes about the jungle . "In one's attempt to evaluate the inequitable realities in terms of the present colonial status of the black ghetto, it is necessary to explore the historical forces which manifest these realities . Political and economic factors must be placed in proper perspective, for these are only effects of a given circumstance . If the historical American purity myth is unveiled,racism as a fundamental cause screamsout with unparalleled clarity ." Goddam, how is the soul brothers in the street going to understand, or even follow such a shaky bag? It's too heavy . Man, you intellectuals are piss- ing on the parade . Soul brothers

L113E1d, f TOR ju ly 1964

Unchain the Lion

Rolland Snellings jailed- Among all the peoples of the if not severely wounded or vanish into the smoldering interiors earth-races, nations,tribes, ethnic of bars, cafes, or poolrooms to groupings, everyone, with one ex- blues away," and wait, ception!-there exists a caste of "drink the and wait, and wait, and wait, and warriors whose sole purpose is the wait . How long, block America, protection and preservation of the how long will your strong right arm lives of those particular people . It hang limply in despair? ishumon nature,and is asold as the The curious thing about the flow of human blood inhuman veins . bourgeois-reformist movement (so- To deny this is to deny mankind . called because it has similar values Unfortunately, only among the to wh ite America, and believes that people of black America--an op- capitalism-a power system--can pressed NATION-is there an ex- reform itself and give black people ception . OnlyblackAmericathinks their civil rights, i .e . to become that freedom can be won under the like white, capitalist, exploitative, leadership of singing, praying decadent America!) is that there is clergymen, old church-sisters, bour- a latent fear of "hose" inherent in geois intellectuals, students, and itswhole makeup . Amixture of fear liberals . Black America-even and guilt that recalls E . Franklin though given the examples of Frazier's Black Bourgeoisie, and to struggles of brother oppressed na- history back a bit, the atti- tions and peoples in Asia, Africa, follow tude of the "house nigger" towards and Latin America-still persists the black field hands . Such state- with the myth of singing and pray- as these always ing its way to freedom, and calling ments andquestions when they speak of the masses : this a Negro Revolution! arise "But how can we reach them?" Now, in writingthis letter, it is won't cooperate . " definitely my purpose to speak for a "They just violent at the drop of a caste which represents potentially "They're hat; non-violence just doesn't seem the finest fighting machine on this reach them ." "Don't THEY planet : the fighting man of black to realize that WE (note the schism) America! Called the "Lion" in an- plode barbecuing our daughters, liberal white people are fight- cient and biblical times; endowed police dogs bite and mangle our and THEIR battle for them, while they with a rich ancestral heritage dat- youth, and hairy, neonderthal beasts wallow in the mire of those horrible ing back to the dawn of history- with shiny badges of law and order guilt, frustration . . . including the magnificent armies of fondle our women on freedom bars?" Fear, status? Well, what- the pharaohs of Egypt, the warrior- demonstrations . Black America : how from . . .class, might derive from, I'm here kings of Ethio io, Hannibal's hosts long will you allow your protectors ever it that there can be no black who marched trough the Alps with to bear the brunt of shame and cas- to state liberation without "Mole" and our elephants and astounded a world, tration while people who should be militant, young soul-sisters who the Islamic Moors-the scourge of somewhere in schools, churches, make up the angry, exploitedmasses southern Europe, the Zulu legions rocking chairs, or just plain OUT -'cause they're the very lifeblood of King Chako . . . and down through OF SIGHT!, try to lead us to free- our future, and the slave-holding lands of America, dom ? of our people, NEVER rol ly to a basically where hewas bred on stud-fanmsfor If you've observed "Mole" (a they'll masochistic movement "stamina and strength"; the fighting complimentary name derived from suicidal, non-violence in a police man of black America-participat- the pharaohs: Thutmose, Ahmose, such as ing grandly inevery American war- Ramose, etc . ), you'll notice that he state . is that "Mose" from the Revolutionary to the seldom attends such "foolishness" as The main point it's really at, even if Korean "police action"-looms in civil rights rallies or forums . He'll knows where articulate it, he knows the background : brooding, grumbl- only go to civil rights demonstra- he doesn't are really ing, and drinking more and more, tions inorder to "get it on" in case that black communities and essentially, death- and still more : while churches ex- any violence erupts . Then, he'll- reservations,

2 0

pens and occupied territories where the might of Westem Rome is displayed to keep him down . . . The clip-clop of horse-troops echoes through the bleak streets of Harlem, where even dogs learn to fight for survival from puppyhood . Pregnant Ghosts teenage girls nod in urine-spattered hallways after sweet daddy's ar- rival with the fix . Night streets ex- Ghosts of all too solid flesh, plode with feminine giggles as our Dark ghosts come back to haunt you now, hope and his boy friends (every bit These dark ghosts to taunt you--- of seventeen, tight leotards) swish Yet ghosts so solid, ghosts so real along like sexy female movie-stars . They may not only haunt you--- "My country 'tis of thee, Sweet But rape, rob, steal, land of Genocide ." Yes, "Mole" Sit-in, stand-in, stall-in, vote-in KNOWS! . . that eventually there (Even vote for real in Alabam') will come a final clash between And in voting not give a damn black Americaand imperial istwhite For the fact that white was right America which will shake the Until last night . planet to its roots and bring on the Final War . He KNOWS that liberals Last night? are only white-washing the issues What happened then? and distorting the realities of the Flesh and blood ghosts Negro problem and-for white Became flesh and blood men? radicals-that white workers are Got tired of asking, When? racists, and identify with imperial- Although in the minority, ism, and will NEVER unite with Suddenly became majorit them "niggers"; being in direct (Metaphysically speaking competition, and as automation in- In seeking authority? creases, reacting with more and more violence as the blacks push How can one man be ten? for universal justice . Finally, he Or ten be a hundred and ten? knows that rich folks-with the aid Or a thousand and ten? of "N igro Leaders"-continue to Or a million and ten coax black folks to remain non- When a million and ten violent at all costs, and clon't- Are but a thousand and ten please don't-destroy our techno- Or a hundred and ten logical society (vulnerable to social O r ten---or one dislocation-traffic tie-ups, water- Or none--- wastage, mob-action, and many Being ghosts other things) . Yes, "Muse," though Of then? bound, "Mole," the conquering warrior of civilization's dawn, KNOWS where it's REALLY at,and waits, and waits, and waits, and waits . . .for the final confrontation . Langston Hughes Black America : if you value your existence, your survival as a people . . .unchain your hero, un chain the mighty lion, and gird yourself to meet the gathering storm! SUNRISE!

r.rrsr r MIR July 1964 2 1

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VolLIBERATOR. V, No. 5 MAY 1965 35c EDI TORT AL White Man's Burden

Malcolm X: A Tragedy of Leadership C . E. Wilson

SNCC in- Danger Ossie Sykes

Black Poets Calvin C. Hernton Joe Johnson LeRoi Jones F. D . Richardson LDrenzo Thomas

Faces of Africa Photo Essay

Twilight of the God Rev . Dr. Martin L . King, Jr. Buford Thompson

LIBERATOR Vol. V, No. 5 May, 1965

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ANALYSIS Twilight of the God 4 Daniel H. :Watts by Buford Thompson editor-in-chief

Malcolm X: A Tragedy of Leadership 7 EDITORIAL BOARD by C.E.Wilson & Ossie Sykes Clebert Ford The Quotable Mr. X 11 by C.E.Wilson Len Holt L . P . Neal 14 Clayton Riley SNCC in Danger E. Russell by Ossie Sykes Carlos Ossie Sykes C. E. Wilson PHOTOS of Africa 16 Women STAFF African Women at the U.N. 18 United Nations Photos Lowell P. Beveridge, Jr. production editor POETRY B. Kallbala Living Poetry by Black Arts Group 19 Evelyn reviewed by Clayton Riley secretary James C . Finkenstaedt distribution Black Poets 20 Jones. Calvin Hernton, Clebert Ford LeRoi advertising Lorenzo Thomas, Frederick Richardson, Eliot Black Leo Carty Feelings Joe Johnson & Carlos Russell Tom illustrators Haggins RELICAON Robert L . The Prophet Drew Ali Has Spoken 24 Leroy McLucas photographers THEATRE Kattie Cumbo Amen Corner 26 promotion

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The sun has set on the British Empire, and events of the last twenty years has proved the Pacific Ocean is not an American lake . However what has not occurred to official Washington,is that Vietnam, and for that matter, Asia, Africa, and Latin America has never been theirs to give or take . The 19th century mentality of the white man's burden continues to dominate the thinking o£ President Johnson and his advisers . Recently the world was shocked to learn that in violation of the Geneva Agreement of 1925, civilized United States, publically admitted that it was using gas on the people of Vietnam . The explainers and the apologists were galvanized into action ; The gas that was being used was "non-lethal" and "humane" "we use it on our own people" (Black Americans), "it only produces tearing of the eyes, nausea and vomiting ." What these students of Herr Goebbels choose to ignore is that tearing of the eyes, nausea and vomiting is not part of our daily life habits, like breathing, eating and sleeping . Less than 12 hours after President Johnson delivered his speech on U. S. policy in Vietnam calling for unconditional negotiations (surrender) 200 American plans bombed North Vietnam . As commaUder-in-chief of the U . S. armed forces the President must have known of the planned raid before he delivered his Madi- son Avenue inspired (something for everyone) policy statement on Vietnam . Walter Lippman, with his usual clear insight stated after the massive U. S. bombing that "For my part, I am inclined to think that Hanoi will endure all the punishment that we dare to inflict ." The people of Vietnam, will indeed endure . Their 20 year struggle against imperialism, colonialism and neo-colonialism will prevail . Despite the refusal of "the official civil rights leaders" and professional pacifists to support the April 17th march on Washington, calling for an end to the War in Vietnam, 25,000 Americans Black and White, mostly college students picketed the White House and then marched to the Washington Monument to hear speeches by 1 . F. Stone, U. S. Senator Ernest Gruening, Paul Potter and many others . It was Paul Potter, president of Students for a Democratic Society, (SDS) one of the sponsoring organizations who delivered the most stinging in- dictment of American foreign policy not only in Vietnam but in the Congo, Cuba and all of Asia, when he said "U . S. policy in Vietnam provided the razor, the terrifying, sharp cutting edge that has finally severed the last vestige of illusion that morality and democracy are the guiding principles of American foreign policy ." The theme of most of the signs carried by the marchers were, "We will not fight in Vietnam." DANIEL H. WATTS

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Twilight of the God

Buford Thompson ducing militant leaders who had been by press and the politicians of the white the unsuspecting pawns of one or For these ten years, we have been power structure are doing their best another white power play . During the lulled by that mellifluous cant of his to keep him on his cloud . How 1930's, the militant Sharecroppers litany : rapidly can we release that militancy Union had broken up because its shed, let it be ours- which he has so long muzzled that he "uhf blood he heroic Negro leaders had let them- theirs." will no longerbe needed even for win- not selves become divided in a dogmatic a decade, lacking some months, dow dressing? How much longer will For wrangle between white Socialists and he has bade us endure the slobbering today's militants, grouped around the white Communists who'd muscled in fangs of the dogs, the spewing bul- Students' Non-Violent Coordinating awed by on a spontaneous peoples' movement. lets of the guns, the crackling bombs Committee, continue to be back During the great days of the CIO, slaughtering little children . the King legend?--continue to Negroes had been among the most "Love is the only force capable away in fear from his very shadow courageous militants in the Birming- of transforming an enemy into a even at a time when his close aides ham steel mills. Then the CIO friend," he says in one of those allegedly feed deceitful and destruc- started "loving" Negroes less and best-selling books largely read by tive propaganda about SNCC to any just about stopped organizing them . starry-eyed whites . So let's ready white paper that will publish it? Luther King is such At the time of the Montgomery struggles a wreath of welcome for our future Maybe Martin it hasn't Alabama's NAACP branches were on "friend," Sheriff James Clark of an ominous image because examination the verge of that long outlawry suf- Selma, Alabama . been given the minute at the hands of state authorities We have been bidden by both the that is required since Selma . fered he began and were hamstrung by the Wilkins naive and the calculating to worship For Selma is where riding machine in New York besides . Martin Luther King as a god . And stumbling . But he had started More learned than most of Mont- worship him we did. high for a fall even back in those gomery's clergymen-Negro or white--, Shouted hosannas to him because early days of Montgomery . to his lips dip with such dewy eloquence . He was a local pastor in Mont- carrying the prestige of belonging Atlanta colored dynasties, Let him dominate this whole nascent gomery when the epochal bus strike one of the emerged as the period of the most consecrated and erupted on the morning of December 2, Martin Luther King . dedicated struggle that Negroes have 1955 . That he assumed the leader- leading figure of the bus strike He waged since that original one for ship was due to no special qualities made like Gandhi by preaching a total decisive conflict . emancipation from chattel slavery . of his, but because he stepped into pacifism during that But our god has brought us some- a void that almost anybody with a Eventually it was won, not by King or thing less than heaven . For the commanding personality and an im- any individual but by the sheer fervor Negro com- American Negro is still in hell . pressive education might have filled . and united strength of the munity organized around the Mont- Slipping Halo Pawns of White Power gomery Improvement Association . His halo started slipping at Selma. For more than a generation the King then made his pacifism the He's on his way out though the Alabama Black Belt had been pro- sine qua non of all the struggles yet to be waged by black Americans . "With Jesus on the Cross, we must look lovingly at our oppressors," he would write . Most of us lapped it up, because we are powerfully conditioned by the established, still largely seg- regated church, and the slavish inter- pretations of Christianity that it has given us. That tactics have to be flexible in terms of given battles is something we must now realize as we-start marching beyond and away from Martin Luther King. At best, pacifism is only a transient weapon, useful in proportion to the willingness of the ruling elements to concessions,but no more . What worked at Montgomery clearly did not work at Selma where the white rulers were out for blood-and drew blood. In Selma, King had to be has- tily propped up by both the white press and the white-dominated government in Washington .

Molding of a God Yet many other factors have entered into the molding of the faltering god . Space limitations permit us to list but a few . During the 'SO's, white authorities crippled the NAACP in several South- ern states, including Alabama and Texas, then represented by an uncom- plaining U . S. senator named Lyndon 1 . Johnson . The NAACP had been the only Negro mass organization in Dixie . Into a second vacuum stepped Martin Luther King with his South- ern Christian Leadership Conference : So that, explainably, the Reverend King was adopted by one part of the white power structure while the other part was despising him . Once again, a situation was made to order for the man carrying the padded crucifix memorial fashion of ballot hustlers . Immobilizing them by sermons . Northern . white -liberals took him up . But stupid Southern stump jumpe rs It must be said categorically that these people are always looking for a caught in their own peculiar back- nobody made Martin Luther King the Negro "leader" who will tell them wash, began visualizing young Dr. "national" leader of Negroes except what they want to hear about the King as somebody sprouting horns whites adoringor hating him . Negroes people of the sweaty fields . and the along with a moustache The late were dazzled by the image because stinking ghettoes . Northern politic- Booker T . Washington had been too they control few communications media ians, including the late John Fitz- "vadical" for some of their grandad- except a handful of newspapers and gerald Kennedy, soon saw his value dies . Few of this element realized . magazines existing on the bounty of in terms of the ghetto vote, so they that King's policies were accom- white advertisers . started wooing him, their mouths drip- plishingexactly what they wanted with ping with chumminess after the im- their "nigras ." cont. next page

LIBERATOR May 1965 5

them young students, went to jail gations TWILIGHT OF THE GOD of Negroes from all over Amer- Bona. along with the god . King, after vowing ica have been more effective in terms But Martin Luther King, for all the to stick it out behind the bars, with of all the ultimate issues involved? love jive, knows how to hamper op- them, allegedly deserted because he Negroes would have gone to Selma position as ruthlessly as any back- resented the influence of the burgeon- had the word been given . They would room politician . ' ing Student Non-Violent Coordinating have descended upon this patrician Committee . So far as is known, he has white center of the Black Belt by bus The Official Negro done nothing for the Albany defen- and train, in motorcades bearing By 1960, he had become the offi- dants since. license plates from the Atlantic Coast cial Negro of the Northern section of "Had he stuck to this (meaning to the Pacific . the white power structure John Ken- staying in jail)," says Louis E . Lomax They would have been impatient nedy, afterwards assassinated in in The-Negro Revolt,"as Gandhi would of rhetorical prayer and unctuous Johnson's Texas, won the presiden- have done, Albany would have been platitude . They would have made tial election of that year by the Negro desegregated . But Martin came out on history . votes that he garnered after getting bond ." For history is not a stagnant sea King out of jail in Atlanta . John- Did Washington indicate to him its but an inevitable coursing flood break- son is less personally cordial to him, displeasure with SNCC, which has ail dams . but King cooperates fully with that sprung up right out of the Southern King has come out of Selma with Florida ex-governor, Leroy Collins, heartland? Mr . Lomax, who has known rips in his mantle . lie did not show who accomplished no miracles of inte- the Atlanta Kings since his boyhood, up in some of the crucial set-tos gration in that Dixie state yet who is, adds : "One day, perhaps, Martin will with the badge-bedecked bullies of for all practical purposes, the U. S. tell the true story of Albany ; he is the Sheriff Jim Clark. lie was able to Civil Rights Commission. only man who can tell it. A few people- maintain qualified authority only be- After King received the Nobel Prize about a dozen-know the truth, but cause of the shock that reverberated in 1964, his reputation soared in the Martin Luther King is the only man who throughout the nation followingtheas- dominant White Establishment and its can tell it . Knowing Martin as I do, I sassination of the Reverend Reeb. less powerful imitation, the Black doubt if he will ever part his lips So he profited by that "blood" Psuedo-Establishment. But the mass When I unearthed the truth and asked which he has always so disavowed . of Negroes did not thrust that laurel him to confirm it, his only reply was : But would James Reeb and Viola into his willing hand. For Negroes `If you print it, I will not be non-vio- Liuozzo and Jimmie Lee Jackson know no "peace" in a racist society lent with you' ." have been lost to the Negro freedom constantly greasing ropes for them . Apparently, the Reverend King has struggle had show of might been made no public answer to this scarce- countered with show of might? Did The Price Tag ly-veiled public accusation. But by not King's very disavowal of resis- Laurels don't come without price his own scriptures, "that which is tance help to load the guns of the tags-nor do padded crucifixes. Ex- hidden shall be revealed ." And Selma Klan and the posses at the very out- cept that the price,a high one,has been was the place where Negro militants, set of the Selma troubles? paid by Martin Luther King's own as well as white allies mustered by You don't whip an enemy by letting people . King himself, began seeing through him know in advance that he can do The tab this time is government con- a mask. anything he likes with your person - trol, through this eloquent one, of the and the persons of everybody else on very Negro liberation struggle itself . Disgusted by Tactics your side . By the logic of his own position, King Newspapers reported that visiting From Selma we shall learn . But must "go along" with what Washing- clergymen, present at King's invita- Martin Luther King will hardly be our ton wants . tion, were disgusted by his namby- teacher . That he does acquiesce to the White pamby tactics and felt that they'd Next time- next battle- the motor- House and the Democratic national wasted their time in coming. King ad- cades will come . And no black agent machine is shown by his behavior at mitted that he'd made accomodations of the white power structure will flag Albany, Georgia, in 1961, where the to the authorities about limiting the them, by the sly word, to any halts issue was again a bus strike; and at scope of demonstrations . He was en- anywhere . blood-spattered Selma, Alabama, with gaged in constant counsel with Leroy Next time! Next battle - when the its voter registration struggle ; in 1965 . Collins, the lame duck Southern great chariots of time will sweep Everybody knows that the militant politician sent from Washington to across another crumbling sward of the leaders of the collapsed Albany Move- hold down the lid on disfranchised, Confederacy . ment were indicted on Federal con- outraged Negro citizens in Alabama . Let's leave the mumbling god to tempt of court charges after King lit a And while one can admire the cour- the dust of archives . shuck and pulled back to Atlanta . age of all the white allies who flocked Let's get on with business still Hundreds of Negroes, a large part of into Selma, would not visiting dele- unfinished .

6 Malcolm X: A Traeedv of Leadershi by C. E. Wilson & Ossie Sykes of the white, and thedollar gap between but few are radical enough to recog- Negroes of whatever political, -cul- Negro and white workers is widening. nize that the racial problem is basic to the Europeans' quest for power and tural and religious persuasion have In housing the degree of segre- world dominance . Not only is the always placed great value on leader- gation in urban cities increases with conservative, ship . They seem to place little faith each passing year. In education the leadership basically ap- in ideologies or institutions, but place public education apparatus teeters and but their followers are devoted to their faith and hope in "unselfish in- totters under the weight of demands for proved cultural goals . Within the last dividual leaders ." Anyone who ap- equal opportunity without sufficient generation this leadership has been pears to have that certain intangible will or resources to perform the task . impressed by the emergence of the something, apparent honesty and Police brutality exists without ade- African nations, but they believe that articulate verbal skills, is considered quate police protection for those who their future must be resolved within a possible leader . Malcolm X pos- would be law-abiding . The Negro America, by America, and in terms of sessed these very attributes to which family reels under these successive the American Dream. Negroes gravitate . Despite the bre- shocks from the broad American cul- vity of his career, we might do well to tural system . Social scientists sug- Ideology examine his leadership style and iso- gest that the disorganization the Ne- Conditions alone, however, do not lead- late some of the lessons to be learned groes experience would not be so de- make the leader . Sometimes the from his life, so that those who are moralizing if Negroes had not accep- er's ability to act is effected by his political orientation . Malcolm X willing to learn the lessons of history ted the values and aspirations of the need not repeat the same mistakes . dominant white society . seems to have been a nationalist . To understand him, therefore, one should The established Negro leadership understand something about the dy- Understanding Negro Leadership: is, at this juncture, effectively tied It is impossible to understand any to the Democratic Party coalition, namics of nationalism and Negro radical movements . Nationalism denies Negro leader unless we understand the and thus separated from the desperate the milieu and the social conditions which plight of the masses . Historically, the basic assumption of most Negroes about their situation propel him to the forefront . Negro leadership has maintained the in the United States, " In employment the conditions of the fiction that the inequality of treat- vis +things are getting better average Negro people is on a tread- ment which the Negro people endure every day ." Nationalism articulates mill, -slowly losing ground to the aver- is purely a domestic affair . This do- the tensions of the masses. age white citizen . 20% of the Negro mestic affair is allegedly totally un- Negro radical movements historic= labor force is unemployed ; a wopping related to worldwide conditions . The ally share five major characteristics : 1) They seek to withdraw the Negro 37% of the youthful "lout of school" more avant-guard of these Negro lead- physically or psychologically from the Negro group are not working. The ers see that economics is the means society . Negro family income has dipped to 52% by which the inequality its assured, 2) They are basically an urban phe- eont. pext page LIBERATOR May 1965 7

the suffering of those people and place the blame for that suffering squarely where it rested . lie possessed tremendous skills as a debator, plus an uncompromising "ghetto- eyed" point of view . Fortunately, the Muslim movement was not bound by the same cultural constraints that tightly circumscribed the actions of the Civil Rights Movement . In his role as spokesman, he liked to be called Min- ister Malcolm X . Malcolm X also acknowledged that he had helped to found the newspaper, Muhammed Speaks . He asserted that the early The powerful rhetoric of the Mus- lims limited their ability to enlarge their membership . Negroes are too conformist . They conform to the material necessities of survival, even if this means further degradation and debasement . The rhetoric of the Mus- lims was altogether too threatening. Malcolm X devoted considerable effort to gaining the attention of the black and white college elite as well as the masses . Yet his experiencewith the Muslims TRAGEDY cons. status ends and wants unity, but not to solely that of a pro- style involves was not limited nomenuu uun a product of periods of at all costs. This for mass demonstrations and loud protest leader . As an administrator great distress and crisis. the Honorable Elijah Muhammed of the suffered from unstable tests. 3) They have tension which resuls from the devoted his energies to membership . The membership is made The Muslims, he up of people on their way to middle- conflict between the conditions of the the service of the cause he espoused . class respectability and standards. people and the orientation and styles The disciplined oligarchic nature of 4) They are traditionally bound by a of various leadership creates a situ- the Muslim religion provided Malcolm X seeks either religious doctrine which ation in which unity is the most fer- With the kind of administrative train- a theocratic, separate state to create vent hope and cry, while division opportunity not generally availa- or to re-interpret the Old testament ing and the old-time religion into a cur- within the community is the most com- ble to Negroes. rent political and social context . mon experience, except in times of to addition, from his spokesman- 5) Negroes have not been able to sup- extreme danger . administrative role with the Muslims, port or sustain a radical movement. It is witntn this milieu that Mal- Malcolm X derived invaluable experi- colm X, like any other aspirant for ence in the international arena. In Styles of Negro Leaders leadership, had to function . The July, 1959, he was named the per- we understand the conditions and If leader is bound by his own concept sonal envoy of the Honorable Elijah we need only understand the ideology of the society's restraints as well as Muhammad to the United Arab Repub- of minority styles and categories the outlook of his audience . lic, The Sudan, and Nigeria. This group leaders . The dominant styles of experience gave him an opportunity Negro leadership are : The Muslim Period : to think in terms of international con- 1) The moderate style of the bar- In the first'part of Malcom X's pub- tacts rather than along the customary sees life with its gainer lawyer who a a Negro subtleties and complexities ; seeks lic career he was not leader, -but lines of traditional U.S.-bound welfare aims, considers time as an spokesman-administrator . The Muslim leadership. inevitable component of change, and movement provided a formidable plat- The apprenticeship and training of basically shares the attitudes of the form for addressing the dispossessed Malcolm X within the Muslim move- white conservative . and the downtrodden urban masses as ment provided various experiences or protest style of the 2) The militant necessary for successful leadership. individual who sees the world as it well as the rest of the Negro popu- should be, and shares the view of the lation. Malcolm X attracted people He was exposed to opportunities for white liberal or radical. He seeks because he could directly articulate speechmaking, administrative respon-

sibility and overseas contacts . Each participated in a school boycott, which, in July, 1964 . He issued a stinging, type of experience was invaluable in while ostensibly about school inte- eight-page memorandum condemning this 20th Century context . gration, was in reality a test of strength U. S. racism and requesting aid from the sovereign African States . In Jan- After the Break with the Muslims grationn, was in reality a test of strength uary, 1965, Malcolm X claimed that his When Malcolm X broke with the between Negro grass-roots leadership efforts had been crowned with success , Muslims, he carried with him many of in New York City and middle-class and that a link had been forged with the concepts that he had learned . organization leadership. the African governments and the Or- Ile initially called his organization livery poll conducted by whites of thodox religious Muslims as well. On The Muslim Mosque, Inc . and declared, Negroes and whites placed Malcolm his last journey overseas in February "I am a follower of the_ lionorable far down the list among those who 1965, he visited England where a num- Elijah Muhammed . I believe in the aspired to leadership. In one poll, ber of individuals who are caught in Ilonorable Eli jah Muhammed ." Ile pro- the whites of New York City rated the Western world's racial conflict posed that his new organization would Malcolm X and Adam C. Powell the were interested in hearing from him . have a base designed to propagate the least popular Negroes . Negroes lie was barred from entering Paris, moral reformation necessary to rid the throughout the land gave him scarcely where a large colony of American ex- Negro community of the evils that de- more popular support . This lack of patriots now live. Malcolm X believed stroy its fiber. Further, he advoca- popularity can be attributed to his that he was barred by the French Gov- ted a unique "Go It Alone Plan" for basic protest style, the attachment of ernment at the behest of the U. S. American Negroes . Ile advocated com- Negroes to their material possessions, Government . pletely controlling the Negro com- and the fact that what most Negroes This barring from France was only munity, with no outsider able to pull really want is a way into the society one indication of the nature of the strings . Whites were to be excluded and not out of it. American response to Negro efforts to from membership in this organization . The youthful Harlem ghetto dwell- break out of the straight jacket that He postulated that nationalism might ers, however, saw him as a leader and binds their struggle . Foe his efforts in have some immediate goals beside chanted his name in the midst of the trying to place the civil rights issue the exodus from American shores . Harlem Uprising of 1964, although he in the international arena, Malcolm X This theory carried with ii. ii". i n- was, at that time, thousands of miles was frequently shaiowed by the C .I.A. plicit suggestion that Malcolm X's away . and harassed and denounced by U.S.- brand of nationalism was departing His reputation was soiled by the I .S .(Information Service) . Ile openly from the Utopian view of race rela- fact that he was frequently condemned acknowledged that he recognized his tions characteristic of many black by all sides for his "extremist" views . home phone was tapped . In the Sat- nationalists for a more attractive, re- Malcolm X was a leader that Ne- urday Evening Post, he quipped : "If I alizable goal. groes could not publicly acknowledge . said on my home telephone right to- One interviewer suggested that in Ilis rhetoric and style were too direct day, '1'm going to bomb the Empire terms of the formidable obstacles that and too frightening . He never won State Building,' I guarantee you that he faced, Malcolm X would not only popularity contests for he was a cul- in five minutes it would be surround- have to be a charismatic leader, but tural bad guy . Yet, how he might have ed . " also a magician to get his organiza- won such contests if Negroes weren't His efforts within the confines of tion off the ground . The interviewer afraid to be themselves and think for the United States paralleled his efforts did not doubt his basic sincerity and themselves! He was an extremist in a in Africa . He tried to forge a link. He purposefulness . He recognized, how- moderate society. asked Negroes to accept the African ever, how great the obstacles and the cultural component of their lives and limitations would be in the Mosque Outside of the American Straight- suggested active use of the word Afro- organizational structure . Jacket American instead of "Negro." The In the eleven months between his name of his organization, Organization Assessment of Malcolm X's Leadership departure from the Muslim fold to his of Afro-American Unity (OAAU) re-i Once outside of the Muslim fold, death, Malcolm X spent considerable fleets his continued effort in that di- Malcolm X found it necessary to sof- time trying to gain the support of sov- rection . lie repeatedly called upon ten his uncompromising rhetoric. He ereign African States for the American Negroes to look culturally and spiritu- became less and less antagonistic to- Negro's Human Rights struggle . He ally to Africa . Malcolm X blamed the ward whites, and even apologized to wished to expand the civil rights move- U. S. Administration's continued sup- other civil rights leaders for his for- ment to a Human Rights movement, port of Tshombe as a cog in the never- mer slashing attacks on them . In Octo- internationalizing it and providing an ending Congo turmoil. ber, 1964, he suggested that he was opportunity for African nations to Malcolm X further suggested unique sorry he had led so many well-meaning attack U.S . racism . African solutions to the violence of Negroes into the fold of the Muslims . Malcolm X was an observer at the the American racists (Mau-Mau) and Malcolm X called for unity and even African Unity Council in Cairo, Egypt, repeatedly urged self-defense for Ne cont. next page LIBERATOR May 1965 9

TRAGEDY cons. moderate society has decreedthat The thinking, does not accept either the groes . This was a unique type of Negro Revolution should become a radical nature of the problem or the nationalism . Malcolm X's brand was religious reform movement, be legal in need for radical solutions, for they are actually internationalism . He was approach and not affect any of the re- tied to the concept of political reform . struggling to get out of the straight alities . Malcolm X leaves to succeed- Although in their hearts the Negro jacket that constricts Negro leader- ing generations of aspiring leaders a masses understood the nature of Mal- ship. Only in this international arena strange legacy . He was never able to colm X's message, their minds did was there a chance . Unfortunately, he make the full impact of his attempt to not fully grasp the unfamiliar nature alone made the international contacts internationalize and escalate the Ne- of Malcolm's concepts . Malcolm was and his untimely death may have once gro struggle in the U. S. felt . His life at one and the same time talking over more broken the tenuous link. in the big arena was far too short. the heads of many while scaring the Yet, his brillant effort may bring the heads off some . Hung Up On Organization first rays of light into the Negro's Malcolm X's leadership was even The skills required of a protester tunnel vision . Actually, his leader- more profoundly a tragedy of follow- as well as an international negotiator ship is another leadership tragedy . ership . Although he was sensitive to drew effort, energy and time away from The brevity of Malcolm X's leader- the thinking of the mass, Malcolm X the task of building a national institu- ship career is only a single aspect of was not willing to wait till the masses tion . From its outset, any organiza- the tragedy that has befallen the Ne- caught up with him . He was, there- tion made up of Negroes can expect gro people . The direction which he fore, alone, isolated and vulnerable. limited financial backing . Such an chartered would have required a long, The Negro people still by and large organization needs time to develop strenuous effort . But beyond this lack cling to the belief that the society will individuals with the appropriate ad- of sufficient time, Malcolm's life in keep its promises . As long as such ministrative skill and can expect to the leadership arena revealed three thinking predominates, radicals will get very little sympathetic coopera- other catastrophes of major propor- be outcasts and marginal men. Mal- tion from other Negro organizations . tions . His life was first a tragedy of colm X was such an outcast . However much these organizations may style and character. The protest The Negro people have always want to assist, their own human and style is not generally productive in wanted and still crave a strong au- financial resources are not capable of building a strong institutional frame- thoritarian father figure leader who providing assistance. The middle- work (organization). The rhetoric of will tell them what to do, solve their class Negroes pursue their own pri- the protester is often too frightening problems, boss them around and take vate goals through escapism and naive for most Negros, and this rhetoric de- the responsibility : They are as yet individualistic effort . Therefore, the mands maintenance of a high level of not willing to take the lead in the Negro community, while screaming tension over a long period of time . resolution of their own destiny . Once about the need for leadership, can The protester skills are not geared to they take this step they will choose never develop the skills of follower- hold people for the long period of time their own leaders from those who have ship which can propel racial organi- necessary for assembly, orientation struggled with them . That day, un- zation . Malcolm X then made little and training. The escapist and ex- fortunately, has not dawned, and will impact in this area. This area cannot tremist character of Malcolm X's move- not as long as the great majority pic- be considered a failure because Mal- ment is not suited to the middle-of-the ture a world of fantasy and make-be- colm X did not have enough time to de- road approach of the agricultural and lieve (racial reform) . Malcolm X's vote to the development of the neces- industrial black peasantry and black leadership was, then, a tragedy of sary organizational hierarchy and bourgeosie . A movement such as Mal- followership . trained cadres which are needed . colm X's was too closely tied to the It has been said that people get the single charismatic leader . When this leaders they deserve . Conversely, The Legacy of Malcolm X charismatic leader goes, the move- they loose those leaders they don't de- Malcolm X's death marked the end ment is threatened with dissolution . serve. Malcolm X was just a ma n of prospects that the Negro revolution Malcolm X's leadership was further ahead of his time . A genuine tragedy . . might become revolutionary . There a tragedy of concept . Malcolm X pro- But the truly tragic figures are those will now be no spokesman for the pesed a radical solution to the race who will stand around wistfully talk- wretched bottom . His death, coupled Problem (nationalization of the Negro ing about his abilities, instead of with the attacks on the Student Non- struggle and internationalization of pushing on in their own thinking to Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) this struggle through the support of where their fallen leader was. If the and the current investigation of the the Asian-African bloc). Although the people go that far, they will find white radical left, indicates the true race problem has always been a radi- another leader whose life need not be feelings of the society toward Negro cal problem vis a problem at the root so tragic . After ail, the new leaders demands and the apparent need for of the society, the dominant Negro may have an opportunity to learn structural change in the society . This bourgeosie, truncated in their political from Malcolm X's experience .

1 0 The Quotable Mr. X b C. E. Wilson y to the words of the late Malcolm X : man, not when it came "a helping When Malcolm X was imprisoned black people ." almost twenty years ago it was report- On White America: On another occasion he made the ed that he spent considerable time Malcolm X was noted for his caus- following observation about United steadying. Reports state Malcolm X tic comments about white America . States newspapers to his followers : copied the entire dictionary in his One major theme dominated his out- "Don't trust a line ." Sound advice thirst for knowledge and a good vo- look. Once, for a change of pace, he by any standard . cabulary . On his release from prison, was quoted as saying ; He was once asked about the worst he set about becoming one of the most "Todos somas hermanos . EI hom- crime of the American white man. He effective and dynamic speakers on the bre blanco es el diablo ." Even in replied : "The worst crime the white American scene . Quick, direct, sar- Spanish Malcolm X's estimate of white man has committed has been to teach donic, confident, even arrogant, he America was always out in the open . us to hate ourselves ." possessed the natural ability and "All men are brothers, the white man He was even more scathing in his skills that belied his formal school is a devil ." characterization of white participation level, eighth grade. He often visited Malcolm X described the goal of in the civil rights movement. "A man colleges and handled himself well in America, "America wants the whole who tosses worms in the river isn't numerous debates with individuals of world to bow down to her, but the ma- necessarily a friend to the fish . All superior formal education . jority of the people who own this the fish who take him for a friend, who His uncompromising ghetto-eyed earth are dark people .. . and the yard- think the worm's got no hooks in it, point of view could embarrass and an- stick bywhich they measure this white usually end up in the frying pan . All tagonize an enemy or strengthen the man is his treatment and attitude to- these things dangled before us by the resolve of a believer . His press con- ward the twenty million so-called Ne- white liberals posing as a friend and ferences were always alive, crackling groes in this country." and benefactor have turned out to be with quips and jests that probed deep- Malcolm X was once asked what nothing but bait to make us think we ly into the heart of a problem . Often were the motives of a magazine for are making progress ." his words were descriptive ; sometimes providing him an opportunity for free Once, at Harvard University, Mal- they were prophetic ; always they were discussion of his views . He replied : colm X perceived the problems of entertaining . Here are collected some "I think you want to sell magazines . America in this light : "This is the of his morepungent comments . Listen I have never seen a sincere white core of America's troubles today, and cant. next page LIBERATOR May 1965 11 sprout wings and fly . It isn't in his MR. X coat. QUOTABLE On Black America nature ." there will be no peace as long as the While he was a perceptive commen- Malcolm X's continued warnings twenty million so-called Negroes are tator on the white side of the domes- obout the future now seem extremely here begging for rights which America tic scene, he was also an apt-critic relevant . One of his predictions is knows she will never grant .us ." of the Negro's role in the cultural quoted in William Stringfellow's a state- Several years ago he made dialogue : "The western world is sick . A y People is the Enemy : "The black ment on Federal protection for the Ne- America is sick, but the Negro in n.asses that are waking up don't be- gro in the face of local tyranny which America is the sickest of them all . lieve in Christianity any more . All seems now like a prophecy in light of The sickening condition of the Negro that's done for the black man is to the Selma, Alabama, situation : "You in America [s infecting Uncle Sam's I elp keep them slaves ." will never get protection from the Fed- entire body and endangering the se- While he could warn of the awaken- eral Government . Just like King asking curity and future of the western ingof the masses, he was quite scorn- Kennedy to go to Alabama to stand in world." America often accused him ful of the Negro Middle Class . It is a doorway, to put his body in a door- of racism and he often had to discuss reflected in such comments as : "For way. That's like asking the fox to pro- the entire subject of black racism . the masses are not the brainwashed, tect you from the wolf . The masses of During one interview he suggested : satisfied Negro middle class ." And black people can see this, and it is "As soon as the white man hears the more directly, "The black middle only the Negro leadership, the bour- the black man say that he is through class, in its attempt to protect the geois, the handpicked handful of Neg- loving white people, then the white crumbs the white man gives, while roes who think that they are going to man accuses the black man of hating trying at the same time to decide to get some kind of respect, recognition, him ." deceive him, is the most acrobatic of or protection from the government . The Malcolm X was an arch foe of Negroes ." Following this line of rea- government is responsible for what is "so-called Negro progress ." He soning, he came to the conclusion that 94 happening to black people in this once evaluated a statement about the clergy politician leadership does country ." - Negro progress in these terms : "I not speak for the Negro majority . They Malcolm X's homey expressions hear that everywhere, almost as you don't speak for the black masses. sometimes caused, him considerable stated it. This is one of the biggest They speak for the black bourgeois, trouble . His "chickens coming home myths that the black man believes in . white-minded, middle class minority ." to roost" statement is an example. Every immigrant ethnic group that has Malcolm X was not in love with the But his comment on the last presi- come to America is now a genuinely current Negro national heroes, partic- dential election may bear careful first-class citizen group . .. Every one ularly those who win Nobel Prizes . scrutiny : of them but the black man who was Throughout his career he made scath- "Johnson and Goldwater, I feel that here when they came . . ." ing comments about Martin Luther as far as the American black man is "The Negro is like a man on a King. When he was asked how he concerned, are both just about the luxury commuter train doing ninety evaluated Dr. King, Malcolm X said : same. It's just a question of Johnson, miles an hour . He looks out of the "You don't have to criticize Rev. Mar- the fox, or Goldwater, the wolf . window along with all of the white tin Luther King. His actions criti- 'Conservatism' is only meaning `let's passengers in the pullman chairs, and cize him ." keep the niggers in their place . he thinks he's doing ninety, too . On another occasion, he said : "Any Liberalism is meaning 'let's keep the Then he gets to the men's room and Negro who teaches other Negroes to kneegrows in their place, but tell looks in the mirror and he sees he's turn the other cheek in the face of at- them we'll treat them a little better. not getting anywhere at all . His re- tack is disarming the Negro of his God- Let's fool them with more promises .' flection shows a black man standing given right to defend himself . Every- Since these are the choices for the there in the white uniform of a dining thing in nature can so defend itself black man in America, I think he only car steward . He may get on the 5 :10 and is right in defending itself except needs to pick which one he chooses all right, but he won't be getting off the American Negro." to be eaten by, because they both at Westport ." will eat him ." Progress is merely one area of On The Overseas Arena While he could see the national Negro self-deception . Once, in an Malcolm X's travels through Europe picture clearly, he was also acutely interview with Louis Lomax, Malcolm and Africa gave him an opportunity to aware of the overseas efforts of the X commented on another area of self- [..sake observations on the world scene. United States Information Service to deception . "You Negroes are not will- I or example, after the Congo Affair, discredit him : "This was a white- ing to admit it yet, but integration will l e defined United States participation balling from the highest level. But, not work . Why, it is against the white in the Congo as a criminal action. ironically, what they did made me even rian's nature to integrate into his "They've got some more innocent more welcome . It told Africans ex- house. Even if he wanted to, he would Ilood on their hands ." He referred to actly where I was ." no more do that than a Model T can 7 shombe as "The worst African ever

1 2

born. . . The Worst African ever born! and race problems he remarked : "England munity . I also mean that we must do he actually has the nerve to come here .. has a severe racial problem . She has those things necessary to elevate our- Vl ell, we must welcome him-properly ." become almost hysterical over the selves socially, culturally and to re- Since Malcolm X was a thorn in the problem . " store racial dignity ." side of the United States overseas op- The entire racial scene is too tame, erations, he had choice comments for Malcolm X Was Just Too Much too dull, now that Malcolm X's truth tl.e United States Information Service . Perhaps two additional quotations has been removed . The established "They have done a vicious job. . . . a from his life would be quite illumina- Negro leaders are now cautious, cor- vicious job . They were there all right. . . ting at this time . Once, Malcolm X rect, responsible (to the white socie- and steadily at work to prevent real was asked by a knowledgeable re- ty), reliable and evasive . Malcolm X's contact and honest communication be- porter about his reluctance to speak voice is silent . We suspect that many tween American blacks and African of socialism . He quipped ; "Why speak of the civil righters secretly wish that blacks . The United States Government of it . If you want someone to drink Malcolm X was still around to say what prefers to regulate our contacts . . . .and from a bottle, you never put the skull needs to be said . Only a person who represent us ." Malcolm X had a word and crossbones on the label, for they isn't connected with the status quo can of warning for his African brothers- won't drink: the same is true here ." make such comments . Since he wasn't "Don't let American racism be legal- His definition of Black Nationalism connected - he could tell'em like it is, ized by American dollarism ." was quite an interesting one, and it and the Quotable Mr . X did just that. After Malcolm X was prevented from should be repeated over and over again Maybe the readers have personal entering Paris he quipped about Gen- so that perhaps one of his many mes- memories of quotes by Malcolm X that eral DeGaulle, "DuGaulle had too much sages might sink in . "By Black they would like to share . Maybe you'd gall." He characterized police acti- Nationalism I mean that the black man like to send them in to us . The only vity at Paris Orleans Airport as, "I must control the politics of his own rule is that the quote must tell it like thought I was in South Africa by the community . He must control the radio, it is . No other way is worthy of the way the police acted." On England's newspaper_ television for our com- of the Quotable Mr . X . SNCC in Danger

ish kind of radicalism--a radicalism intimidations and helping develop by Ossie Sykes that does not have any capacity for local leadership. The organization Suddenly the Student Non-Violent reconciliation . SNCC seemed more helps fight the awesome fear that Coordinating Committee (SNCC) has interested in protest than achieve- binds, imprisons, and disarms the Ne- become the prime target for criticism, ment ." His black audience did not gro of the back country . With SNCC's red-baiting and caustic comment ; it is protest, and the New York Times car- help, direction and encouragement to bearing the brunt of attacks on the ried the story the next day . face the white terror and intimidation Freedom Movements . It has been The pride of radio liberalism, Ed- the communities are better able to claimed that the effectiveness of ward P. Morgan, got in his licks at carry on the job of fighting for their demonstrations can be determined by SNCC soon thereafter, but the prize rights. by the volume, pitch, and intensity of critic of all was the Rev. Martin Luth- Some of the criticism from the hide- hostile white reaction . If this is true er King himself . Rev. King was quo- bound and chairbound generals of the SNCC and its Chairman, John Lewis, ted as saying that his organization older civil rights groups is a matter of are leading contenders for Freedom (SCLC) had not yielded to "vadical self-interest and envy . Self-interest Honors in 1965. groups in the Alabama civil rights because the older groups have made a demonstrations ." Dr. King, known in good thingof bourgeois reformism with- Opposition From All Sides some circles as ",Da Lawd," stated out the masses of black people . Envy SNCC critics now come in all sizes, that "many members of the Non-Vio- because, unlike the valiant youth of shapes, colors, and descriptions . lent Committee were young people who SNCC, they can no longer get out into Theodore White, in Life, November tended to become frustrated and im- the back country--without custom cig- 1963, called SNCC "an extremist or- patient over the slowness of progress arettes, foreign cars, and fancy foreign ganization which has attempted to con- in the civil rights field. We question foods. vert peaceful demonstrati ons into at times if their tactics and decisions White criticism of the back-to-the Putsches (against government offices are decisions we would make ." As is people approach is more relevant, for in Southern cities) and consummated his custom, Dr . King refrained from the whites recognize clearly that or- the adoption of a sinister military outright attacks on the leaders of ganizing the disorganized is a direct plan that would start another civil SNCC, -but it appears that the task of threat to white dominance . White lib- war ." Of all the civil rights organi- restraining SNCC has been turned over eralism, which never organized any- zations, White preferred the quiet, to his underlings . thing, is afraid that it might loose its conservative Urban League and dis- Everybody but the LIBERATOR and stranglehold on the Negro protest missed'SNCC's members as "lunatics and a few others seems to be mad at movement if Negroes were organized . and aliens ." SNCC . LIBERATOR, in December Everybody is mad at SNCC for good The Herald Tribune's Evans and 1964, awarded SNCC the Anti-racism reason : They have gone back to the Novak, on December 2, 1964, reported forthe service SNCC has performed on people . that the responsible leaders of the the grass roots level. Civil Rights movement were worried SNCC Is A Threat To Everybody's lest SNCC will put into practice the Why Is Everbody Mad At SNCC Non-Violent Daydreams-- successful revolutionary technique of Everbody, especially anyone with For the past five years, SNCC has these emerging countries of Africa . an interest in maintaining the status Leen testing the mythology of the non- Not to be outdone by white critics, on quo, is mad at SNCC first and fore- violent approach . Through their work March 21, Washington D .C .'s Rev. most because SNCC has gone to the and suffering, SNCC workers have put Jefferson P. Rogers, a SCLC aide to people to work with the people right Non-Violence to its most severe test . Dr. Martin Luther King said, "There where they are,--in the hamlets and Often these tests have been without were deep strands of the Irresponsible hovels of the Black Belt, facing and the benefit of the kleiglights of nation- in the movement manifested by a fool- sharing with the people the terror and wide television and world press cov-

KINMEPT MUSED To SEmDTOM, 611NINOI~l1

John Lewis (left) and James Foreman (right) of SNCC participating in the Harlem demonstration in support of Selma.

erage . Some of their beliefs have cer- public relations machinery,the gallant SNCC Has Earned Support tainly by now been shaken in concepts youth of SNCC have tested the follow- SNCC is an organization of men, like : ing Sacred American beliefs : not demi-gods . As such, they have 1 . Unmerited suffering will reap re- 1. We have equal justice under the often been too busy fighting off white wards. law . enemies andblackracial reform critics 2. The sadist will grow tired of bea- l. The right to vote cannot be a- to evaluate all they have learned from ting the masochist . bridged . bitter experience. SNCC has learned The nonviolent revolution can 3 . 3. There is fair play and justice for time and time again that civil rights change in a direction contrary bring all . movements is often a seething kettle to the values of the majority of 4. Success comes by hard work . of jealous fish, with several Kingfish, the people . 5. The Federal Government protects rather than a purposeful cauldron of Americans love and respect free- 4. the constitutionally guaranteed hot water. SNCC has learned that dom as a reality for all men . rights of citizens . militancy and bold programing and ef- By now the brave young men and 6. There are constitutional guaran- fort can cause the most hostility a- women might well be impatient with tees of freedom of speech and as- mong so-called friends . The Editors talk of brotherhood and reconciliation, sembly that should not be abridged . fully understand that the SNCC or- having experienced night-stick broth- In testing these shibboleths, SNCC ganization has in some ways failed to hood and jail reconciliation whenever has been radical and revolutionary re-examine the premises of American the cameras weren't focussed . enough to go right to the roots, and society like other Americans who hold It is no small wonder that devo- everybody is just plain embarrassed . on to American mythologies, but they tees of TV Non-Violence (Sing Along When Americans black or white, are are some of the most effective workers With King)shouldbe angry with SNCC . embarrassed, they don't attack the we have got, so let us not be guilty of White liberals and white conservatism, problem or the problem-makers, they letting the baby go down the drain with too, is angry with the idea that SNCC attack the people who made them con- the dirty water. We need good people- is really trying out non-violent resis- scious of the situation . In this case, let's help to keep them . tance as a creative weapon without SNCC . In the words of an old African pro- clearing with them . flow could any The vast majority of Americans verb : "Those who cross the river in Freedom group dare to operate without have been safe and silent spectators a crowd are not eaten by the croco- clearing with its Masters . to racial violence and beastiality . dile." Now they react in opposition to those All right, you other crocodiles, SNCC Testing the American Mythology- who have made them conscious of let's have no tears and let's help The third big reason why everybody their smugness . While Washington SNCC . is upset over SNCC is that SNCC is issues communiques about poverty We are sure that the mounting storm really testing out the limit of the programs and structural changes, of criticism means militants better American Dream Using raw courage, SNCC has been changing some struc- hang together or we will hang sepa- very little money, and without the vast tures . Therefore, everybody is angry. rately.

LIBERATOR May 1965 1 5

United Nations Photographs Women 0 from Sarakole girl from Mati. above: .A Bahutu girl Burundi. above: A young class org below: A woman from 'Tarit in the 5onthern Sudan. below: A student in an English lan+ruaae above : A Somali girl at a political rally celebrating her country's independence >f Africa below : A woman from the Genalle region of Somalia unloading bananas, the country's principal export . ganiaed by the Union of Women of Togoland . African Women at the U . N . Wrican women served on many missions during the last scssion of the United ,Nations . Shown here (clockwise from the upper left corner) are Miss Nancy 1{ajumhula of Uganda, Mrs . Iteutcha of Cameroon, Miss F lorenue kddisun of Ghana, .'Ass Margaret lguta of Nigeria, and Mrs 13egine Gbedcy of Togo. United Nations Photos

Living Poetry by Black Arts Group

by Clayton Riley and material, a quality that is faintly son's insights are stiletto-sharp . I will not say I enjoyed the pro- reminiscent of the music of Ray Larry Neal of the LIBERATOR gram, BLACK ARTS, which was pre- Charles . His verse recollection of a staff made a notable contribution to sented at the Actor's Playhouse on trip to his former S . Carolina home the evening with his "iTo Black Wri- April 12-- I felt it ; I lived it . The was, in anguished intensity, a work of ters and Artists," among others, all prospect of clever men reading aloud, eminent beauty . of which were skillfully written and in a program that begins late and is LorenzoThomas and Albert Haynes read . conducted in the dim confines of a write with a quiet but forceful skill ; The quality of LeRoi Jones' poetry sweltering downtown auditorium, would their works crackle with sardonic hu- grows fantastically in stature each ordinarily inspire your reporter to mor and wit . Thomas' "Inauguration," time I am exposed to it. One of our naught but dismay . In the case of "iThe Subway Witnesses," and "Bureau great contemporary tragedies lies in Black Poets, however, the experience, of Missing Persons," were particu- the fact of the one-dimensional view the event was not only worthwhile but larly impressive. Haynes, reading in most critics and nearly all the white memorable . a small, almost gentle voice, revealed public takes of him . For, to think of Host and participating poet Charles a craft that is highly articulate and Jones as merely angry or bitter (as, Patt.erson greeted the audience with soulful . indeed, most whites do) is to overlook the statement that he hoped the read- David Henderson's "They are Kill- the enormity of the man's considerable ings would "nun you out of the thea- ing All The Young Men," is a thrilling talent and expansive vision ; a vision ter ." This was not an entirely pro- series of poems dedicated to the that embraces the need and responsi- phetic remark, for the humor, fire and memory of Malcolm X. There is sad- bility for loving and feeling, for com- frequently awesome power of their ness and a profound level of percep- municating the entire range of the hu- individual works kept a large gather- tion in his reference to "Harlem: man emotional mechanism, which in- ing rooted in the house for nearly Dallas of the Fast." Another of his cludes, in addition to what I have just three hours . And if a single word selections, "To Elvin Jones," con- mentioned, rage, violence, and yes, could possibly describe the evening, tains the kind of muscular prose that hate . 1 would venture to say it was an ur- embodies the type of jazz ethic and The white community it seems is gency of the sort that attends a jazz spirit to which I previously referred. capable of regarding such an artist set when musicians are "into some- The works of LeRoi Bibbs, Steve only with almost complete misunder- thing," when that undefinable thread Young and Ojijiico, presented some standing or, more commonly, total of connective tissue we sometimes difficulties for me, -and I believe they alienation. In Jones' work lives that refer to as rapport is established with are artists whose writing is more rare example of communion-the suc- the listener. All of which is to say profitably read than heard. The sub- cessful unity of heart and mind, that that poets were there, deep in a thing; stance, the nitty-gritty is all there but marriage of passion and intellect that I was there digging, and, baby, it is not fully illuminated by the spoken is so conspicuously absent from cooked . word . Bibbs' "To Jimmy Baldwin : "Charlie's" scene. The Black Poets were: (in alpha- Everybody Knows Your Name," is, I Of tire works read by Jones, I found betical order) LeRoi Bibbs, Albert think, a particularly good example of ",Twentieth Century Fox," and "Ready Haynes, David Henderson, Calvin this . or Not," especially interesting . One Hernton, LeRoi Jones, Larry Neal, Charles Patterson's "115th Street" other, the title of which I cannot recall Ojijiico, Charles Patterson, Ishmael was undoubtedly the best of his but which includes the line "J am a Reed, Lorenzo Thomas and Steve especially fine selections. In forth- meditative man," personified what I Young. Each in his own way was the right, graphic language that fully suits feel poetry can do to and for the spirit star of a star-studded evening . Reed, the topics he chooses to explore, Pat- of the listener. for example, leads a marvelous visual terson vivifies much of the frustration The program was presented by The and vocal quality to his penetrating and pain that attends life in the ghetto . Black Arts Repertory Theater, which words . His work is both vividly de- (A child looks up from the squalor of will shortly be moving into 109 West scriptive and charged with an electri- his block at the Grand Central com- 130 St., N.Y .C . Let that address and fying current of scathing social commuter trains carrying crowds of grin- the names of the poets I have listed mentary . ning whites who gaze down at Harlem here become familiar to you . Much Calvin Hernton (see poetry section, thinking "those niggers are having a needs to be said in this madhouse we this issue) a veteran of the old Deux ball ." To which the child, with a euphemistically call the United States, Megots Cafe readings, was perhaps the trenchant wisdom and logic replies, and I believe these poets will be say- most emotionally engaging poet of the "if we're having such a ball, come in ; it. Do yourself a large favor: night. There is about Hernton's voice and play with us ...... s" Patter- listen.

LIBERATOR May 1965 79

Black Poets Poem For Half-White College Students Who are you, listening to me, who are you listening to yourself? Are you white or black, or does that have anything to do with it? Can you pop your fingers to no music, except those wild monkeys going on in your head, can you jerk, to no melody, except fingerpoppers get it together when you turn from starchecking to checking yourself . flow do you sound, your words, are they yours? The ghost you see in the mirror, is it really you, can you swear you are not an imitation greyboy, can you look right n ext to you in that chair, and swear, that the sister you have your hand on is not really so full of Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton is coming out of her ears . You may have to be Richard with a white shirt and face, and four million negroes think you cute, you may have to be Elizabeth Taylor, old lady, if you want to sit up in your crazy spot dreaming about dresses, and the sway of certain porter's hips . Check yourself, learn who it is speaking, when you make some ultrasophisticated point, check yourself, when you find yourself gesturing like Steve McQueen, check it out, ask in your black heart who it is you are, and is that image black or white, you might be surprised right out the window, whistling dixie on the way in .

LeRoi Jones

Terrorist For the (our Negro children in Birmingham who were murdered A revolution must draw blood. Seek revenge ; fly, with shotgun, while praying to God Amuck in the streets . Yet, 1 know Like his stricken face In the manacled chambers of our egoes There were stroke of midnight . What we do not know about death When all of this raving, tortured love flagellating hatred Torn by crack of thunder Comes alive, and though love agonized And up stars, Or dissonance of vowel, There, hate is a better madness Is reckoned to The deed, like an agonized tooth, These four will illuminate The dark more than a billion heavens . Fell from his mouth When terror expires our frail hearts .

I wish 1 had died as thcv . And exploded . For the four who died, without tears, Outside of cognition--their end Before the thunder in your face is Done, you will too; there shall be In a dark room in a crumbling is ubiquitous, everlasting ; No shaking hands later on Heart, the deed conceived its victims : Their beginning is eternity. And forgetting; Blood will heave Ninety-one nails in the breast of Christ ; The deed made terror, ripped open To die young, before the rodent of exchange Imperils the flesh, when you are innocent In your chattered streets, Flesh and bone . No one knew, And immaculate to the paranoid itch, Birminghamr Not even he himself, eight fragile legs Is lambs blood, Would never walk from that debris . Is bread transubstantiated And Cod, the tornado Shall rave down on you like an angered I am the door . Hammer me down To galaxy, to love beyond ego . Black fist, merciless Ninety-one and four. They were like chrysanthemums, if I were loin from whose pain And violent! Tender flesh cracked by thunder-- The esctasy of these four little girls Even unto the blazing sun . Unknown to his grotesque facie . Lcaped, I would wail and weep, Calvin C. Hernton

Embarcation For Cytheria Rain that falls into the dusty life of the people on the street, it turns into a new language All the fine mammas walking inside, "And out of the solitude / Voice and soul getting out of Grand Prixs with selves unite . . ." C . Okigbo Can hardly read this paper without stumbling over "embarkation" This color, its pure absence What someone has done to us, that in other words a space my words become unintelligible . some African mothers, children It says, do not despise your own cupped in their slim arms I wonder if they see that, They are bending into the sand All those foxes . All of a sudden, and it is their lesson written there . I'm so glad I have on my wide A new motif of pants, my 10 dollar bonlon shirt destruction- The girls wish I was The idea of a written language inside, too . At least, I think so . when before, This much is understood the words in our I go down to Benson's Burgers mouths were enough . and sit in the parking lot . Not that it takes anything away Food smell, but I don't have any money from the people we are, All I have is the blues "Education" and a ticket for someplace called Cytherea You don't write "corn" if you a bus outing on Sunday. mean okra . Got this magazine telling about the great Along Merrick Blvd, standing in front new thing going on in Nigeria - the dance hall And I have my beautiful high, it's the same thing, the a green alcove of the evening cop in a luminous blue called "music" His badge spreads all over his face, My voice when it is understood, threatening me . There should be piped into clancehalls and restaurants by some way to get in without paying . this very intricate and lovely machine .

Lorenzo Thomas

Here I Stand Assimilation

Here I stand, America the pity. With justice, equality, and liberty I enjoy being brown. With poor, hungry young men hast'ning to riot . Colour makes no difference . And rich, fat old men yelling "Quiet!" My homestead is valued at thirty thousand . With today's young, black men taking a stand . My daughter's in the Jack and Jill . And the South, rampant with the Ku Klux Klan . A car I have, a Cadillac . Washington, his troops, Bunker hill, equality . I'm just as good as any grey . And a young, black policeman saving the Statue of Liberty But when I make my voice dull Harvard, And my white liberals numbering in many . When I suppress the rythmic tap, And my black militants emerging from the Cotton Jenny . When mine I rebuke for the lure of white. And Jack Ruby or Bryon l3eckwith-aquitted-with-luck. 'then the innate heritage arises and asks. And all mankind-trying to make a buck. Why am I being buried and for what? Here I stand, America tire pity . With justice, equality, and liberty.

F=rederick Douglass Richardson E:liot Black

2 1

Ragtime Nine to Five Nine Sun was up like a past due bill Pushin' for my full bellied woman walkin' two and a toaster (lands honk hurt I don't. wanta cry rags Bones asphalt cling forces me to sing rags Flo' shine shoe give me the blues-tight-sparrow lipped women Give me the orders to pick rags Got a greased-creased crown 3 .50 to keep down south I worked (lard I swear befo' God if I had my way Posum-jawled fools wouldn't shout rag scented reason At nine At ragtime 9 At ragtime 9 to 5 Ten Over my head Lawd Over my head Pray Mary Pray Mother Blessed art thou amongst women Blessed art the fruit of thy pussy Over my head Lawd Bow-wow blues urges me to choose rags (Jesus wept on the step---pushin' rags) Over my head Lawd piss scented anthems belly-born ripe for dust Heat stumblin' throat causes me to choke on rags Over my head Lawd Death ridin' side-saddle across my face Eleven Summer stains my veins dry 1 don't wanta cry rags Put glasses on to keep sun out Put glasses on to keep blues in God we trust Miami man tanned tailored green Over my head, Lawd (One monkey don't stop a show) Twelve Ready to flag one Three Pride not too far from the ground (Up tight as only a m can be, can be) Feelin' down Lawd, feelin down Now thou lay me down to sleep Fear next door to hate Lawd Pray the Lawd my soul to keep To hate Lawd Damp gutter dreams that intervene Recidivistic rituals rushin' raw Whispering obscene soliloquies on my back Comin' close to one Lawd, One lawd Rag 9 Feelin' too Lawd, feelin Rag 5 Two My woman feeds me love to stay alive If I had my way If I had my way The sun would shine on my time If I had my wa y Not ragtime (In the beginning God created--Amen) Liquor runnin' thin can't muster up a grin Four But narrow-nosed women presuppose that I love rags Let me ride this iron horse marked "A" till I die Over my head At ragtime (1 can't bleed on this man's rags) Not my ragtime Dreams kickin' dust At ragtime 9 [fang on or Hand up Ragtime Can this be Lawd, can this be? Subterranean cattle move toward darker pastures Street clock close to three to Five. Joe Johnson 22 Sermon On the U . S . Mint

"The Revelation" "The Lamentation"

The two week old baby was bitten by a rat, We have a new prophet, In a broken down Harlem, cold water flat . Harrington is his name . And as the rat filled his jaws He is the prophet of the poor, With a Second Plug, Now reaping .profit from the unpoor, Mama couldn't hear For telling how, The baby bawl To make the poor, Cause she was fussing Poor no more : Down the hall, With the Super who had not fixed Now the General of this war The hole in the wall . To make the poor unpoor Is a Sergeant He once waged a war for peace : "The First Blessing" Peace or war, Ballots or Bullets, The thirteen year old boy, What's in a name! Stretched on the Project roof U.S . Steal, oops, Steel, Breathing not-Lightless eyes sra ring at the skies Has gone up two points, The stench-filled air of Bed-Sty Big Deal! A trickle of blood Anyone for a New Deal? From a punctured arm, (take heed) Black folks do bleed "The Salvation" Boy escaping from a world of Harm. Blessed be Urban Renewal But, fear not, For God is in His heaven, "The .Invocation" Johnson is in Washington And as sure as the dice Praise be to Allah! will roll seven, Hossana in the highest! And not eleven! Everything is alright with the world, "The Second Blessing" For the joint is rigged

Two P.R.'s in a back seat, "The Response" Bullets in their heads . Two courageous men in blue, Who the hell really cares. Now pound a foreign beat. A city sleeps, Amen! While two women mourn, And silently weep. The two cops? Uh". merely soak tired feet. Hallelujah". Police brutality Is a myth . Carlos E. Russell Joseph Jeffries-E1, Grand Sheik 4 view of Chaven,a holy city at the foot of Mount Kalay PI iflayot in ',lorocco. of the Moorish Science Temple Brooklyn, Mew York. amalgamate or marry into the families 7-Newspapers to spread our iritcr- of the pale skin nations of Europe . ests and also to unite Our brothers Neither do we serve the Gods of their and sisters throughout the world . The Prophet religion, because our forefathers are 8-Mousing for our people . the true and divine founders of the first 9-Jobs for our people in our own Drew Ali religious creed for the redemption and places of business . ,alvation of mankind on earth . 10-All other projects which are Our divine and national movement necessary for building and main- Has Spoken stands for the specific grand princi- taining a nation of people . ples of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom If you have race pride and love your Joseph Jeffries-El and Justice to all mankind . Wr ask all race, join the Moorish Science Temple American citizens to Help us in our of America arid become a part of this efforts of uplifting the fallen humanity divine movement . Then you will have the among Asiatic race and nation of power to redeem your rare, because North America . For we have suffered you will know who you are. and who Many sons and daughters of that much and severely in the past through your forefathers were, because where proud and handsome race which in- misunderstanding of what the move- there is unity there is strength . "To- spired the architecture of Northern ment is dedicated to. It is the great gether wr stand and divided we fall ." Africa and carried into Spain the influ- God Allah alone thatguides the destiny Come, good people, because we who ence of its artistic temperament have of this movement . are trying to redeem this nation from become citizens of this Nation . In the We are trying to build a Nation . We mental slavery which you now have, State of New York there exists a Moor- are calling on all true American citi- need every one of you who think that ish Science Temple of America made zens and others alike for Moral arid your condition can be better . This is rip of Moors who have found here the Financial support . Our program con- a field open to strong men and women end of their quest for a home and of sists of establishing the following: to uplift the nation and take your place the children of those who journeyed 1-Products to manufacture arid in the affairs of men . If other nations here from the plains of Africa. This sell . are helping us, why not you? It is organization has done much to bring 2-Markets to sell our products . your problem. The "Negro" problem about a thorough absorption by these 3-Schools to advance our posterity . is being solved only as it can and that people of those principles which are 4-Hospitals for those in need of is by the Moorish National F)ivine necessary to make them good Ameri- medical care . Movement . If you have a nation you can citizens . 5-Recreation facilities for our youth must have a free national name in We Moorish-Americans do not ask and aged. order to be recognized by this nation for social equality (Integration) with 6-Temples to propagate the faith as an American citizen . This is what the European, because we, as a clean and extend the learning and truth was meant when it was said : "Seek and pure nation descended from the in- of the Great Prophet of Ali in ye first the Kingdom of Heaven and all habitants of Africa, do not desire to America, these things would be added unto you ."

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LIBERATOR May 1965 25

Theater Amen Corner reviewed by Clayton Riley Bea Richards . The name should be freeing themselves from Sister Mar- synonomous with the term actress . garet's grip. The husband, Luke, who For rarely, if ever, will it be possi- is now a dyingman, strives harts to re- ble to see a more magnificent theater establish a relationship with his wife performance than that which MissRich- and son . He succeeds with the boy to ards offers in James Baldwin's drama, the extent that the lad breaks loose The Amen Corner. As Sister ,Margaret, from his emasculating maternal bonds the tortured evangelist of a Harlem and leaves home . Luke dies and Sister store-front church, she illuminates the Margaret goes off to face her bellige- stage of the Ethel Barrymore Theatre rent parishioners who have conspired AVAILABLE AT LAST with a brilliance that is matchless in to remove her from the pulpit by charg- IN ENGLISH : its depth and aglow with a warmth and ing her with misappropriating funds splendor quite wondrous to behold . from the penurious church coffers . The The role is a difficult one, more so for play ends with what I am not sure is The handbook for having to emerge from a play that is an affirmation on the part of Sister not always structurally sound and Margaret . i say, not sure, because the a Negro Revolution suffers from a painfully uneven pro- final curtain left me somewhat bewild- that is changing duction . To further encumber matters, ered . At that point, Luke is dead, Miss Richards is frequently hampered David has fled, and just what these the shape of the by a supporting cast that seems nei- events meats to those who remain - ther as capable as she nor as hard most notably to Sister Margaret - white world working. Despite these obstacles,she seems rather blurred . reveals a talent - no, an art - so ex- The drama in its entirety does not traordinary and pure . that one's breath work . There are several fine individ- and, of course, the stunning Hr ERE, at last, is Frantz Fanon's fiery is continually taken away by it; a con- ual scenes manifesto - which in its original summate,impassionedskill with which presence of Miss Richards, yet The French edition served as a revolutionary Amen Corner could profit consider- bible for dozens of emerging African is conceived and executed an acting and Asian nations. Its startling advo- accomplishment that is truly over- ably from a lot of intensive re-writing. cacy violence as an instrument for of whelming. The characters, with the exception of historical change has influenced events are incompletely everywhere from Angola to Algeria, The Amen Corner concerns itself Sister Margaret, from the Congo to Vietnam -and is with the plight of a woman preacher drawn - they speak but do not reveal finding a growing audience among more than superficially constructed America's civil rights workers. (Sister Margaret) whose overzealous personalities . I am told that Mr. Bald- "Have the courage to read this book dedication to "The Lord's Work" has Fanon speaks out loud; he hides destroyed her marriage and caused con- win has done little or no additional nothing . . . he fears nothing ." siderable emotional damage to her "drafting" of the piece since it was -JEAN-PAUL SARTRE teen-aged son . The sudden return of completed some twelve years ago . "Must be read by all who wish to un- an egregious derstand what it means to fight for her husband, after an absence of near- This, I believe, has been freedom, equality and dignity ."-ALEX ly ten years, forces Sister Margaret to error on his part, one that is far too President, U .N. Gen QVAISON-SACKEY, obvious throughout the evening. Yet, eral Assembly confront the fact of her needs as a woman; needs she has spurned as the fault is not entirely his. I must THE WRETCHED "worldly" and therefore unbecoming say, quite frankly, that the direction some- THE EARTH a minister of the gospel . She is fur- and general level of playing is OF ther faced with a rebellious congrega- times extremely unprofessional . As By FRANTZ FANON. Preface by Jean- husband, Luke, Frank Silvera Paul Sartre. $5.00, now at your book- tion whose members, long intimidated the store, or direct from GROVE PRESS. into a false sort of spiritual piety by seems to lack an even basic know- - ledge of who and what he represents GROVE PRESS, Dept N-S the example they imagine their pastor 80 University. Place, New York, N. Y. 10003 to represent, are now champing at the as the classic figure of the Negro male Please send me a copyWishof . THE WRETCHED t or THE EARTH, by Frantz Fanon, for Which bit of her Calvinist-oriented doctrine, historically in flight, maligned and I enclose $5 .00 . If I I may return the book within 19 days for full refund . The revelation ofher past - a marriage emotionally lacerated by the very fact that flight ; oppressed by personal Name ...... to a wandering, lusty jazz musician of stunted into enraged Address ...... whose passions lie somewhat removed doubts and often City ...... State ...... Zip ...... from the paths of righteousness, pro- helplessness . Silvera gives no sense i (N .Y .C . residents add 200 sales tax) .------F------t vides the flock with a fine excuse for of having been there, and an inclina-

tion toward stereotypical Actor's serious facets of the role, and falters Studio histrionics Io0Ms continually badly in the potentially rich scene with in his portrayal, robbing the character Sister Margaret. It is she who has for- of its much-needed definition and, more bidden him to take a job driving a AGENTS importantly, leaving the pivotal re- liquor truck, she, in fact, who domi- lationship between Luke and Sister nates and controls much of his life WANTED Margaret largely unexplored . More from her place in the pulpit. And than anyone else in the cast, Silvera when she asks him, "Why do you hate To SELL seems to need direction badly, and me?" a powerful moment of theater here again he bears much of the re- goes down the drain with Mayo's in- The sponsibility for any inadequacies in ability to fully realize the character that area - he is the director. he is playing, his torment, and the As David, the son, Art Evans monumental significance of the ques- LIBERATOR struggles with admirable determination he has been asked. tion but is simply not equal to the Juanita Moore works without dis- role's numerable demands . He ap- tinction as Boxer's somewhat candid proaches the part far too tentatively wife, giving us few clues beyond LIBERAL and never achieves it. Evans fre- what the text provides her as to the COMMISSIONS quently seems to be moving about the woman's abundant physical and emo- stage in the throes of a terrifying de- tional needs. Josie Dotson appears feat that results from an attempt to briefly as the mother of a child who shoulder dramatic weights he isn't dies despite Sister Margaret's bless- prepared for . ing, and handles the part with taste For Information As for the retraining members of and restraint . But like Gertrude Write to: the company, only Isabel Sanford, in Jeanette, who plays the woman minis- LIBERATOR the role of a dedicated church elder ter's long-suffering sister, Odessa, Circulation Dept. equally dedicated to the maintenance she is undone by an odd circumstance . 244E. 46 Street of her virginity, gives a genuinely en- Both actresses seem to possess a deep New York, N.Y . gaging performance . Her part (Sister insight into their respective char- Moore) carries with it a good deal of acters, a thorough understanding comic possibility, which Miss San- of who they are. This knowledge, how- limps from one "big moment" to an- ford handles quite well . Her use of a ever, is rarely extended to the audi- other, and since there are not really strong voice, an exceptionally expres- ence ; it remains a personal awareness enough of those to justify three acts, sive face and pair of hands deserves that begs to be translated from their the play regularly becomes tedious . commendation . Whitman Mayo, as private considerations into a sharply Moreover, -the very place in which the Brother Boxer, another church elder, is delineated portrait that is displayed play is being presented conspires to a droll and interesting figure in the with all the powers of clarification at defeat its purposes . The sound of early part of the show but his deadpan the player's disposal . Both Miss Dot- gospel music (a rather tepid example wit and funereal manner wears thin son and Miss Jeanette seem convinced of it actually) coupled with a story of later on. More significantly, he fails at times that the forces motivating trial and tribulation in a Harlem ludicrously out of to bring the proper quality - that of a them to a rapport with their parts will church, seems menacing but essentially hollow mar- sufficiently inform the viewer. This place when offered as fare for patrons tinet - to a third-act confrontation with is not true, of course, for those forces arriving in Rolls Royces, clothed in Sister Margaret . Boxer is a small, pet- must not only be harnessed by the mink, custom tailoring and Tiffany ty being whose sense of self has van- actor but expanded beyond their nor- trinkets. How far removed is such a ished in a unending parade of church mal dimensions until they are visible spectacle from the plantation era with activities ; who has only begun to to the spectator in the last balcony its heartfelt, "in the evening by the sense the nature of his loss and subtle seat . A play such as The Amen Corner moonlight you can hear those darkies but irrevocable descent into the sub- especially requires this, lest careless- singing"? Why not a large Harlem missive bondage of a woman-dominated ness beget a cartoon of the author's church auditorium as the setting for a house of worship . Heisthe only adult intention . play about a small Harlem church? A male who appears on stage as a mem- As it is, Baldwin has written a play trip uptown might be good exercise for ber of the congregation (David plays containing numerous sections not par- midtown-bred limousines. the piano for all services) and the de- ticularly well served by the dramatic In sum, The Amen Corner fails to gree to which his manhood becomes form. Little seems to happen in impress on several counts, yet I urge imperiled in this play would in itself The Amen Corner during those you to see it for one reason . For that make a forceful drama. Mayo, ,however, moments between important speeches reason I am able to say : Miss Richards, does not seem up to playing the more when a play is most apt to-falter. It BRAVO!

LIBERATOR May 1965 2 7

Movie Review

THE Goldfi nger reviewed by L. P. Neat

He is a connoisseur of fine liquors . do his duty for the Queen, the United He wears custom tailored suits, speaks States and his insatiable sex drive . SUMMER several languages . He is charming at Somehow, 1 believe that they need this the cocktail hour, responds the most kind of hero . 1 understand the James subtle nuances in discussions on art, Bond films are very popular, especial- horses, books, and sex . He is the ly among the culturally "hip" pop-art most incredible agent ever dreamed up ofay set . iHAi in the wishful fantasies of the Western For has not the chief pursuit of mind . Agent 007 is about the closest American society been that of plea- thing to a superman that her Majesty's sure? A rampantly hedonistic impulse got going. And go he does . First, he pervades all areas of her culture . And single-handedly quells a Latin-Ameri- has not the society ceased to partici- can revolution ; kills an attacker (saw pate collectively in healthy artistic DION'i his reflection in the eye of this chick experiences (as if it ever did so)? Is that he is about to screw) by electro- not Bond's popularity another symptom cuting him . He then turns up in Miami of a dying culture which is rotting to save a rich sucker from falling away because it is devoid of human- deeper into debt with GOLDFINGEIV istic content and purpose . He screws Goldfinger's chick, but And, yes, her racism, it intrudes END Goldfinger gets revenge by having again, this time the Indians or some Bondconked Karate style--by an orien- other "heathen" race have been re- tal valet and what do you know the girl placed by the mainland Chinese . But turns up painted in gold--yes gold . "love" conquers all . The West tri- LEN HOLT Her naked body is painted all over with umphs because Pussy Galore needs the stuff; and 007 he gets mad and what Bond's got ; and she is suddenly With burning conviction, Len goes after GOLDFINGER! And . little reformed when she gets it. Charlie in there applauding when 007 What underlies all of this? Gold . Holt tells all of the story of the gets his special instruments of de- As the United States gets its ass struction . All in good fun. . He gets a kicked on the international scene, her 1964 Mississippi Civil Rights little help from the C.I .A . once in hodge-podge phoniness is beginning to show. She maintains her power Project, much of it never before awhile ; but for the most part, he takes care of himself . But he's got one through terror in Alabama, Congo, and published . A powerful, vital, dis- weakness--sex . lie's got to have it, South Vietnam . A million or so James but he overcomes it in the end, and Bonds, white and Negro, are her last tressing, yet hopeful book, writ- destroys the plot by the YELLOW hope . This reviewer has already in- MENACE (the Chinese) . dulged himself, the worse part of that ten with passion, and thoroughly That's basically it. You could just self; and I suggest that maybe there is sit there and "enjoy" all of this-after some inverted lesson to be gained from documented. $5.00 all living in this country must have af- this movie. You'll laugh at it at least. fected our values somewhat . The But just remember, somewhere in the movie oozes with the stench that is city 007 is watching you, waiting to 9restern culture . Its evils are more practice one of those death-gadgets on WILLIAM MORROW & CO. penetrating in that they exist surround- you, waiting to lure you with his money 425 Park Ave . South, N.Y. 10016 ed by tongue-in-cheek, innuendo, - un- and his women, waiting to betray his derstatement, and gimmicks . Bond, own people, rather than see this thing _the Western all-purpose boy, driven to fall .

Book Review WITH GRIEF ACQUAINTED : by THE SUMMER THAT DIDN'T END, reflection of the rest of the country Stanford Winfield Williamson by Len Holt . William Morrow & Co ., and the lessons are perfectly appli- Follet Publishing Co. 127 pp. $6.95 1965 . cable elsewhere . 2. The problem is deeper than integration . The organizers of the Summer With Grief Acquainted, a book of Regular readers of this magazine Program specifically prohibited demon- photographs with text, is the best book will be familiar with the hard-hitting, of public of its kind to appear on the scene plain talk of Len Holt, a member of strations for the integration facilities in hopes of being left alone since Richard Wright's One Million the LIBERATOR Editorial Boar4. He Black Voices . While Wright's book has written a book about the 1964 to develop their main objectives : the Schools and had primarily a rural setting, With Grief Mississippi Summer Project which organization of Freedom Acquainted is set in Chicago's South tells so much of the truth and steps on the voter registration drive along with Side . so many toes that it just barely stays the building of the Mississippi Free dom Democratic Party. This, of The photographs are by James within the boundary line of permissible Stricklin, Don Sparks, and Jerry Cog- dissent. Reading between the lines course, was a more fundamental at- bill ; dealing, for the most part, with with some analytical thought, one tack on the status quo than the sit-ins the Negro folk culture of Chicago, quickly finds himself well over that and freedom rides and evoked greater placed together, they make a striking magic line into the area of revolu- resistance . appearance that gladdens the heart . tionary ideas, which, I suspect, would 3. Any movement for change not However, first-rate as the photo- not disturb the author at all . controlled by the power structure is graphs are, to this reviewer at least, The Summer That Didn't End is revolutionary. There is nothing new the outstanding thing about With Grief refreshingly and frankly a partisan de- about educational and voter registra- Acquainted is its text . Written in the fense of the Student Non-Violent Co- tion programs even in Mississippi . Negro idiom, the language is some- ordinating Committee (SNCC) . In Government and private organizations times sharp, sometimes witty, some- language which ranges from lyrical to have been playing at this kind of times grand, but always sensitive . humorous to coldly analytical as the activity for years . It was only when My personal favorite is a picture in occassion requires, Len Holt builds SNCC, demonstrating forbidden inde- which there is a portly, matronly wo- his well constructed argument with a pendence from the Establishment, man who is looking askance at a spea- wealth of documentation and a mini- started to do an effective job along ker out of the camera's view . The text mum of phrasemongering cliches . He these lines, that massive resistance accompanying the picture says : lets the reader draw his own conclus- was displayed on a State and National "Now what she sayin' is all well ions . Thus, by giving us a detailed level . Government is no and good . .. must be somethin' right description of the actions of Rev. 4. The Federal `bout countin' cal'ries and balancin' Martin Luther King, Jr. during the better than the State Government . meals . . . but long as my pocketbook Mississippi Freedom Democratic Even those who are already convinced don't say nothin' but neck bones and Party's challenge at the Democratic that no knight in shining armor will navy beans that's what I got to cook . . National Convention, without using come riding down from Washington to DOW them cal'ries want to get in the the term "Uncle Tom" he leaves no rescue the distressed black folks of no pot with them bones and beans ain't doubt in the reader's mind about the Mississippi should read the chapter on way I can stop 'em!" nature of Rev . King's role. Similarly, "Federal Law in Mississippi" to find book, the au- Gn each page of the author Holt scrupulously avoids the out exactly why this is so. delightful medium : thor reaches a term "sell out" in narrating the part 5. Legal and moral right is not manages to de- With Grief Acquainted played by Bayard Rustin, nor does he enough . After you read the chapter on ver- pict a portion of Negro life with call Walter Reuther a "Typical White the "Democratic National Convention" same time isimilitude, and yet at the Liberal ." and see what happened to the delega- realistic manner deal with it in such a But far more important than the fail- tion from the Mississippi Freedom the that each part becomes as great as ings of certain individuals, are the Democratic Party which had all the whole . implicit and explicit lessons to be law and morality working for it, you If you happen to be one of those drawn from this account of last summer will conclude that such consideration s evidence people who wants empirical in Mississippi : are irrelevant in the struggle for po- that Negroes are, indeed, beautiful 1 . Mississippi is part of the U.S .A . litical power. people, my advice to you is : Run, As the author points out in the intro- Elsewhere in this issue is an don't walk to the nearest book store duction, the major difference between article on the ever increasing attacks Grief Acquain- and get a copy of With Mississippi and the rest of the country on SNCC from all quarters including ted before your friends beat you there is that it reflects more of the worst. Rev. King's SCLC and Roy Wilkins of and buy them all up. This meansthatan examination of that the NAACP. Whatever reservations one C. L. Russell state's problems reveals a magnified might have about SNCC's program, the cone, next page LIBERATOR May 1965 29

WRETCHED OF THE EARTH: by tion of the preface, the reader finds no ting for themselves and, incidentally, Frantz Fanon, Grove Press - 1965 more messages for whites, for the book is for humanity, new ways of thought, pp. 251 not the usual anti-colonial tract . new forms of participative social lead- Unlike the current U. S . material ership, -and a new image of man . The clique of angry black writers produced by Negro writers and scho- The Wretched of the Earth is revolu can now relax. Bayard Rustin, the lars, Fanon's book does not sing tionary because the author recognizes non-violent theoretician and the so- beautiful superficial songs. The au- the basic, mechanistic, non-thinking, called Socrates of the civil rights thor plainly recognizes that these vio- machine-oriented nature of capitalism movement can now take hemlock . lent, resounding, florid writings merely which, because of its basic nature, "The Wretched of the Earth" tells the reassure the occupying power. will yield only to violence - physical whole story of racism and colonialism Fanon, in this classic insightful and psychological . clearly, concisely, with a passion, statement, laughs at European (and Political reform, trade unionism, without wildness . The book goes di- American) claims at humanism, dis- non-violence are seen as mere stages, the world wide rectly to the core of missing talks of liberty, equality, sometimes detours, along the road to black racial problem, sparing neither fraternity, love, honor, patriotism, freedom . nor white profiteers . This book is as oLjectivity,public opinion, conscience, "Shall We Overcome . . . . Someday" as book written since important any liberalism, as merely camouflage for by compromise, by private agreement, it Myrdal's American Dilemma and the basic narcissitic racism of con- by secret conferences, by marches, by grasps the basic error in Myrdal's for- tempt which whites exhibit toward speeches, by concessions which are contrast to Myrdal, mulation . In their inferiors . The author does not little more than sops? Fanon says, : racism and Fanon sees no dilemma find it necessary to waste time on the "most unlikely", for Racism and Co- colonialism are Western society's cliches of the American struggle for he lonialism give nothing away, every unique twin double of degradation and knows who he is and what he is about . concession must be won . Bourgeoisie be commend- profit . Grove Press is to He is an African who does not wish to groups who talk of non-violence can this ed for translating and publishing be an imitation Westernized carbon never fulfill their historic role of cul- book . copy . He wishes to be himself, he tural intermediaries in the capitalist wishes to be free . economic order. Different From Other Books Fanon is revolutionary because he The Wretched of the Earth differs Radical and Revolutionary Document advocates that Africa's children must radically from the usual anti-colonial Fanon's book is a radical document seize their manhood in order to become literature . This is a book by a black because it goes to the root of the prob- themselves . (Striking a powerful blow theoretician for blacks, wasting no lem . Western opulence is built on against the current naive conception time trying to appeal to the humanity slavery. Nothing is legitimate about of racial integration .) or conscience of white Westerners . the murder for profit, brutality, or ex- The author,a Martinique-born psychia- ploitation. Western pretenses of jus-_ Confirmation of Reality trist, who cast his lot with the suc- tice are exposed for what they are - Fanon will confirm the reality of cessful Algerian revolutionary forces pompous fakery . the urban black man in the street, the and became one of Africa's most Fanon's document is revolutionary SNCC worker in the field,the frustrated articulate spokesman, doesn't care if because he does not believe in the middle class Negro who sees the cur- whites hear his message. The mes- cult of the individual leadership, or rently exploitive character of Negro sage is for the beleaguered children of the Talented Tenth, or the Black bourgeoisie ; the migrant farmer, and Africa, wherever they may be . Jean Bourgeoisie, but he believes in the the automation-displaced worker . He Paul Sartre has written in the preface, people . He believes in the people confirms their reality by accepting the "When Fanon says of Europe, that she and their ability to decide the proper grim reality of these people who are is rushing to herdoom,far from sounding course for themselves . It is the peo- the real victims of Western Society the alarm, he is merely setting out a ple, he says, that are the wealth and gone mad-mad with power, conceit, diagnosis . . . he does not give a damn strength of a nation or a group. There- indifference and contempt . whether she lives or dies ." fore, he wastes no time on abstract After reading The Wretched of the It is Sartre who is eloquently pleading master plans and concentrates on Earth, one has no choice but to share with whites to listen . With the comple- urging on Africans the task of inven- the treasure with other blacks . C. E. Wilson

SUMMER THAT DIDN'T END cant. book is a powerful defensive weapon it is up to LIBERATOR readers, and widespread, vehement attack is proof in this battle. If it is recognized as other right thinking people, to see enough that SNCC is onto something such by the press, there is a danger that it gets around . Order your ten and must be defended . Len Holt's that it will be ignored . In that event, copies today .

LIBERATOR Book Service ( continued from back cover) t2T MY PEOPLE GO, by rienrao«a Buck- IN WHITE AMERICA, by Martin Duoeru,an. NON-FICTION master . The exciting and inspiring history A dramatic presentation of historical docu- of the Underground Railroad. $1 .95 (137) ments. A long-run off-Broadway play. BLACK BOURGEOISIE, by E. Franklin $1 .75 (159) Frazier. A critical look at the morals and BLACK LIKE ME, by John H. Griffith . White -notes of Negro "society." 95¢ ((116) man learns what it's like to be an Afro- AFRICA : THE WAY AHEAD, by Jack Woddts . de CHILD OF THE DARK, byCarolinaMaria American by becoming one. 50¢ (138) A study of neo-colonialism and what to do black Jesus. The diary of the life of a about it . $1 .65 (161) woman in the slums of Sao Paulo. All time THE BIG SEA, by Langston Hughes ; first best seller in Brazil. 60¢ (118) volume of an autobiography. $1 .95 (139) NIGGER : AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY, by Dick &egory . $4 .95 (162) NEGROES WITH GUNS, by Robert F. 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Revised edition of classic survey of An unromantic studyof Toussaint Louverture African history. $1 .95 with valuable lessons for our time . $1 .95 THE NEGRO POTENTIAL, by Eli Ginzberg . (166) (121) Report of Conservation of Human Resources Project. THE NEGRO IN THE MAKING OF AMERICA, $1 .45 (143) by Quarles THE STRANGE CAREER OF JIM CROW, by Benjamin . At last, here is an authoritative, readable general history, C. VanWoodward. Explains how segregation THE NEGRO REVOLUTION IN AMERICA, by available at a popular price . 950 (167) became a "sacred" institution only after be- William Brink and Louis Harris . Based on ing codified into State laws about 60 years the famous Newsweek survey. $1 .45 (144) ago. $1 .50 (122) RECONSTRUCTION: THE BATTLE FOR DE- FOR CHILDREN JOHN BROWN, by W .E.B . DuBois . A new MOCRACY 1865-1876, by James S. 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Revised dren . $1 .75 (150) the famous study of .black Chicago with in- PLAYTIME IN AFRICA, by Efua Sutherland . cisive criticism of strife and life in northern I WONDER AS I WANDER, by Langston Photographs by Willis E, Bell, Delightful cities . $2.45 each vol. (128) Hughes . The second volume of an auto- pictures and text showing how children biography. $2 .45 (151) entertain themselves in Ghana. $3 .00 (306) AFRICA, HER HISTORY, LANDS AND PEOPLE, by John A. Williams. A short, well THE OTHERAMERICA, by Macnael Hawing- NORTH STAR SHINING, by Hildegarde written and profusely illustrated history of ton. A study of poverty in present-day Swift. Beautifully illustrated story in verse Africa . Invaluable for teachers and parents. America with special attention to the prob- of Africans in America. $3 .50 (307) $1 .95 (130) lems of the Black Ghetto. 95¢ (152) WHISTLE FOR WILLIE, by Ezra Jack Keats. NOBODY KNOWS MY NAME, by-James THE LONELY AFRICAN, by Colin M. 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Book Service LIBERATORresponse to the numerous requests by LIBERATOR readers LIBERATOR BOOK SERVICE is a for material on African and Afro-American affairs. We have selected items of interest to our readers, but inclusion in the list does not imply editorial approval . We welcome suggestions for additions. To order, merely fill out the order form below a2d return with payments in full . FICTION NON-FICTION INVISIBLE MAN, by Ralph Ellison. An angry EIGHT MEN, by Richard Wright. Eight short DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE NEGRO novel about what white society does to a stories onthe theme of black men's conflict PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES : FROM black man in America. 75¢ (201) with white society. 60¢ (216) THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD THROUGH THECIVILWAR, editedby Herbert Aptheker . DICK GREGORY FROM THE BACK OF THE MODERN POETRY FROM AFRICA, ed. The actual words of Afro-American makers BUS, by Dick Gregory. Humorous and mo v- Gerald Moore and Ulli Beier. Latest collec- of history. $2 .25 (101) ing book by one of the top entertainers in tion available in this country. 95¢ (217) the U.S . 60¢ (202) DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE NEGRO A DIFFERENT DRUMMER, by William M. PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES : FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY, by dames Baldwin. Kelley. A novel about the day all the Ne- THE RECONSTRUCTION YEARS TO THE Remarkable best-sellingnovel set mainly in groes left the South. 60¢ (218) FOUNDING OF THE NAACP IN 1910, edited present-day New Ycrk. 75¢ (205) by Herbert Aptheker. $2.25 (166) THE BEST OF SIMPLE, by Langston Hughes . THE SOULS OF BLACK FOLK, by W.E .B . GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN, byJames Piercing comments on the American pano- DuBois. Classi c statement of the history and Baldwin. Brilliant novel of growing up in rama by the raconteur and poor man's phi- aspirations of Black America by the. dean of Harlem . 60¢ (206) losopher . Jesse B. Semple . $1 .65 (2.20) Afro-American letters. 60¢ (102) . NATIVE SON, by Richard Wright A novel AFRICAN MYTHS AND TALES, edited by 3.00 YEARS OF LYNCHING, by Ralph Ginz- Chicago about Bigger Thomas from the Susan Feldman. A rich collection of enter- burg. Our biggest seller to date--a powerful Ghetto and his losing struggle to survive. taining and educational stories for all ages . and compelling book. 75¢ (103) 75¢ (207) 500 (221) BLACK MOSES, by E. D. Cronon . Exciting THE GRAND PARADE, by Julian Mayfield, DUTCHMAN AND THE SLAVE, by IzRoi biography of the fabulous career of Marcus Novel about how the color problem affects Jones. Two angry plays that tell it like it Garvey . $1 .95 (104) all levels of society in a Southern town . 75¢ really is . $3 .75 (222) (208) AFRICAN POLITICAL PARTIES, by Thomas THUNDER, by AND THEN WE HEARD THE Hodgkin. Timely reference book for under- Collection of articles Killens. A novel about the war be- THE ANGRY BLACK. John O. standing today's fast-moving developments black and white American troops in by such authors as Ralph Ellison, Langston tween in Africa . 950 (105) Hughes, and James Baldwin. 50¢ (209) World War 11 . 750 (223) DECISION IN AFRICA, by W . Alphaeus CHARLIE, by James Bald- LAWD TODAY, by Richard Wright . This BLUES FOR MR . Hunton. Forthright condemnation of U.S . about a young man who goes novel depicts one sordid day in the life of win. A play and European neo-colonial maneuvering in "spoiled"; then goes home and Jake Jackson, a postal clerk, and his three north and gets Africa . $1 .85 (106) bridge playing, whiskey drinking, and gets wasted . 600 (224) women-chasing cronies. 600 (210) FACING MOUNT KENYA, by Jomo Ken- SOMETHING IN COMMON, by Langston yatta. Anthropological study of the Kikuyu Hughes. A collection of 37 short stories, people by the father of Kenya nationalism. $1 .45 (107) selected by the author . $3..75 (211) PAMPHLETS & PERIODICALS NOTES OF A NATIVE SON, by James Bald- THE BLACKS, by Jean Genet. An all-black NATIONALISM, COLONIALISM AND THE win. Collection of essays on the Negro cast dramatically challenges the com- UNITED STATES, with articles by James struggle to live in America. $1 .25 (108) placency of white supremacy. $1 .75 (212) Baldwin, John O. Killens and William Worthy. 50¢ (507.) BLACK MUSLIMS 1N AMERICA, by Eric BLACK BOY, by Richard Wright . Author's Lincoln. Factual study of one of the most GUIDE FOR TEACHERS on Contributions of talked-about protest movements in the U.S . harrowing record of childhood and youth. Afro-Americans to the American Culture. today. $1 .75 (109) 750 (215) Kindergarten-6th Grades . $1 .00 (504) I SPEAK OF FREEDOM, by Kwame Nkrumah. Collection of speeches by one of the great awwk BClpx sx African leaders of our day. $1 .95 (110) East,4Mh Feet T York . N.Y. 11101 SCOTTSBORO 30Y, by Haywood Patterson. A true story of typical Southern "justice" and of the jungle conditions that prevail in Alabama prisons. 600 (111)

THE NEGRO PROTEST. James Baldwin, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King talk with Kenneth B. Clark. $2 .50 (112)

LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUG- autobiography. The great black Subscription LIBERATOR (1 year) at $3. 00 LASS, to abolitionist describes his life under slavery and his struggle against it . $1 .50 (113) l, IV of LIBERATOR (12 lsntes, 1964) ,at $3 .-00' SLAVE REVOLTS, by LIBERATOR at 35¢ AMERICAN NEGRO . The book which destroyed - Month Herbert Aptheker the myth that Afro-Americans were happy under slavery. $2 .25 (114)

A STAR TO STEER BY, by Capt . Hugh Mul- zac. The story of the authors 35 year struggle to become the first colored captain of a U.S . merchant ship . $1 . 86 (115)

Revolutionary Theatre LeRoi Jones Monument Bomb Plot Victims Bill Mahoney

Automation and the _ Black Community " C . E . Wilson

Ornette Coleman Jazz : Soul of Black America Charlie Russell

LIBERATOR Vol. V, No. 7 July 1965 LIBERATOR: is the voice of the African-American . Copyright 1965, by Afro-American Research Institute, Inc. Office: 244 East 46 Street, New York, New York, 10017 Tel: YUkon 6-5939, area code 212 Subscription Prices : Within Continental United States: Single Copy : 350, 1 year =3.00; 2 years =5.50 Foreign surface mail: 1 year =5.00 Foreign air mail: 1 year =11.00

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EDITORIAL BOARD

Clebert Ford THEATRE Len Holt The Revolutionary Theatre LeRol Jones by LeRoi Jones 4 L. P. Neal Clayton Riley ANALYSIS Carios E. Russell A Reply to .Bayard Rustin Charlie Russell by L.P.Neai 6 Ossie Sykes Automation and the Negro C. E. Wilson by C.E.®11son 8 The New Left STAFF by Ossie Sykes 21 Lowell P. Beveridge, Jr. Letter to Black Men production editor by Katty Gibson 29 Evelyn B. Kalibala secretary', James C. Finkenataedt ;''' distribution Clebert Ford advertising PICTORIAL REPORT Leo Carty LIBERATOR Fifth Anniversary 16 Tom Feelings illustrators MOVIE REVIEW Robert L. Haggins Chinal Leroy McLucas reviewed by Clayton Riley 20 photographers Kattie Cumbo promotion RELIGION The Prophet Drew Ali Has Spoken ADVISORY BOARD by Joseph JefMes-El 24 James Baldwin LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 25 Ossie David L. H. Michaua SHORT STORY Richard B. Moore Now That Henry id Gone Capt. Hugh Mulzac by Clayton Riley 26 Paul Zuber EDITORIAL Corrupt, Sadistic and Ignorant

Growing up in Harlem, it was not an uncommon occurrence for me to watch policemen on a hot Saturday afternoon attempt to shake down single action men, only to be chased away because they were frightening away the action men's customers . While waiting for the last figure and their payoff, the cops, for kicks, would saunter over to some unsuspecting and innocent soul brother sitting on a stoop and lean on him heavy-like, plant a numbers slip on him, then proceed to ask for bread on the threat of being taken downtown and given a real going over. As night fell they would make their way down the block shaking down Boosters, Hustlers, Whores, Pimps, Rent parties and sneaky Pete joints. Such was the Afro-American youth's exposure to the representatives of law and order. Even then we used to say there were only three qualifications to be a policeman: be corrupt, sadistic and ignorant. Nothing has happened in the intervening years to change that opinion. The recent case of George Whitmore is another classic example of legal lynching that takes place every day in up South. Two young white girls were brutally murdered and immediately the whole police depart- ment was out on a manhunt for a soul brother. It didn't matter who (we all look alike) as long as he was black. Despite pleas and statements that he was innocent, George Whit- more was held for 26 hours without legal counsel, beaten and starved until he was willing to confess to any and all crimes . After all, he had to be guilty - he was black. Condemned before the public and before the trial by the eager press and TV, Whitmore was well on the all- too-familiar route that thousands of innocent Afro-Americans have travelled. Except for the belief of his lawyer in his innocence and one New York City newspaper, white society's justice would have been done. The courts have thrown out the case against him, because another young man, -who couldn't pass as an Afro-American, -was found to be more closely involved in the murder. Not to be outdone, the white liberal community now points with pride and says, "At least he was saved." Some even call this progress. We say stop the lynching and persecution of Afro-Americans, up South and down South and there will be no need to save a George Whitmore. DANIEL H. WATTS The Revolutionary Theatre by l»eRoi Jones

This essay was originally commissioned by the New York Times in De- cember 1964, but was refused, with the statement that the editors could not understand it. The Village Voice also refused to run this essay. It was first published in Black Dialogue .

The Revolutionary Theatre should is the constant possibility of widen- LeRoi Jones (left), whose article was force change, it should be change . ing the consciousness . And they must rejected by the New York Times, (Ail their faces turned into the lights be incited to strike back against any listens to author John D . Killens, and you work on them black nigger agency that attempts to prevent this whose article was not rejected . magic, and cleanse them at having widening . seen the ugliness and if the beautiful The Revolutionary Theatre must them to slobber on . see themselves, they will love them- Accuse and Attack anything that can This should be a theatre of World selves .) We are preaching virtue be accused and attacked . It must Spirit . Where the spirit can be shown again, but by that to mean NOW, what Accuse and Attack because it is a to be the most competent force in the seems the most constructive uses of theatre of Victims . It looks at the world. Force. Spirit . Feeling . The the world. sky with the victims' eyes, and moves language will be anybody's, but tight- The Revolutionary Theatre must the victims to look at the strength in ened by the poet's backbone . And EXPOSE! Show up the insides of their minds and their bodies . even the language must show what the these humans, look into black skulls. Clay, in Dutchman, Ray, in The facts are in this consciousness epic, White men will cower before this Toilet, Walker in The Slave are all what's happening . We will talk about theatre because it hates them . Be- victims . In the Western sense they the world, and the preciseness with cause they have been trained to hate . could be heroes . But the Revolution- which we are able to summon the The Revolutionary Theatre must hate ary Theatre, even if it is Western, world, will be our art . Art is method . them for hating . For presuming with must be anti-Western . It must show And art, "like any ashtray or senator" their technology to deny the suprem- horrible coming attractions of The remains in the world. Wittgenstein acy of the Spirit . They will all die Crumbling of The West . Even as said ethics and aesthetics are one . because of this. Artaud designed The Conquest of I believe this. So the Broadway thea- The Revolutionary Theatre must Mexico, so we must design The Con- tre is a theatre of reaction whose teach them their deaths . It must quest of White Eye, and show the ethics like its aesthetics reflects the crack their faces open to the mad missionaries and wiggly Liberals spiritual values of this unholy society, cries of the poor . It must teach them dying under blasts of concrete . For which sends young crackers all over about silence and the truths lodged sound effects, wild screams of joy, the world blowing off colored peoples there. It must kill any God anyone from all the peoples of the world . heads. (In some of these Hippy south- names except common Sense . The The Revolutionary Theatre must ern towns they even shoot up the im- Revolutionary Theatre should flush take dreams and give them a reality . migrants' Favorite Son, be it Michael the fags and murders out of Lincoln's It must isolate the ritual and histori- Schwerner or J . F. Kennedy.) face . cal cycles of reality. But it must be The Revolutionary Theatre is shap- It should stagger through our uni- food for all these who need food, and ed by the world, and moves to reshape verse correcting, insulting, preaching, daring propaganda for the beauty of the world, using as its force the natur- spitting craziness . . .but a craziness the Human Mind . But it is a political al force and perpetual vibrations of taught to us in our most rational mo- theatre, a weapon to help in the the mind in the world. We are history ments. People must be taught to trust slaughter of these dimwitted fat-bel- and desire, what we are, and what any true scientists (knowers, diggers, lied white guys who somehow believe experience can make us . oddballs) and that the holiness of life that the rest of the world is here for It is a social theatre, but all thea-

The Revolutionary Theatre looks at the sky with the vic- The Revolutionary Theatre . . .must show the missionaries tims' eyes and moves the victims to look at the strength and wiggly Liberals dying under blasts of concrete . The in their minds and their bodies . Above is a scene from scene above is The Slave by LeRoi Jones . LeRoi Jones' The Toilet.

tre is social theatre . But we will world ought to be a place for them to The liberal white man's objection change the drawing rooms into places live. to the theatre of the revolution (if he where real things can be said about What is called the imagination is "hip" enough) will be on aesthetic a real world, or into smoky rooms (from image, magi, magic, magician, grounds . Most white Western artists where the destruction of Washington etc .) is a practical vector from the do not need to be "political," since can be plotted . The Revolutionary soul. It stores all data, and can be usually, whether they know it or not, Theatre must function like an incen- called on to solve all our "problems ." they are in complete sympathy with diary pencil planted in Curtis Lemay's The imagination is the projection of the most repressive social forces in cap . So that when the final curtain ourselves past our sense of ourselves the world today. There are more goes down brains are splattered over as "things ." Imagination (image) is junior birdmenfascists running around the seats and the floor, and bleeding all possibility, because from the image, the West today disguised as Artists nuns must wire SOS's to Belgians with the initial circumscribed energy, and than there are disguised as fascists. gold teeth . use (idea) is possible . And so begins (But then, that word, Fascist, and Our theatre will show victims so that image's use in the world. Pos- with it, Fascism, has been made obso- that their brothers in the audience will sibility is what moves us . lete by the word America, and Ameri- be better able to understand that they The popular white man's theatre canism . The American Artist usually are the brothers of victims, and that like the popular white man's novel turns out to be just a super-Bourgeois, they themselves are victims, if they shows tired white lives, and the prob- because, finally, all he has to show are blood brothers . And what we show lems of eating white sugar, or else it for his sojourn through the world is must cause the blood to rush, so that herds bigcaboosed blondes onto huge "better taste" than the Bourgeois . .. pre-revolutionary temperaments will stages in rhinestones and makes be- many times not even that . be bathed in this blood, and it will lieve they are dancing or singing . Americans will hate the revolu- cause their deepest souls to move, WHITE BUSINESSMEN OF THE tionary theatre because it will be out and they find themselves tensed and WORLD, DO YOU WANT TO SEE to destroy them and whatever they clenched, even ready to die, at what PEOPLE REALLY DANCING AND believe is real. American cops will the soul has been taught . We will SINGING??? ALL OF YOU GO UP try to close the theatres where such scream and cry, murder, tun through IN HARLEM AND GET YOURSELF nakedness of the human spirit is the streets in agony, if it means some KILLED. THERE WILL BE DANCING paraded . American producers will soul will be moved, moved to actual AND SINGING, THEN, FOR REAL! say the revolutionary plays are filth, life understanding of what the world (in The Slave, Walker Vessels, the usually because they will treat human is, and what it ought to be. We are black revolutionary, wears an arm- life as if it was actually happening . preaching virtue and feeling, and a band, which is the insignia of the at- American directors will say that the natural sense of the self in the world. tacking army . . .a big redlipped min- white guys in the plays are too ab- All men live in the world, and the strel, grinning like crazy .) stract and cowardly ("don't get me coast. next page LIBERATOR July 1965 5 A Reply to Bayard Rustin The Internal Revolution

by L.P .Neal

At a time when the struggle for physical and objective terms was very liberation is taking place throughout inspirational to many of as who are the world along sharply nationalistic both spiritually and culturally alien- lines and the questions that have per- ated in a society that basically has sisted among the non-white world, no way of relating to us . or the "Third World" ; if you will), questions about old and new values RUSTIN'S ARTICLE IN Dissent and the necessity of change ; very The phenomema of the Rustins and fundamental changes in the order of many others of his persuasion is that things, changes in the idea of order, these changes which seem to be af- changes in the idea of what constitu- fecting the emotional and political tes a civilized society, and what con- lives of their brothers and sisters stitutes a humane or soulful person in seem to be completly beyond them . these emotionally unstable times - it By this I don't mean that they are not is easy to forget what our particular aware of the suffering of black people mission in life must be, what this or the collective and individual rage mission in life must be beyond any or that black people feel in this society, few personal considerations . This but more fundamentally, they are un- latter finally emerges as the care of aware of basic upheavals taking place our dilemmas, for we have lived in a in a whole realm of spiritual, social, society which has abnegated both and cultural values . They have been collective and individual responsi- busy cultivating their Western tastes bility,asociety thatisdevoidof guide- and values too long to see or hear lines for bringing about the necessary anything else . internal or spiritual changes which This lack of black awareness, will enable us to move forward towards therefore, leads to a sterile Western control of our destinies . analysis of our needs and ideas; this Therefore, the Muslims represented, kind of analysis is not wedded to the at least initially, an important philo- souls of black people . And because sophical and religious thrust into the it lacks black spiritual and emotional history of our struggle for survival in content it is never enough . this graveyard of North America . Rustin's article in Dissent, written "Mme . Socrates" of the civil rights Coming with a message of spiritual with a white leftist, Tom Kahn, is an movement, Sayard Rustin . redemption and translating it into example of such coldness, and exudes

REVOLUTIONARY T6EATRE coat. peopled with victims, will soon begin for the true scientists to expand our to be peopled with new kinds of consciousness . This is a theatre of wrong.. .I mean aesthetically . . .") and heroes . . .not the weak Hamlets de- assault . The play that will split the they will be right. bating whether or not they are ready heavens for us will be called THE The force we want is of twenty to die for what's on their minds, but DESTRUCTION OF AMERICA . The million spooks storming America with men and women (and minds) digging heroes will be Crazy Horse, Denmark furious cries and unstoppable weapons . out from under a thousand years of Vessey, Patrice Lumumba, but not We want actual explosions and actual "high art" and weakfaced dalliance . history, not memory, not sad senti- brutality ; AN EPOCH IS CRUMBLING We must make an art that will function mental groping for a warmth in our and we must give it the space and as to call down the actual wrath of despair ; these will be new men, new hugeness of its actual demise. The world spirit . We are witchdoctors, and heroes, and their enemies most of you Revolutionary Theatre, which is now assassins, but we will open a place who are reading this.

6 the direction that this the attitude of holier-than-thou white tus to decide what programs were satisfied with is taking vis-a-vis the emerg- writers when discussing Malcolm X or worth it, considering the times and country revolutionary nationalism. We learn the direction of not only the national ing "new" world. that Malcolm did not have a "program struggle, but the world struggle . Afro- (as if Rustin and Kahn do). That he Americans, Malcolm explained, are DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE INTER- ". . . strove to retrieve the Negro's directly tied to that world struggle, NATIONAL NATURE OF OUR shattered manhood from the wreckage and were advised to "internationalize" STRUGGLE: of the "civil rites" of slavery, from the debris of ma- their struggle. The OAAU, as Mal- The failure intellectuals to understand those ideas triarchy and family instability, from colm envisioned it, was the first real poverty and narcotics, from condi- step toward revolutionary black unity that were first articulated for us by trans- tioned aimlessness, self hatred and ever taken in this country. It is a Garvey and Dubois ; and then chaos. He could not succeed because unity essentially frowned upon by the formed into concerted programs in these are not problems that can be Rustins and the Farmers who openly Africa and Asia has affected their exorcized by religious mysticism or compete with each other for govern- attitudes toward local politics in the that denunciatory rhetoric . What is re- ment favors and white acceptance . black community . The parallels a black man was Fanon's book The Wretched quired is a strategy for social change, Malcolm's stance as we find in and Malcolm was not willing (except itself a program. of the Earth between our struggle and perhaps when it was too late) to aban- that of our colonized brothers and don premises which had made him and 'SLACK MANHOOD: sisters in other parts of the world must his program a maze of contradictions." Rustin may have been irritated at illustrate clearly what a people Ossie Davis' statement that Malcolm do to liberate themselves. The black RUSTIN'S COMMITMENT TO AN was "our shining black manhood ." youth of Harlem called for Malcolm ANTI-'HUMAN SOCIETY: But millions of black men and women during the uprising last summer. Un- As we read these words, we recall were not. They have had their ex- derstanding the nature of the kind of ultimately Rustin's "program" -- he was the periences with the "acceptable" Ne- struggle black people must chief organizer of the March on Wash- gro leadership. They have gotten bad wage, they instinctively sought a black ington, and we recall his program vibrations from the effeminate pro- leader who they felt measured up to which, again, in its orientation was jections of the Rustins, the flabby the task. Yes, we remember you further from the needs and aspirations orientation of the Farmers, and the Bayard on that day as you came off of black people than anything Malcolm shuffling act of the Kings . They un- sounding remote and freakish, the ever espoused. Rustin's program com- derstand that Malcolm's was not a nature of your alienation deeper than mits itself to a society which is at "petty bourgeois" concept of man- even James Farmer's. Bayard, I ask root anti-human and devoid of spiri- hood, but was instead deeply rooted you, what kind of program would have tual content. At this point it should in something beautiful and ancient, satisfied us then? to noted that despite Rustin's 20 and was deeply courageous since it The question remains. What kind year commitment to the white power was conditioned, not by a sterile in- of program? structure, he has been relieved of all tellectualism, but by the facts of Malcolm knew that the only real of his "executive titles" and posi- survival in a world dominated now by program for black people lay in the tions. Rumor has it, that after being beasts of prey. The Western white area of black unity, black spiritual awakening, run off the streets of Harlem last sum- man is the real creature of violence, and intellectual black mer '64 during the riots by militant and the rest of the world is defending leadership, and a Mau-Mau like com- blacks, the power structure finally itself from his beastliness . mitment to change. And this is hard fall decided that Mme. Rustin spoke for no And Malcolm did not break down, enough, because it lets the chips warns one, represented no one, except did not give himself up to self-pity, on the floor, and it those of us possibly himself. but did his work until the end. The who will ever get themselves together Malcolm told the truth. He made Rustins would disagree vehemently to do so, and to pay the painful price his commitment to a more soulful --but they have given in, have been that this process exerts on us. But narrow world by attacking the whole range of broken down by advocating a the Bayard Rustins who flirt among values and psychological barriers philosophy of non-violence; and more us must not be allowed to speak of which have kept black people in a fundamentally, by the acceptance of our blood with so much disrespect. semi-colonized condition . Malcolm an ethic towards life that will not It would be better if they exercised was a soul messenger, a bearer of a liberate black people - an ethic that the same "restraint" to attack in certain kind of spiritual truth, and as will essentially make us "American print, as well as they exercised it such, called upon others more tech- Negroes" who want to be decadent when physical indignities are exacted fairly nically oriented to evolve an appara- Americans - freakish, fat, and upon their bodies.

LIBERATOR July 1965 7 Automation and the Negro Will We Survive ? by C. E. Wilson Part Line of Two Parts same experts, as far back as 1948, tions and contradictory claims about Automation and the Negro is a two- of this revolutionary change part article discussing the conse- predicted that by 1967 there would be the impact and semi- in production (automation) on the quences of the new technology on the few jobs for the unskilled skilled . In the most advanced form laboring man . Conventional economists economic life of the black working having only the man. Part 1 gives a brief history and (cybernetics), the technology will re- and social scientists, with electronic of the impact, led people analysis of the early introduction of place human controls vaguest idea The Negro is now especially to believe that service industries, the the new technology and its effects. controls . imperiled. As a result of centuries of traditional Negro jobs, would absorb Part 11 gives an outline of the pro- poor education and training, the Negro many of the displaced workers for the posals on how to meet the changes which would be created . that the technology demands of the worker is largely concentrated in new openings While these claims were being Negro if he is to survive. those very job areas and catagories in which men are being replaced most widely circulated, Negro workers were immediately machines . From the losing their jobs . On the farms, new While Civil Rights leaders boast by standpoint of the present structure of equipment make unskilled agricultural about the defeat of segregation, while the economy, the average Negro now labor unprofitable . The displaced the administration's spokesmen make farm workers, many of whom were extravagant claims that constitutional- finds himself unwanted and ignored . black, drifted into migrant farm work, ly guaranteed voting rights are now Middle-class Negroes, having fought to secure a better education during the the 20th-century form of serfdom, or practically secured, while the Ameri- post World War II years, now find moved to the crowded urban areas of can press hails the snail-like pace of . The period desegregation, the average Negro's themselves competing with whites for the North and South the very high status jobs in which (1948-1962) marked a dramatic occupa- everyday world turns steadily into a discrimination is most subtle and most tional shift of Negroes from agriculture . nightmare of frustrated hopes and difficult to unmask . While 21 out of every 100 Negroes crushed dreams . As the yoke of open The machine, which needs no lunch worked in farming in 1948, only 12 out oppression and exploitation is slowly periods, of 100 were so employed in 1962 . lifted, the average Negro now finds no coffee breaks nor vacations, every and unlike human slaves, will A small mechanical cotton picker, for himself tightly bound in poverty by not demand freedom, higher wages or Civil example, could harvest an acre of cot- impersonal, color-blind economic Rights . Having provided the basis for ton in six man-hours, compared with forces (automation and changing tech- American wealth and opulence, 74 man-hours for a hand laborer. nology) . In the words of Tom Kahn - Negro common labor is now superfluous; The new farm equipment made the author of Economics of Equality: Negro skilled labor is now a competi- small independent farm a thing of the "it is as if racism, having put the Negro in his economic 'place, tive threat; and Negro professional past as well. In addition, the govern- stepped aside to watch technology managerial job seekers glut an already ment farm subsidies for non-production destroy that place." overcrowded market . of produce, which began to be paid in Automation, the common name for large sums to the big farm combines the revolutionary new technology,is as A Well-Kept Secret possessing or controlling vast acreages profoundly different from the indus- When this society's leaders wish to further discouraged the small farmers trial, agricultural, production system keep information from their white so that they were forced to sell out of today as the factory system of the citizenry, the facts are hidden, dis- and move out . Industrial Revolution was from the guised or distorted . While the infor- In the factories, automated systems feudal system of the 15th century . mation may be kept secret from white began to reduce the need for vast Automation can and does increase the citizens, the same facts are made a forces of unskilled and semi-skilled amount of production while reducing complete mystery to the society's workers . In reducing the need for the the number of workers needed to do chief victims - Negro inhabitants . unskilled and semi-skilled workers, the jobs. Experts see that machines From 1957 to 1963 most government the industrial apparatus was, in effect, can take the drudgery and monotony and industry officials strained to keep reducing the level of Negro blue-col- from the many meaningless, boring the secret of automation's real impact . lar workers back to the 1948 level of tasks men do to earn a living. These There were some vague hints, predic- Negro factory employment . By 1962, more than 8 out of every 10 Negro because they were not willing or able, about Negroes - that "1 had known very workers in blue-collar factory jobs but because they were becoming too few who really understood what was were still unskilled or semi-skilled, discouraged even to search for jobs. being done to them." while only 6 out of every 10 white There is an old cliche that the Ne- workers were in this category. gro is always arriving, but never 1962 to the Present - Automation's getting anywhere. By 1962, the Negro Secret is Out: :tun-A-Way Factories: worker had progressed right back to Despite continued efforts of socie- In some instances whole factories the position he held in 1948. The per- ty's leaders to confuse unwary and were moved, lock, stock and barrel, cent of difference between the income uninterested Americans about the true and set up in brand new quarters in of the Negro worker and that of the effects of automation, the little people, other states where Negro employees white remained constant. However, black and white, have begun to under- would experience difficulty in finding the wage-salary dollar difference stand. The white laboring man has suitable living quarters. The factories actually widened. Even if the Negro been expressing his fear and anxiety were lured away by tax inducements, worker graduated from college, his through his unions and other organiza- tax abatements and various profit lifetime earnings only equalled that of tions. White union workers, having motives. the white high school graduate. already seen the mechanization of the resultant loss of jobs, In the service industries area, the Paradoxically, the Civil Rights mines with the disproportionately high level of Negro spokesmen, trying to stimulate belief peer around now as the process of employment was maintained during in the fiction that a Negro Revolt was automation begins catching up with this period. Service industries jobs occuring, widely proclaimed that the other industrial areas, like glass, have been the traditional work for the Negro Revolution was a revolution of steel, chemicals, rubber and ma- Negro. Fully 3 out of 10 Negro! hope. The "revolutionaries" were not chinery. The industrial unions have workers were engaged in this area, even challenging the basic American been hard pressed to arrive at solu- while only 1 white worker in 10 was assumptions or values at this point in tions - early pensions, no new open- employed in service work. Fully 80% history. These revolutionaries seemed ings, work speed-ups, the entire busi- of whites employed in service indus- more interested in gaining entrance ness of trying to stave off the inevi- tries were not employed in the house- into the selfsame oppressive system table. hold-work field. Between 1955 and which was tooling up for a change in By 1963, it was no longer possible 1962 Negro employment in this ser- the manner of production by ridding for Negro Civil Rights "revolution- vice area increased somewhat, but the itself of unskilled workers - meaning aries" to ignore the pleas of Negro Negro worker found himself trapped in Negroes. workers for jobs . The plight of Ne- an area which, though rapidly expand- The early period of the introduction gro workers was so pitiful that the ing, was low paying and required only of automation proved the accuracy of Negro bourgeois leadership was forced cont. next page low to moderate skills. the sage observation of Murray Kempton The total effect of this'employment pattern, agricultural, industrial and service areas, was gradually to ease upward the Negro unemployment rates for the period 1955-1962 . During this period, the official tally of Negro unemployment rose from 8% to fully 11% (1 Negro wor leer in 10 was out of work), an unemployment rate of 2-1/4 times greater than the rate for whites. While white workers were suffering from mild technological displacement, Ne- gro workers were already in a reces- sion. Furthermore, behind the official figures, Dr. Charles Killingsworth, Michigan State University labor expert, found a growing "invisible army of unemployed." This invisible army was made of people who were being forced out of the labor market, not

LIBERATOR July 1965

to the disparity in their basic educa- ers in its new automated plant, and tional training. . The educational dif- technicians suggest that production AGENTS ference is apparent in so many areas could be maintained with new elec- that it is difficult to estimate the dif- tronic equipment with only 60 workers. WANTED ference in terms of statistics alone. Planning for a regulated, year-round The result of the educational in- production schedule reduces the need TO SELL equity is, however, that the educa- for increased numbers of workers tional life chances of a Negro person during "rush seasons." The are constricted, particularly for those It is important to recognize that residing in racial ghettoes. Fully 75%' this reduction in the amount of man- of Negroes in urban areas live now in. power needed has occured at a time LIBERATOR those racially contiguous areas (ghet- when the numbers of potential work- toes). The present education of the ers entering or able to enter into the Negro is an education for his role in labor force is increasing at a record LIBERAL the new automated society. The Ne- rate. COMMISSIONS gro's role is to be one of uselessness Negroes in the service industries, and he is being equipped in schools too, are feeling some of the effects to carry out that very role. How does of the general labor market, especial- Set Up Your the society plan to do job retraining ly those Negroes in industrial clean- for the Negro? The society shrewdly ing occupations . New machines now Route Now! proposed job retraining when it never clean, wash and wax floors in two did basic LIFE training. operations, thereby making it possi- Write To: LIBERATOR ble for a machine tended by one man Circulation Dept. The Trend Widens and Deepens: to do in one day the work of 10-12 244 E. 46 Street workers working the old wash-and-wax NY17NY New machinery has been introduced method. Because of the reduction Calls YUkon 6-5939 at a faster and faster rate since 1962. On the farm, for instance, in 17 count- of the number of workers needed in ties of Arkansas, typical of the South- the industrial area, whites are no AUTOMATION cons. ern cotton economy, there were 482 longer so scornful of the service in- to use the "Freedom and jobs" slo- cotton machines in 1952. In 1963, dustries per se, and gradually are gansfor the memorable March on Wash- there were 5,061 machines. The Ne- strengthening and widening their hold ington. Few of the Civil Rights organ- gro tenant farm population dropped on commercial porter-handyman posi- izations, up to that juncture, had even from 21,862 in 1952 to 6,587 in 1963. tions. The salary in the commercial produced studies about the Negro's What happened to the other 14,000 Ne- cleaning concerns is considerably economic plight, particularly in terms groes? They have left the farm, the higher than the "normal" Negro porter of automation. county and state in most instances . capacity. The household service It was not just a matter of lacking Situations like this have been repeated jobs are still the low-pay, high-abuse the current work' skills that made it over and over again. refuge for Negro women who daily difficult for the Negro unemployed; In the factories, plant relocations take the "opposite direction express" the total sham of job retraining was previously mentioned are still used to the suburbs and distant sections waking against the Negro worker. as ways to reduce the number of black of major cities. As home builders use One study from the United States De- unskilled workers, as well as to re- more special materials to reduce the partment of Labor - Officer of Man- duce the need for the workers. One amount of household dust, as more power Automation and Training, dated such instance was observed in the drip-dry-non-iron clothes are intro- December, 1963, showed that state em- closing of four regional plants by a duced, as more synthetic processes ployment agencies were insisting that nationally-known paint concern. All and special freezer packaging invade Negro workers be better qualified than four plants were replaced by a single, the supermarket shelves, the need for white workers before being admitted ultramodern plant on the eastern sea- unskilled household help will be re- to the training programs. board. The number of production duced. The net result has been that New machinery constantly being workers dropped from 4,000 to 400; between 1962-1965, Negro unemploy- introduced requires higher basic ed- yet total production increased 25% ment, in a period of record-making ucation, from which Negroes are ef- and sales volume increased 40%. good times, has risen to a level fectively barred. Comparison of ed- One bakery plant in Cleveland, economists say is 20% of the Negro ucational levels alone of Negroes and the Sara Lee Plant, employing 4,000 work force. In some cities, Detroit whites does not provide the real clue workers in 1956, now has 400 work- (or instance, the rate is 35% (meaning Negro workers unemployed). In the words of the New York Times, "Unemployment of these proportions, were it general, would be a national catastrophe."

Current Proposals for Relief: Some of the criticism of the governments' activity about automation has been allayed by the image-building, talk of progress, proposals for special modern industry. creased suffering, increased depriva- programs, and promotion of the Negro Others have proposed that a mas- tion and mounting frustration . Auto- bourgeoisie into special positions of sive program of education is required. mation has made the Civil Rights cry responsibility and visibility. None Such proposals indicate that the in- of "Freedom Now" an inspirational has proved effective in combatting dividualq who advance these ideas myth. the of the new technology. ravages believe that education, one of the The future looks bleak indeed if The talk of progress (by giving the culture's most conservative institu- we project the findings from these impression that Negroes are doing tions,can take on a revolutionary role first two stages to succeeding dec- better than ever)seems to obscure the and posture. Still more ludicrous is ades. While the Civil Rights move- the Negro worker is drop- reality that the expectation that teachers, already ment is struggling desperately to win ping out of sight. Time magazine's, mortgaged to the present status quo, freedom from restraints, -the Negro is finding that - "The main source of will take this new orientation when losing his capacity to participate in is economic hard- on Negro discontent they themselves will be most vulner- his freedom to pursue life, liberty and ship," has assured us that "unfor- able to competition from the very happiness . Without an income, he tunately, this is one area where groups they are now being asked to does not possess the means to pursue progress seems most likely. More and life and liberty. The more advanced on the help. better jobs for Negroes are The proposals of the so-called Civil Rights groups are bringing this this assurance, way." In answer to radicals to solve the Negro worker's question to the attention of a still- important ques- Tom Kahn asks the plight are warmed-over versions of reluctant white middle-class society tion, "more and better jobs for which the make-work schemes of the 1930'x . which clings to its bourgeois, fantasy Negroes - and how many?" These radicals are trying to attract world slogan "I got mine; now you The special programs to combat the advanced legions of the Civil get yours." this widespread unemployment are their position. Their What is the job-producing poten- Poverty Rights forces to often centered on so-called proposals are built upon the concept tial of the Civil Rights forces? Pro- These programs, by and Programs. of democratic, central government fessors Dillingham and Sly of Central large, are a bust, vulnerable to politi- which does not have Michigan University at the Popula- run the planning, an idea cal manipulations and often by the support of the public at large, nor tion Association of America conven- the status quo. very representatives of of its corporate leadership. tion predicted that: Job retraining operation is a farce and In an Unpopular Essay on Civil "The integrationist movement is some critics have gone so far as to Rights - Joseph Lyford, of the Fund indirectly an answer to unemploy- the Manpower Development and ment. However, growing Negro see of the Republic wrote: Training Act (1962) as merely sophis- political power, even if used to "The attitudes of business and the maximum, does not appear ticated economic tokenism. The pro- political leadership are still fro- capable of opening to Negroes posed goal of training 400 thousand zen against economic planning large numbers of current jobs, workers in 3 years is nowhere near to insure productive and neces- nor does it appear capable of person who the level of 1 - 2 million jobs which sary work for every creating new jobs." wants to work, but cannot find The total effect of automation on the government's Manpower Research employment in private industry." Office estimates will need to be the Negro is to make the chant "We created to offset the effects of the Summing Up : The Plight of the Negro: Shall Overcome" a mockery. How can new technology. The period 1957-1965 has seen a people overcome if the mass of the HARYOU, the Job Corps, etc., are only the first two stages of the pro- struggling people have gone down the merely token efforts to approach the cess of introduction of the new tech- drain? Automation, it seems, is mak- massive problems of youth unemploy- nology to the American production and ing Negroes go under not overcome. ment created by the fact that there is services system. For the Negro, the Concluded Next Month no need for youth, black or white, in period has been one of steadily in-

LIBERATOR July 1965 Ornette Coleman Sounds Off by Charlie L. Russell

Ornette Coleman is one of those America, violent America, is the coun- Negroes whose presence in our midst try where the rich are subsidized by cannot be properly explained . Black, the government and the poor are left born in the South-Texas-he comes to practice free enterprise. from the black poor, a class whose very existence society is designed Self-Imposed Retirement: to crush. Ornette recently returned to the As a class, the black poor has no jazz scene after a two year period of spokesman . And because they rarely self-imposed retirement. lie cites the see 'a positive image of themselves fact that he found it difficult to find (even EBONY champions the suave musicians who could play his music light-skinned Negro with Anglo-Saxon as being one of the reasons for his features) : because they are caught retirement. However, Ornette says up in the basic struggle for bread; that his main reason for retiring was because they are unable to effectively to free himself from night club owners deal with the predatory outside forces and other organizations that wanted arrayed against them, members of the to exploit him . black poor are ever at odds with each other, inflicting deep lesions on each Records Sell, 3ut No Money: other's psyches, completing the in- Ornette has recorded for two record human task begun by white America. companies : Contemporary and Atlan- Ornette Coleman, recently returned to tic . At Contemporary, under the aegis the jazz scene after two years of self Love and Hate Confrontation : of Lester Koening, Ornette recorded imposed retirement, the main reason Thus, in black America, love and two albums, Something Else, and for which was to free himself from owners and others that hate confront each other daily . For Tomorrow is the Question . His records night club wanted to exploit him . instance, at seven years old Ornette's sold well. His contract called for him parents' house burned down. Rela- to receive royalties of 3% of a 90¢ tives invited the family to live with wholesale price per album. However, Several months ago, Ornette found them temporarily . On the way to the although over five years have passed, himself in a somewhat ironical posi- relatives' house it was explained to he still finds himself paying the pro- tion. A man whose albums were sel- Ornette that there were ghosts in the duction cost of each album. ling well, he returned home one morn- house, but that the ghosts only haun- At Atlantic Records, under Neueshi ing after a date with one of the rich- ted the room upstairs where he would Ertegun, Ornette recorded six albums . est women in America, only to find have to sleep, alone. Imagine the This time he signed a contract calling that he had been evicted, his meager many terrifying nights he suffered for 5% royalty per album. Again, his belongings piled on the sidewalk out- through before he realized that a hoax albums had good sales, (well over side his door . was being played upon him ; think of 60,000, he estimates); however, But it would be misleading, and the many lessons he could have learn- Ornette finds himself paying for the dishonest, to describe Ornette as just ed from such an experience . production cost of the albums . Al- another Negro exploited . There is In fact, all things considered, one though the company sends him state- about Ornette an innate existentialism can only marvel that Negroes, unlike ments from time to time, he has never "I decided to take a chance on white Americans, have not gone com- been given an opportunity to see the getting paid for what I did," he says . pletely mad . That Ornette Coleman actual sales figures of his albums . is a leading avant-garde jazz musician Ornette's music is owned by the Hostile Reception To His Music: is not only a tribute to a strong will, M.J .Q. Publishing Company . Record Ornette is still smarting from the it is also a contradiction . But then, companies pay the publishing com- hostile reception that his music re- Ornette is a man who has known the pany for the use of the artist's mater- ceived from many of his fellow jazz feel of cotton damp with early morn- ial . For his troubles so far, Ornette musicians . "I always thought that if ing dew, and the quiet joy of warm has received one dollar and change you learned something, how to do sand slipping through his toes . And from the M .J .Q . Publishing Company. something, a place would be found

1 2

for you," Ornette says with a bitter duced one internationally great white a degree, a white man's Negro jazz smile. creative talent (in any field), that musician and, perhaps, without being "At first no one believed that I crude money makers can dictate what aware of it, he is rebelling against knew anything about music. I was is art . "Of all the problems that a this as well . accused of playing in the wrong key, Negro is confronted with, none is Again, it is not a simple case . For the wrong notes, etc. But, I not only worse than the Negro artist trying to if Ornette is rebelling against white knew what they were doing, I had al- achieve individuality and human dig- attitudes and pressures, he also (in a ready forgotten it . I play the way I nity without the approval of some sense) caters to them . This explains do because I believe that there is a organization that wants to control the absurd hat he wears on occasion . certain music in America that must him," Ornette says ruefully . While the hat is an expression of exist . . . I'm dedicated to that cause . "I want to keep my individuality . . . hostility, it also flushes out white "I want to use musical freedom in You know, this has been happening to guilt feelings and makes them feel order to make a contribution . The me all my life," Ornette explains, sorry for him! But then Ornette's methods of playing jazz are just as almost soto voce . "All my life I have response is not uncommon . Almost they were in the times of Buck John - been surrounded by people trying to twenty years ago, Charlie (Bird) Parker, son -- only the times, and the language control me . Trying to tell me what I reportedly, dressed in a cowboy suit, have changed . Unlike the whites who want, when 1 can get it, how much. . . . rode a horse into a nightclub . have a sophisticated musical tradition That's what I'm rebelling against ." to draw upon (although musically all the whites are doing now is imitating White America Does Not Want Negro themselves), the Negro musician has Arti sts: to make something happen ; he has to The pursuit of individuality is create his own place. . . The Negro arduous, hazardous, and lonely . For artist knows, has a message which the Negro artist the task is especially will upset a lot of things, but the difficult -- white America simply does funny thing is, he won't let it go, not want Negro artists. The existence won't tell it . . . of Negro artists forces white America "Jazz_ musicians are becoming too into conflicts with itself ; reminds conservative . They are becoming white America of the insanity of this judges, which is against the artist's society ; forces it to deal with a side credo -- which has existed throughout of itself that it has managed to keep history -- that an artist should never out of its history books. And, even judge anything . An artist should just when he practices his art, the Negro tell what's going on . artist cannot be sure that society "All my life I have been surrounded views him as an artist . One must by people trying to control me. Try . Jazz is Sound Put to Emotion : have a gimmick! White America would ing to tell me what I want, when I can "There is no jazz musician on the turn jazz into a personality syndrome ; get it, how much. . .. That's what I'm rebelling against . scene today who moves me . But, I Miles Davis pouts, Mingus preaches, will say this, that record that Miles Monk dances, Dizzy clowns, etc . A Davis made in Europe is the most virtue is made of excesses . Trained Invariably, as we have just done, honest record I've heard in jazz in by white jazz critics to view man- comparisons are made between Ornette over ten years . . . But there is a stand- nerisms as entertainment, white Ameri- Coleman and Charlie Parker . Ornette ard evolving in jazz which says 'play cans have no need to hear the eternal was controversial from the start ; when yourself .' Many writers are also trying beauty and the deep, bitter truths ex- he first arrived on the jazz scene, he to do this. . . Jazz musicians should pressed in jazz music . The net result was hailed by many critics as the New be creating their own music rather is thatNegro jazz musicians are often Bird or an extension of the Bird. It is than playing pop tunes, the very music forced to become caricatures, (some an easy enough thing to get into, but that keeps them from making it. A lot Negro musicians are put down by it is misleading and distracts from the of Negro jazz musicians are not play- whites because they do not hate whites essence of both men . There will never ing jazz. Jazz is sound put to emo enough!!) merging into the images that be another Bird as there will never be tion. Jazz is a music that a jazz whites have of what a Negro jazz another Ornette Coleman ; waiting for musician brings into existence." musician is supposed to be . Ornette, the return of either will be like waiting Considering the intense dedication like many other jazz musicians, (and for Godot. The controversy was that Ornette brings to his music, it is a host of Negroes who are white black started by white critics who, having absurd that in a land that has not pro- novelists and poets), has become, to missed the genius of Charlie Parker coat. next page GIRER,4TOR July 1965 13 ORNETTE r0LEMAN coat. most frequent expressions is : "S1an, orchestral parts and uses improvisa- entirely, wanted to make sure that the I'm all fucked up ." This can be dis- tion as its movement . But, in all of same thing didn't happen with Ornette . concerting until one comes to realize these three groups, the players are Thus, the white critics tried to judge that Ornette is as naive about himself too academic, too rudimental to ex- him by the musical standards that they as he is sometimes naive about the press their goals. The ru,liments attributed to Charlie Parker . But the world -- get to know him and you begin that I use are a point of departure for white critics have never understood to wonder when he will realize that he me . I use the CDEFGA13 scale for a (or even really liked) Bird's music, is really a beautiful cat. key resolution as all scales are and just as they mistakenly tried to used ." evaluate Parker's music by using Dares To 3e Himself : Ornette also had these comments Swing standards, they also erred in In fact, Ornette's main contribution to make about the jazz scene in gen- trying to judge Ornette by the musical to jazz, is that lie dares to be himself eral : standards they attributed to Charlie at a time when many jazz musicians "Duke Ellington only represents Parker . have become conformists . This does all the Negroes who learned to read The distinctive thing about Ornette not mean necessarily that Ornette's music luring the twenties and thirties . is that he is not even concerned with particular style of playing will start Duke simply wrote popular songs in the musical problems that Parker was a new trend in jazz ; rather, it means the European song form . concerned with . that hearing Ornette play younger j azz "Cecil Taylor is a sophisticated musicians will say to themselves ; person and lie plays from that sense. Old Musical Standards Must "Man, if Ornette can he himself and In a sense he plays in one area and I 3e Discarded : make it, so can i." think lie is best in that area; ain't To understand Ornette's music, old Ornette, who is currently writing a nothing wrong with that, I'm not knock- musical standards must be discarded ; music book entitled A Theory o f Music his music must be viewed as having in Story Form For The Player, de- The absurd hat which Coleman wears an entity of its own. The first time scribes his music as being "compo- on occassions while an expression of you hear his music it is apt to strike sitional improvisational music without hostility to white attitudes also flushes you as being the incoherent cries of a the regular two, five, one, and tonic out the guilt feelings of whites and makes them sorry for him . child. However, after listening to cadence ." feel Ornette's music repeatedly, the emo- Ornette's music is part of the body tional purity of his sound makes itself of music that has been tagged THE felt . Lonely Woman, one of his origi- NEW THING, FREE FORM, and/or nal tunes, is a representative work : JAZZ EXISTENTIALISM . Speaking listening to it one gets a feeling of his own music, Ornette had this to similar to the one that Samson must say : have felt after he decided to bring the "In my music, I came up with a temple down upon his enemies, know- music that didn't require European ing that he was doomed also. laws applied to it. This was a revo- Many jazz musicians, like many lutionary breakthrough as well as a other artists, are basically hostile support for the jazz image. . . Now, towards people . It is as if they have the NEW THING came into being be- seen the true side of life, caught a cause there was no definite structure . whole gob of people with their pants Now the structure is to play together down, and as a result have become less restricted to the old forms . It is incensed . . . As if, if they did not have an extension of jazz, involving the their horns, paints, or their pens, they players' ability to absorb the forms would either go stark raving mad, or and structure of a composition in his become murderers . Ornette has also relation to all the techniques of seen the true side of life, but because music . he basically loves people, the sight "As I see it, there are three gen- has had an opposite effect upon him . eral groupings in the NEW THING. He appears to have internalized mat- One group uses free form and employs ters and directs his hostility not improvisational techniques in the against others, buc towards himself . themes . There is another group which For instance, in conversations, he uses improvised ensembles as its form . often puts himself down -- one of his There is a third group which writes Al flicks 1 4

ing it . "White homosexual businessmen are destroying jazz. Jazz is fast becoming friendship rather than musicianship, because homosexuals have a tendancy to look out for each other. People who want to understand my music should approach it simply, with their natural and intellectual instincts .

Critics Foil to Accept Their Responsibility : "Critics used me to verify their own position . They're full of shit because they fail to accept their responsibility . Because of their position, they try to dictate to musicians and the listeners . "I've written music for most of the top figures of jazz.. They all want to have my music around, but they won't play it because they're scared . "Some jazz fans are as bad as the critics . A guy came up to me a few weeks ago and said to me : 'You know why you're blowing that horn? You're blowing it because you want people to love you!' How sick can you get? What that guy didn't undt rstand is that Coleman takes in the scene from his front steps in Manhattan's Greenwich I'd want people to love me if I shovel- Village where he lives along with .other iconoclastic Negro musicians, pointed coal ." ers and writers trying to establish themselves as black artists . They are Ornette Coleman's name belongs members of a fresh, new, and as yet unnamed movement in America . with other names like Archie Shepp, Cecil Taylor, LeRoi Jones, Sun Ra, Donald Byrd, Stanley " Turrentine, scene, a very successful one in Grachan Moncur III, Joe Overstreet, Herbie Hancock, etc ., another aggre- which he played the violin (left- etc ., an iconoclastic aggregate of gate of young musicians who Appear handed), and the trumpet (as well as Negro musicians, painters, and writers to be going in the opposite direction. the alto saxophone), Ornette had this who are holding forth in the Village, (While the latter group is as techni- to say : trying to establish themselves as cally proficient as the former, their "The experience of being down black artists . These men are mem- Negroness is more salient in their had freed me in a sense. When you're bers of a fresh, new, and as yet, un- music) . at the bottom there is only one way to named . movement in America Their Basically, despite his full, fero- go, up . The worst has already hap- ultimate direction at this point ap- cious dark beard, Ornette is a gentle pened to me . Right now, I'm not re- pears to be uncharted, but so far we person ; there is about his manner the fusing any jobs that I want to play, have been fortunate in getting LeRoi hint of the celibate and he worries but I plan to see some of the world. Jones' Dutchman out of the movement . about how to get along with people . What do I really want to do? . .. Sur- While no Negro writer immediately Many of his worries come about be- vive as an artist without losing my mind comes to who seriously chal- cause he has not fully accepted the values . There is a writer, John Kil- lenges LeRoi Jones on his own fact that the life of the artist is a lens, who says that the artist's main ground,such is not true of the musici- lonely one, and that (as death is a responsibility is to tell the truth and ans mentioned . And, it will be in- part of life), vile attacks are as much survive . And that's what I want to teresting to compare the musical de- a part of the artist's lot as accolades . do, tell the truth on my horn and velopment of Ornette, Cecil, Shepp, But Ornette is still growing . survive ." etc. with the musical development of After his recent return to the jazz

LIBERATOR July 1965 1 5 Edith Schomburg presenting her paper on panel entitled "Role of the Panel Discussim Black Woman in the White Society" panelist Myrna Rain, on right Sylvester Leaks, Russell, moderate Panel Discussion : Is a Dialogue Desirable Between Black and White? Panelists: l to r Dave Dellinger, Ossie Sykes, moderator, Robert Vernon, speaking and C . E . Wilson .

At our Benefit Di Republic of Taaa man, Secretary fro COMING IN AUGUST ISSUE Dur 5th Anniversary COMPLETE REPORT ON Writers' Conference CONFERENCE yr

Must the Black Writer Lead? Panelists l to r A question from a member of the fat Hentoff, standing, Rolland Snellings, Charlie audience (numbering over 200) during and Richard B . Moore. the question and answer period.

ce, Mr . E . P . Mwaluka, (left) from the United LeRoi Jones, recipient of LIBERATOR'S award for Playwrighting con- nia to the U.N . chats with Mr. Nathaniel East . gratulates Charles S. Howard, Sr . recipient of LIBERATOR'S award for the Liberian Mission to the U .N . Journalism . The Statue of Liberty Conspiracy Trial

by Bill Mahoney No Hiding Place in Foley Square

Four foolish years ago, to the date, partment money to procure for the and Molt had filed motions to strike I joined the Freedom Rides to Miss- three men on trial everything that the the jury for the systematic exclusions issippi . I was serving my function as cop thought could be used to destroy o£ Negroes and Puerto Ricans . The I then understood it: to add color to the Statue of Liberty, and then arrested judge ridiculed the motion and threat- an almost lily white protest effort . the trio for wanting to carry out the ened contempt . What gall, I thought, Like the others, 1 was given my cop-inspired and cop-financed plan . as I looked around and saw ninety (90) just reward in the Mississippi state For his efforts Wood got a $4,000 persons called in for the jury and only prison at Parchmont . . .sfter hearing annual raise. It all sounded so one black person in the lot . The panel the usual incantation of impartial familar and so southern . from which my jury had been selected justice by white judges (minus hoods, And so was the atmosphere of the in Jackson, Mississippi in 1961 had and wearing black sheets). My cup court on the dates that I attended . three Negroes out of 50 . It all seemed was not quite filled by this. On to The dreary, high-ceilinged federal so familiar . Monroe, N.C. I went with others from courtroom number 110 was selecting By an odd quirk of fate, the sole SNCC, for more beatings and another a jury the first day I was there. Lane Negro on the panel of 90 got to the jailing . While in jail in Monroe in a position of being asked questions by mood of righteous tranquillity, a Her back faces to Harlem . the federal judge, William 13. Herlands . shocking ugliness was splattered in "Would your race cause you any prob- my face by Lawyer Len Bolt . One of lems if you sat on this case?" the us told him "Our rights have been judge asked. Not one of the white denied!" Holt's guffaw reverberated persons was asked if their race would throughout the confines of the two cause any problems . story brick building as he laughed so Though the answer given was hard that tears came. At the time I "No," the United States Attorney couldn't forgive him for this . Now I struck the Negro from the panel be- know that I should have joined the cause the stakes for the government laughing because "rights" are a joke were too high ; nothing must interfere for all that have to claim that they with "justice ." And there were other have some. instances of the same old shit : south- Holt got no fee from me or tht hun- ern shit, northern shit. .American shit . dred of others he defended in Monroe Because the government had got- for the next several days as Robert ten an all white jury and our "black Williams made his way to exile in hero," Ray Wood, had used soul Cuba. In partial payment of a debt language like "Mr. Charley," "Get- owed, I came last week to New York ting next to the man," and similar and to Foley Square to help Mark Lane jargon, the United States attorney had and Molt find witnesses for the de- put into the record definitions of fense of their client, Robert Collier, these phrases so that the jury might who, along with Walter Bowe and know that it was white people that Khaleel Sayyed, is charged with plot- were being discussed . ting to blow up the Statue of Liberty To counteract this, Holt had and other monuments . For four weeks asked me to get Dr . Kenneth Clark, the trial has been going on. To get the black professor of psychology, to orientated to know what kind of wit- come to court and try the impossible : nesses were needed, Bolt had me read toput in context for the jury the place the record of the daily trial transcripts . and role of threats by black people A black cop named Raymond Wood, against white persons and white in- after having infiltrated CA.R .E., stitutionsand to provide abackground appears to have planted the idea of for showing that the intervention and blowing up a statue, taken police de- subsidy of the New York Police De-

partment was the cause of the coin- is all white that you need a Negro mission of these federal crimes (if expert to interpret Negro life is an indeed any federal crimes have been argument which! is not only inherently Committed) . illogical because it assumes that In an all too familiar fashion the white people (ho not know anything, at white man sitting on the high bench all about Negro life or are substantial- wearing the black robe (lid his duty : ly ignorant of Negro life, ii proposition lie denied Robert Collier and his law- which is just not true in a community yers the right to have Dr. Kenneth such as the Southern District of New Char'.; speak . And while Dr . Clark sat York ; to suggest that use of a Negro on the witness chair thumbing through expert, because of an all white jury a book entitled The Summer That and Negro defendants, so that the Didn't End written by defense lawyer rnores and cultural values and socio- Molt, the judge and the lawyers went logical insights should be presented into it back room where Molt and Lane in the form of expert evidence to the AVAILABLE AT argued for Dr. Clark to he lieard : jury might well lead to the use of LAST IIOLT: We have a situation in similar experts who would testify to a 1N ENGLISH which the government has said through jury consisting of non-Italians about its witness, Wood, that certain threats the cultural life and insight of defen- The handbook for were made by our client, Mr. Collier, dants who happen to be Italians ." and perhaps other persons on trial A day later Mark Lane and Len a Negro Revolution here, against white institutions and Ilolt asked the judge tolet them with- white people . There have also been draw from the case because the judge that is changing threats directly against "whitey" expressed attitudes making it impos- the shape of the ant] "Mr. Charley." sible for the two to give adequate By virtue of the fact that this jury representation to their client because white world is all white and does not know the of the judge's hostility. It was a life of a black ghetto and does not move to put on record -- in indirect understand the Negro, this jury can fashion -- that the judge had predeter- H EIIE, at last, is Frantz Fanon's fiery best determine the guilt or innocence mined the jury's decision. manifesto - which in its original French edition served as a revolutionary in a context of black life which Dr. With reluctance and doubt I stood bible for dozens of emerging African Clark with his expertise can give them . as court was adjourned Friday; a re- and Asian nations. Its startling advo- cacy of violence as an instrument for 1 know that this lily-white jury does luctance and doubt as to whether I historical change has influenced events not have this information . "To protect had surrendered something precious everywhere from Angola to Algeria, from the Congo to Vietnam --and is our client, Mr. Collier, we have to put by standing for a man in a black robe finding a growing audience among these statements that are supposed to whom I could not want to honor. James America's civil rights workers. have been made in a setting within Lee was beside me as I walked out "Hove the courage to read this book black society. into the corridor . lie . Fanon speaks out loud; he hides turned around, nothing , . - lie fears nothing." JUDGE: Are you finished? looked at the number on the courtroom -JEAN-PAUL SARTRE 110LT : Mr . Lane, my co-counsel, door: "Room 110, ell?" he said . "Must be read by all who wish to understand what it means to fight for has just reminded me that Dr. Kenneth "That's a number that I'll remember freedom, equality and dignity."-ALEX Clark was the leading psychologist for another reason now." QUAISON-SACKEY, President, U,N. Gen- involved in the Supreme Court School "What do you mean?" eral Assembly Segregation decision. "This is the same courtroom where JUDGE: ...... In a jury system such the Communist trials were held. In THE WRETCHED as ours, where the jury system has there is where judge Kauffman, after OF THE EARTH By FRANTZ FANON, Preface by Jean- achieved its finest expression of !laving prayed for 16 hours, . .sentenced Paul Sartre. $5.00, now at your book- democracy in action, and where chal- Julius and Ethel Rosenberg to (lie." store, or direct from GROVE PRESS. lenges to our jury panels have been It was so familiar . . . .maybe because _ .,.. 1 GROVE PRESS. Dept H-5 ~~ 1 overruled, we have a jury system I'm still naive . . .and think the south is 80 University Place . Near York, N . Y . 10003 1 Please send me a copy of THE WRETCHED 1 which, not only in theory but in prac- the South and the north is the North 1 of TKE EARTH, by Frantz Fanon, for which 1 t I enclose $5 .00 . If I wish, I may return tice, represents the technique by and there ought to be some place to 1 the book within 10 days for full refund . which we determine guilt or inno- run to where you can hide your face. . . Name ...... cence. without having the rocks cry out : Address ...... To suggest that because the jury "There ain't no hiding place ." City ...... State . . . ._ .Zip ...... I IN .Y .C . residents add 20,' salr,c taxi i

r,113rr,ATOR July 1905 19

Movie Review

China

reviewed by Clayton Riley

There is an excellence about Felix Greene's documentary film, CHINA!, that proceeds both from the skill with which it has been made and the subject matter it imparts. Greene has used his camera, his mind and courage to let us glimpse the most "-en- The People' Republic of China is, first of all, people. With sensitivity and recognized" nation in the world , a care,Felix Greene has recorded the feelingof men, women and children in China. nation that generally is projected to the West as a vast conglameration of war machinery surrounded by a ever much anyone might disagree with ever increasing population. bloodthirsty horde of sneaker-clad the philosophy of communism, it is These difficulties seem minor, warriors . impossible to dismiss the effect it however, when the energy, fervor and The People's Republic of China has had in improving the lot of China's devotion to country displayed by the is, first of all, people . Simple as this enormous population. By combining Chinese in parades, town meetings fact is, we are all apt to forget it in his own footage with some historical and schools is shown. Propaganda? light of the daily barrage of distortions film clips, Greene has clearly estab- To a degree, one suspects, but so rained upon us by the press and other lished the degree to which Mao Tse what? The nation is struggling, communicative media. What become's Tung brought China away from being aching nightly perhaps from its grow- most striking about Greene's film is a land traditionally ravaged by war, ing pains, enduring setbacks and the sensitivity and obvious care with famine, and political turmoil . Chinese frustrating obstacles . But China is which he has recorded the feelings of communism, it is asserted, must be - and one cannot see Greene's film men, women and children in China viewed in terms of what it is actually without realizing this - tremendously, He has managed this without recourse accomplishing . It is not propaganda vitally, marvelously alive. to the tactic of interviews but rather but fact that Peking had but a single Alive without plaid stamps and by showing what people are doing and public hospital when Mao assumed Coca-Cola plants, without "the drink- what has been the result of their control of the nation in 1949 . That ing man's diet" or discotesque syn- labor. A documentary that generates city now has thirty-five, Greene notes. drome, but somehow, alive nonethe- excitement is rare . Greene achieves In a country crippled by illiteracy less . this by bearing witness to a govern- in the past, 100 million youngster Every foot of this film is an ed- ment, a nation that presently, at least, began school this year . New Roads, ucation and in many ways, an odd is throbbing with vitality . The motto and bridges, housing construction and sort of inspiration . But decide that of the Peking regime could well be, numerous other projects are in con- for yourself. CHINA! is, at this taking care of business . In scene stant, continual evidence . writing at the Carnegie Hall Cinema after scene, activity fills the life of China obviously has it problems . in New York City . It is playing these people . No one loafs, no one the quality of the goads it produces along with a splendid short that fea- drags feet. The nation works, the must be improved . Housing develop- tures the Peking Symphony Orchestra. nation learns, the nation moves. How- ment is not yet keeping up with the I highly recommend both.

20 The New Left

by lassie Sykes Acceptance of Responsibility The United States of 1965 is not Where, as is known, the racists are poor, and, most of all, they never very different, in general, from any holding sway ." The New Statesman, chicken out when it comes to pro- otherycar of its history . its policies, a British Weekly, was moved to say, testing or criticizing policies which both domestically and internationally, . . .What may be called the civilizing either do nothing to change the condi- are still concerned with the mainte- elements no longer have full access to tion of the poor or make it worse . nance of mediocrity rather than a the White House . The tone of United The liking for political leaders search for excellence in solving the States foreign policy under Mr. John- such as Mao Tse-rung has less to do with the practical pressing problems of a world in need . son has become harsh, unsympathetic with ideology than From the time of Plymouth Colony, and ill-mannered . His increasing use aspects of solving the problems of with people more interested in paying of force conceals a VACUUM OF great masses of the poor . The Secre- back their loans than they were in IDEAS . The inevitable conclusion to tary-General of the United Nations, Democratic Principles, to the present, be reached after looking at the "works" "drove the nail home" at a recent where guns and lawlessness are used of the present Administration is that conference of "Non-Governmental they refuse to accept any responsi- bilities except those which tend to protect American financial enterprises at home and overseas . Given the situation, is there anyone in the Uni- ted States who is responsible for the welfare of the poor and underdeveloped? Is there anyone interested in a genuine and meaningful change, rather than the simple handout (we rob the world blind, and then offer a food for peace program)? We think there is; a maligned and often misunderstood group of people known collectively, as the New Left.

Acceptance of Responsibility : Ambassador Nikolai T. Federenko If one were to generalize roughly Secretary General U Thant about the New Left, we could say immediately to protect the financial that most of its adherents are young Organizations" ( 27 May 1965 ) as he interest of the United States . We have people who have rejected American told us what the real problem of the noted that the enthusiasm to "protect Dogma and propaganda; they are world was . Said U Thant, -[think American lives and property" has not knowledgeable about world facts and that if the leaders of thought, the extended itself to the southern black conditions and are able to see re- leaders of ideas, the leaders of men, belt or, for that matter, to many other lationships between them (much of the the leaders of governments, the lead- places with concentrations of Afro- new left is college centered) . They ers of countries, are to bend their Americans . The difference in U.S. enjoy the writings of Vance Packard, efforts to achieving significant results words and U.S . deeds has not gone C . Wright Mills, Bertrand Russell, inthe creation of a stable worldorder, unnoticed. Russia's Ambassador Jean-Paul Sartre, Frantz Fanon to THOSE ENEMIES MUST BE FOUGHT : Federenko addressing the Security name but a few . The most misunder- ILLITERACY, IGNORANCE, POVER- Council on the present Dominican stood factors about them concerns TY AND DISEASE . I think that to crises stated, ". . .American troops their liking for political leaders such preach to them and tell them about the were sent to the Dominican Republic, as Fidel Castro, Ahmed Ben Bella, VIRTUES OF DEMOCRACY, the a sovereign state, far more freely and Kwame Nkrumah, Mao Tse-Tung and virtues of human dignity, the virtues far more willingly than they were sent, Ho Chi Minh . They have an enlivened of fundamental human freedoms, is not for instance, into the State of Alabama, interest in the plight of the world's only IRRELEVANT, BUT COMIC. coast. next page LLF3ERATOR July 7965 21

on a few persons issuing orders ." In the "Manifesto of Chinese People's Liberation Army " (1947) Mao states, Scoham "In order to overthrow Chiang Kai-shek and form a democratic coalition government at an early date, we call on Bookshelf our fellow-countrymen in all walks of Scoham Publishing life to co-operate actively with us 34 Cedar Street where-ever our army goes in cleaning Roxbury 19, Mass . m up the reactionary forces and setting rnn order. In places we Ahmed Ben Bella up a democratic When Africa Civilized the have not yet reached, they should World: a study of early African take up arms on their own, resist history ...... 25¢ Fidel. The change from foreign pressganging and the grain levy, domination to independence has not distribute the land, repudiate debts Miscegenation in the USA : been easy . Cuba, for example, was . . . .We call on the people in the Lib- the hidden truth about race forced to adjust her entire economy erated Areas to carry through the land mixing in America ...... 35¢ due to the hostility of the United reform, consolidate the foundations States . The recent figures on sugar of democracy, develop production, will show that Cuba has declined in practice economy, strengthen the the number of metric tons produced people's armed forces ." If one takes when compared to pre-Castro days, the time to read the five volumes of NEW LEFT cont. but then the sugar was controlled by Mao's writing, you realize immediately Their first need is to have sufficient the U .S. and the people received that he has no equal when dealing food to eat, to have adequate clothing, little benefit, whereas today, even with the masses . Small wonder that to have suitable houses in which to though the tonnage is less, the people the revolutionary world looks toward live . Those are their primary needs . have a higher living standard, because Peking . Lederer and Burdick, writing I think that attempts to preach these they control . The struggle of these in "The Ugly American," state that ideas of parliamentary democracy and countries to succeed is a study in raw Mao is "one of the brilliant tacticians fundamental freedoms and human dig- courage. It is this kind of courage of our time ." lie is also human and nity will not go to their hearts . IN MY that captures the imagination of the understands the needs of his people . VIEW, THAT 13 NOT THE REMEDY . new left ; the courage to provide the In case anyone is tempted to say The remedy is to do away with these necessities for the masses of people that Mao's writings are propaganda, causes of illiteracy, ignorance, dis in spite of the United States . Lederer and Burdick also point out ease and poverty . I think that we have Since Mao Tse-rung is the "big that Mao has laid down a pattern of to go to the ROOT OF THE PROB- bad enemy," some of the comments strategy and tactics which the Com- LEM if we are to establish a stable written in The Selected Works of Mao munists of Southeast Asia have "fol- world order, if we are to see that the Tse-Tung, published by International lowed undeviatingly ." What is some principles of the United Nations Char- Publishers in New York, are enlighten- of this strategy? What proof indicates ter are implemented in all parts of the ing. At the height of the fight against it is being followed? world. " Chiang Kai-shek (April 1948) Mao In October of 1947 Mao reissued The New Left has accepted the talked to an editorial group: "If we what he called "The Three Main responsibility of trying to do what it tried to go on the offensive when the Rules of Discipline and The Eight can to get at "the root of the prob- masses are not yet awakened, that Points For Attention ." They were lem ." If they like political leaders would be adventurism . If we insisted instructions of the General Head- who at this time are unpopular with on leading the masses to do anything quarters of the Chinese People's our government, it is because consid- against their will, we would certainly Liberation Army : erable improvements have occured for fail . If we did not advance when the The Three Main rules : masses of people . While space does masses demand advance, that would 1. Obey orders in all your actions not permit us to review the statistics be right (wing) opportunism ." At 2. Don't take a single needle or piece of thread from the masses on such things as construction (new), "We have another point he said, 3. Turn in everything captured or increase in manufacturing or agri- always maintained that the revolu- The Eight Points : culture, it is quite cleat that masses on the masses of the tion must rely 1. Speak politely o¬ people have fared better under men people, on everybody's taking a hand ; 2. Pay fairly for what you buy such as Ben Bella, Nkrumah, Mao and and we have opposed relying merely 3. Return everything you borrow

4. Fay for anything you damage the New Left has served to bring into swear at people 5. Don't hit or focus the clash between basic founda- 6. Don't damage crops On the one hand, 7. Don't take liberties with women tions of thinking . 8. Don't ill-treat captives most Americans accept the idea of The New York Times, in a release "the strong shall dominate," while dated April 25, stated the following : the New Left says "All should share "The Vietcong guerrillas (Vietnam) with dignity ." Most Americans are despite their offensive against the involved with the protection of goods Government, have not attempted to and materials above the level of basic destroy the economic structure . In- necessities, while the New Left is stead they have exploited it, exacting involved in trying to get basic neces- taxes (they are the government of the sities . Some will ask about the area) and, except in token cases, per- latest batting averages of A.T .T . or President Kwame Nkrumah mitted industrial facilities to remain General Motors ; the New Left asks faced with a clas- unscathed . . .Though Vietcong terrorism "How many ate a decent meal today? In China Mao was of how to unite their real is centered in the countryside, the flow many are achieving a good educa- sic problem friends to attack their real enemies . production of rice -- which occupies tion? Why do so many Negroes die in Left about 80 per cent of the cultivated the prime of life? Must we always be Mao solvedhis problem ; the New land -- has not been severely affected . against the legitimate aspirations of has not . strug- Little land has been abandoned, and people overseas trying to better their Mao believed in protracted powerful foe. cultivation has remained high" . . . poverty stricken lives? These are gles when up against a just a few of the questions, but they He carefully executed well thought indicate the gap between accepted out plans, calculated to win . We value structures . note with interest the desperate moves to move in on the racial question for Problems of the Left : purposes of unity. Problems arise not In utter stupidity, many Americans because they are not interested, but wonder if the New Left is in someway because so few have thought the thing directed by foreign enemies . The through . A case in point: should answer is no, and the proof is in the demonstrations be means or ends? way they operate . If Mao were run- Should they be used alone or in con- ning this operation, he would insist cert with other tactics? Should they on Unity among peoples based on com- be geared toward the conscience or the pocketbook? Does police counter- Premier Fidel Castro mon goals and objectives . The highly splintered New Left hardly fits this action nullify its effectiveness, and The rules are followed all over the bill . Competition for power in their if so, what action does one take? world. In Santo Domingo Americans ranks ignores Mao's slogan, "Officers Historically, how many "appeals" are captured, well treated and then teach soldiers, soldiers teach officers, have ever borne fruit? released . In Guatemala Freedom and soldiers teach each other." When The moral to this article is that fighters offer pay when the peasants the meaning of this is learned, a force unity, thoughtfulness, and study are supply their needs. Peasants often for meaningful change will be given prime necessities ; and, if I may bor- will return the money in gratitude . birth. The militant governmental in- row the words of Frantz Fanon, con- This then has been just a capsule of filtrators will, however, try to keep sidered the conscience of the Algerian why the New Left can appreciate cer- this from happening . Revolution, "A struggle which mo- tain types of leadership. If Mao and If Mao were running this operation, bilizes all classes of the people and others have become heroes, in a he would start by making a complete which expresses their aims and their sense, it is because America has de- and detailed analysis of the classes impatience, which is not afraid to faulted in her responsibility to solve in America from the wealthiest to the count almost exclusively on the 01,L problems outlined above by U Thant unemployed . tie would then ask the people's support, WILL at the United Nations . It is this de- question, "Who are our enemies, and TRIUMI'll ." Such a goal is fault that has put the New Left at who are our friends?" We have a difficult indeed ; and, while the New odds with the society . nagging doubt that the New Left has Left makes errors, they at least have not done its homework adequately; accepted the responsibility - of trying Conflict of Views: there is too mu:,li d~~pen~~.r~tce on for a bet:,-,r worl .l it!-mitp in The dcntonstrations carried out by white motley and white conscience . mind .

LIBERATOR July 1965 23 The Prophet Drew Ali Has Spoken

Joseph Jeftries -EI

of the unjust ; that the rulers and the The last Prophet in these days is rich would not oppress the poor, also Noble Drew Ali, who was prepared that the lion and the lamb may lay in due time by Allah to redeem men down together and neither would be from their sinful ways, and to warn harmed when morning came . These them o f the great wrath which is sure teachings were not accepted by the to come upon the earth. John the rulers, nor by the rich because they Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus loved the principles of the "Ten Com- in those days, warning and stirring up mandments . Through the Ten Com- the nation and preparing them to re- mandments the rulers and the rich ceive the divine creed which was to live, while the poor suffer and die . be taught by Jesus. In these modern The lamb is the poor people, the lion days there came a forerunner, who is the rulers and the rich, and through was divinely prepared by the great Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and God-Allah and his name is Marcus justice all men are one and equal to Garvey, who did teach and warn the seek their own destiny and to worship nations of the earth to prepare to under their own vine and fig tree, meet the coming Prophet ; who was after the principles of the holy and to bring the true and divine Creed of divine laws of their forefathers . 250 Islam, andhis name i s Noble Drew Ali, The Moorish Science Temple of Postpaid who was prepared and sent to this America is a lawfully chartered and Sizes 8-20 earth by Allah, to teach the religion incorporated organization . Any sub- and the everlasting gospel to the sons ordinate Temple may receive a char- of men in that every nation shall and ter ; the prophet has them to issue to Classic styling in a rich cotton must worship under their own vine and every state throughout the United their own and States, etc . That the world may hear batik superbly detailed . Colors: fig tree, and return to be one with their Father God-Allah . and know the truth, that among the Dark blue with flame, cocoa, or descendants of Africa there is still light blue . Colorfast . The 3eginning of Christianity : much wisdom to be learned in these The foundation of Christianity be- days for the redemption of the sons of Send for free swatches gan in Rome . The Roman nations men under Love, Truth, Peace, Free- D.'s $2.00 deposit on C. 0. founded the first Church, of whom dom and Justice . We, as a clean and crucified Jesus of Nazareth for seek- pure nation descended from the inha- Ashanti Fashions to redeem His people from under the bitants of Africa, do not desire to P.O. Box 230 Roman yoke and law . Jesus himself amalgamate or marry into the families Hamilton Grange Station was of the true blood of the ancient of the pale skin nations of Europe nor the gods of their religion because New York, N. Y. 10031 Canaanites and Moabites and the in- serve habitants of Africa . Seeking to redeem our forefathers are the true and divine Our Guarantee --- Complete His people in those days from the founders of the first religious creed for the redemption and satisfaction or full refund pressure of the pale skin nations of salvation of Europe, Rome crucified Him according mankind on earth . Therefore we are to their law, then imposed its Pax returning the Church and Christianity Romana on the subjugated people back to the European Nations, as it for a long time, until Mohammed the was prepared by their forefathers for First came upon the scene and ful- their earthly salvation, while we, the filled the works of Jesus of Nazareth . Moorish-Americans, are returning to The holy teaching of Jesus was to the Islam, which was founded by our fore- common people, to redeem them from fathers for our earthly and divine under the great pressure of the hands Salvation .

Letters To The Editor Black communicative media in America to portray Black people . Sidney Lumet LIBERATOR : and the producers of PAWNBROKER that is America Since you gave a page to The are guilty of a form o f racism Pawnbroker, you might be interested perhaps more subtle than the brand in further comment . espoused by George Wallace and It seems very interesting to me that James Eastland but certainly no less Speaks allow me all the significant changes from the dangerous . Space did not disturbing aspects book serve to downgrade the Harlem to deal with many LIBERATOR of which are magazine Negro. Your reviewer has noted the of this film, several above, but I emphatically fact that the most malevolent character mentioned 35C per copy concur with the points made therein . has been changed from Italian to Ne- On Sale at jour Local Newsstand Clayton Riley gro. But the most sympathetic and vital character -- Ortiz - has also 12 issues s3.00 changed. I find no suggestion in the Mr. -Watts; s1 20 . ._ . I book that either Ortiz or his mother No Mr . Watts, we will not have a LIBERATOR is basically Spanish-speaking. The long hot summer. Last winter was I 244 East 46th Street I New Yolk 17, N.Y . I with I PI_a enroll ma s awbscrtba for. mothers' chat about religion protracted and cold . There was no ypr. $3.00 or, twoyaas; $5.50 I a mm a I other mothers is in plain Harlem - more heat in our vermin infested hovels I Name I movie accented American . But in the than the year before . We have learned I I Address these "good people" are set off from that as long as what we do takes I I other black folk by their Spanish . place were we live and to those who I City ,slate I The lonely man (Juano Hernandez) choose to take their chances dealing I Payment eaidoaed Q B&7l me later I came across in the movie as a pre- directly with us, we will be at a tentious user of big words whose standstill . Our summer of discontent meaning he probably didn't grasp. In will be expressed, but the anger will the book his depth of knowledge on be directed more wisely. We will not Dear Editor : the topics he discusses is underlined . concern ourselves with the poor shell If there's been any doubt in the Finally, in the book, the old Jew's of a man who cheats with the meat minds of the deal-making civil rights death includes a fine vignette of a scale, and instead, will address our- leaders as to just where President sensible and sympathetic Negro doc- selves to The White Power Structure . Lyndon B. Johnson stands on the tor who refuses a fee. This has been Kahn's Meat Market will be bypassed, "Rights of Negroes," the President's dropped - perhaps a legitimate decision we will invest a token and give Lord recent appointment of the racist ex- in itself, but part of a pattern. So of and Taylor's a chance to get in on the governor Coleman of Mississippi the book's Harlemites, - the vital action. Park Avenue will see our un- should make the matter perfectly young Ortiz is de-Americanized (de- collected garbage, smell the odor of clear. Harlemized), the scholar is made a dead rats, watch as their children are The time has come for the Negroes bit of a fool, the wise and sympa- awakened by Black night riders burn- of this country to come to the realiza- thetic doctor disappears, and we are ing crosses, then slipping into the tion that they have been well used for left with the newly - created racketeer quiet of night. Twenty men, twenty vote-getting purposes, in exactly the plus three thieves and a whore - minutes downtown during the lunch same manner that the politicians hardly the balanced presentation hour rush will provide more financial have been using them for the past 170 given in the book . What was the and emotional wreakage on Whitey years. motive here? than two thousand on stores and When the hoodwinked masses make Len Ragozin apartments ready for the bulldoser some attempt to become factually in- New York could do given a weeks time! .. .Our formed as to whom the politicians Reader Len Ragozin is quite accurate slogan : Kahn's Meat Market? No! really represent, they will find the on all counts . There is, of course, a Lord and Taylor? Yes, Yes! true solution to their problems . pattern involved here; one which is Reader Jack Brady present to a degree in all attempts by Camden, N.J . Lake Charles, La.

LIBERATOR July 1965 25 Short Story

Now That Henry is Gone by Clayton Riley took place . Henry fell without a sound, arms loose, and the ladies who returned with them. act wa.s or whether it even Adam Travis, "We he crumpled like cloth and hit the base- Deuce, said,"Check, here come Sleepy Adam," he said to ment floor. There was laughter from Willa Morris and Lottie Jones, 'Pearl intend to get to the bottom of this." the crowded room, from people who Booker, Alma Brock, Lessie Fernan- "That's cool," says Adam. joking, and the woman dez, Mama Wright, Bea Brown, and Henry fell without a sound, arms thought he was hit Toenail went right on Betty Toenail, Jr." loose, he crumpled like cloth and named Betty was laugh- expected him to rise Collation in paper cups, cigarettes and the basement floor. There dancing as if she from people again, grinning and doing The Monkey, some sticks to smoke, the phonograph ter from the crowded room, joking . . .. the way he had done all night. all the way up when Arthur Morris ar- who thought he was "Get up, man," someone called, rived and said to Betty, "Stack 'em "Get up, man," someone called, Beazle, "quit acting the fool." back, baby!" The dancing began, And "quit acting the fool ." It was The music and Betty continued, hands not to be left out, Miss Q trotted in who told the Investigator, "Skeeter D. clapped in time with finger-popping with Birdlegs and Sweetroll, who went and Brother Randolph-from-the-Bronx through the smoke and dimness - what no place without I.I., who stuttered a don't know, but I saw them making it a party it was. little and traveled with Miss Jibbs, down `10th by Central Park, up-tight For two nights or three - no one was Sister Sidewalk, Miss Mouse, Lady and looking for a scene . Pill and sure - the crowd kept coming, growing Fish and Princess Queen. them are supposed to play bid whist way larger, shouting louder, on and on it "Well," says Adam Travis, explain- at Henry's crib, laying up the Ran- went as few people left and many ar- ing somewhat later to the Investigator, they do. Skeeter D. and Brother rived, pushing into the basement of a "I go with the crowd, you see. I'm dolph are on the block or in the life as Seventh Avenue building near 114th standing on Lenox and `21st when my some folks call it - it's hustling any Street where T. J . Jones was superin- main man Ro says, 'Dig, it's on.' So way you cut it. Some of this, a little tendent . And T. J. Jones had started I hat on down there with him and a of that, you pick up a few bills - Mostly it all with a single half-pint of wine. couple of other cats to check the hap- enough to keep scuffling. can, He and Skeeter Davis drank with penings. If it ain't swinging, you un- though, you move as much as you deal or Brother Randolph-from-the-Bronx who derstand, I'm ready to do the bird. But looking for a break, a good later bought a gallon jug of muscatel everything is cool, on time and lovely - something. Everybody's chance to cop move and invited John Grimes who told Boo make yourself to home. Party time! is lying around somewhere - you relax. So Johnson, so Skeeter D. went back to I get a buzz, light stuff though, and enough, you get yours and the liquor store for another and soon step awhile with Lady Fish . She'll Skeeter and Randolph don't know I'm for came back with Horace Tubbs, Ro hip you to that. Pluck for days and I peeping when they beat some dude cool the Callister, Adam Travis, who all some- didn't ask who's buying, I'm in my his bread. He's gray so I And these times take a taste. Before the new world, you dig? Henry and me, we whole thing. But I dug it. haven't refreshment could be opened, Pony didn't run together. Not that he was two dummies, because they Brewster was there with Leon Bell uncool, just in another bag. I was seen a coin for a while, throw a' gig and two phonographs they had found. leaning when he fell, but at least one and blow that cash treating everybody Herman Lipscomb got the word - he stud said it was Betty Toenail who to some squeeze, down in T .J .'s base- T, who had LP records and 45's and his part- did him. Can I ask why you want to ment. It was them, not Betty ner Charley Taylor who said, "The know?" got into it with Henry. Another cat old-timers are headed around," Includ- Some of which the Investigator doesn't told me that Skeeter D. and Brother ing those who didn't need last names: understand but puts it in the record, Randolph gorilla'd Henry . Can I ask Beazle, Twenty-one, Biggus and saying to the others in the gallery, why you want to know?" night. Egypt Littlus, Junebug, Pill, Fatlip, The "Gentlemen, it is my considered People kept coming in all Chopper, Deuce, See-me, Roadrunner, opinion that a sordid collusion exists Land and the big man called Bone- DoWrong, Trolleycar, and Quarter-to- between these witnesses, there is a crusher were among them, though they Midnight. They were sippers all, so calculated attempt to confuse us . We aren't known to socialize much. And called, another trip to the store was in order. have heard the woman called "Betty several more who could only be girl," or Skeeter D. and Cousin Randolph con- Toenail" villified, maligned and re- "Say, man," or "Listen, A few thieves, a junky ferred, being bankers for the day, and peatedly accused of this heinous act. "Look here." a whore, there a pimp, decided to go for broke with gallons Yet we are not yet certain what that trio, here cont. pg. 28 26 ~o

HENRY coat. Betty Toenail, born in poverty, raised to that. Some youngblood shows and amateur assassins, bullies, purse- with indifference and hardened by her starts to shoot up - I don't play that snatchers, car-washers, pool sharks, environment becomes a prostitute. At since my asthma but everybody is cool muggers, stolen property agents, fourteen she is a seasoned profession- and the good times roll. I keep a cup agitators, cowards, signifiers, beg- al plying the trade in transient hotels, of Must-I-Tell and my head starts gars, and when everyone else was alleys, and subway stations. Her face smoking. All the people hit it pretty counted, Henry arrived. is embroidered with a number of stit- soon, The Chopper, See-me-- Later, when Quarter-to-Midnight was ches, the souvenirs she receives from "We know who was there," the taken to the Great Hall, he would sit the fists and other weapons of her Investigator interrupted . "Go on." beneath a harsh white light and be customers and business rivals. She "The sounds get groovy and boom, surrounded by an arena of spectators. is arrested many times and counts her baby, Betty T . comes in and takes the Five hundred pale gray faces would years by these events . Picked up on floor. The chick's frame goes like surround him. On a stool, rubbing his Christmas Eve by a jovial patrolman honey, in a solo first but before long, hands together, Quarter-to-Midnight who promises leniency in exchange boom, baby, dig Deuce. He's velvet, would wait. Presently - a stir in the for her favors; she complies but no jive. They get together and start assembly, a man in black robes, strol- spends her holiday in a jail cell none- to gig, off-timing and the bit. Never ling and smiling, stopping and saying, theless with a magistrate's words missing step, saying the word, telling "You are the individual called Quar- ringing in her ears . "Trust no one. the story. Betty's moves were preach- ter-to-Midnight?" Learn to defend yourself." Years ing the gospel and Deuce, with ease, "Yes, sir, that's what I'm called." later, standing quietly on a sidewalk testified to everything she said. But "Why?" near Mount Morris Park, Betty Toenail then he's an old time soft-shoe tapper "People like to bug me about being meets Henry and goes to live with from way back. Before it was over it so dark." him. It is a fine relationship, lasting was rock-house in thejoint. Everybody "I shall address you as Quarter, through many troubles and she is able got up. It was something else. Soul henceforth." to retire from her work when Henry got to all those people. Cats who "Square business, baby. And you, finds steady employment as a waiter. would shiv each other for a bean were what's your stick?" They live in peace, insofar as such a laughing together, the broads were "I am the Investigator. Address me state is possible in that district. The behaving like royalty and the set be- as Mr. Investigator." betrayal that separates them is not came beautiful. Soul, baby. Love . "Solid," says Quarter-to-Midnight . caused specifically by a human failing. Even me and Egypt Land, we never "Quarter, we are assembled here Their first meeting in months occurs make it anywhere without scuffing, but today in order to discern what if any at T. J. Jones' basement party. we were pouring pluck together. Are malfeasance may have attended the And Quarter-to-Midnight began. you ready for that? Smiles, jokes, demise of an individual named Henry "It's early, you dig? Three o'clock shake a hand, we were all beautiful. Jackson, who was, I am told, a com- and I'm loafing on `16th and Seventh. Cats couldn't believe it. Then, boom, patriot of yours. Be advised that any Skeeter D. shows and hips me to the baby, it was over. We thought Henry information you divulge shall be con- happenings at T. J.'s. Cool. We make was shucking but it wasn't a hype. sidered confidential and remain con- it and atfirst it's a lame set. Nothing You dig?" fined to the members of this investi- but hard-legs . T. J ., Skeeter D., Henry fell without a sound, arms gative body and their immediate fam- Brother Randolph and the crew. Henry loose, he crumpled like cloth and hit ilies. You are to discuss what you was on the scene too." the basement floor. There was laugh- say and hear in this chamber with no A moan swept through the assembly ter from the crowded room, from people one. Is that quite clear?" and the Investigator cried, "Henry? who thought he was joking, and the Some of which Quarter-to-Midnight Did you mention Henry?" woman named Betty Toenail went doesn't understand. "Yes, sir," he "Henry," replied Quarter-to-Mid- right on dancing as if. .. . replies, "it's all clear." night, "was there from the git-go." This noon, while I was out to tun ch, "Then you may begin your testi- "That's from the beginning, Gentle- a telephone call came for me. Gen- mony." men." a clerk explained. erally my employer strictly forbids While Quarter-to-Midnight speaks, A moan swept through the assembly use of his phone for calls - incoming Betty Toenail, Jr., subpoenaed as a and the Investigator cried, "We have or outgoing - and it surprised me to material witness, sought as a primary been misled. But continue ." have him take a message, then pass it suspect, makes a phone call to a "Well," Quarter-to-Midnight went on to me. It's a small book ware- younger brother who, as it turns out, on, "we started tasting . Sides were house, one large room divided into is unable to receive the call but later blowing decent sounds. I start to three sections . If one of us has to is given a message by his employer. step with Miss Jibbs, she'll hip you contact someone, send a message,

Letter to Blackby KATYMenG13SON

or all of these characteristics go into favor in you anti assigned you to do- the making up of that still-in-the- mestic chores in the "big house," twentieth-century mystery to some caring for the children, washing and men of the Black race . ironing, cooking, being the illicit Could it be her pursuit of the "fin- mistress and an assortment of other er" things of life or her approach to monstrous duties . the more adventurous part of life? Really picking cotton, caring for Her attitude toward sex, life, men, children, cleaning, cooking, washing, society, femininity? Her appreciation ironing, being an illicit mistress (un- of art, music (the more "serious" paid) and an assortment of other mon- type, that is), family, education or strous duties has left little time, let her awareness of the complicated alone desire, to pursue the "finer world of economics ? That lialzac, culture ." Take the theatre, Wednes- Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Socrates, etc ., day at matinee time happens to be the are more meaningful and pronounce- same time that has been assigned for able names to her? Or maybe the cleaning windows . Saturday at matinee Is it the long silky hair which runs way her !lips don't swivel when she time the laundry must be done . Eve- the gamut from ash to coal? Is it the walks, mainly because of her flat nings at 8 :30 is the time to prepare 51ue, gray, hazel or brown eyes? The derriere? Probably because her hands for home and in most cases to dupli- sharp pointed nose with the narrow do not bear the callouses which came cate the same chores . nostrils? The high cheek bones? The from picking more than her share of When these things become so dis- pencil-thin lips? Or, finally, is it the cotton--yes, the hard work started tasteful to Black men that the glori- pale skin described by some as a that long ago, or if you happen to fication of that still-in-the-twentieth- "peaches and cream complexion" have been "saved" from this awesome century mystery becomes an obsession unkissed by the sun and its rays? One chore because the "master" found and their main objective, the mystery cone. next page HENRY cont. there's a drugstore up the street, guess. Maybe you've seen a few of the locker room) I work with books. where some of the fellows go to eat. the people or dealt with some . They Things have gotten better. They have several pay phones . stand on streets, eyes wide, waiting, But if something actually has happen- "Evans," he said, "you had a call. clusters of them like famished birds. ed to Henry - I'll know tonight . A woman ." A few rush off, into a bar or some- "Get up, man," someone called, "I'm sorry," 1 told him, "I've body's apartment . "quit acting the fool." But Henry asked people not to call me on the I was arrested for petty theft a few never moved and soon the place was job ." years ago and spent time in prison . empty . Scattering toward the street, "That's okay . Something about When I was released the warden told stumbling, gasping ; no one wanted Henry. I couldn't understand her too me, "Trust no one . Learn to defend to believe or think about what had well, she didn't speak clearly ." yourself ." I was fortunate to get this happened, what each had seen . Only I went back to my work certain there job; they ask no questions here and Betty stayed behind, still moving to had been a mistake or - perhaps that's I'm treated well . I wear a shirt and the music, a little more high than she only what I hoped. tie to work each day and have several usually got . And she waited, looking A shipment of children's books came pairs of good shoes . My father used down at Henry through the smoke, the in soon afterwards ; one of the new me n to tell us to keep clean and stay out dimness, not realizing that Betty was brought them to me on a skid and said of trouble . Betty and the others alone . Outside, the scrambling quick- they were to be put away into the turned out badly, but I'm in night ly began. There were those who went bins . The call began to bother me. school and working steady . Like my along Seventh - uptown or down - in a Who could it have been ; what woman? father, who stayed out of trouble all trot with their loose change jangling, And what about 1-lenry? his life, wore a wing-collar and tie while some went east toward Lenox Let me tell you, I spent several years out of the house each day to "go to and the rest headed for Eighth . Every- ontbeblock, or in die life as you will . business," I'm doing all right. lie one disappeared . Until the investiga- A little of this or that - hustling, I ran an elevator (changed clothes in tion .

LIBERATOR July 1965 29 LETTER cons. How the "angry" Black nationalist that the issue and their actual goals will never reveal itself. The mystery intellect who has chosen a non-Black become nebulous. One might well say is twofold and paradoxical . The mate can seriously fight for Black that there is no Black unification and Black Nationalist Intellects (if Nation- liberation is more paradoxical to me really go uncontested . For everyone alist is an objectionable label, Intel- than anything else that I can think of, the price is different. For some its a lect should compensate, for no one and at times seems quite preposterous "good" job, others a non-Black spouse these days resents being called an and ridiculous . The fact that they and still for others a decent home intellect even if he isn't one and most have chosen non-Black mates to love, would pay the tab. The Black inter- are not) who speak, write and give all honor, cherish and to bear their off- married nationalist intellects are angry outward appearance of Black pride and spring, leaves little doubt in my mind mainly because they do not and never identification, long natural hair not- that their pro-Black, nationalistic, shallreceive the universal acceptance withstanding, pulls the surprise of angry writings, speeches etc. should and recognition that their spouses having that still-in-the-twentieth cen- not betaken seriously . That a system assume and take for granted as soon tury mystery as wife, lover and/or of miscegenation that was not started as their eyes are open. mother of their offspring. This is done by us and has been around much long- This great Black awareness seems while they write "angry" writings, to come after the Black non-Black make "angry" speeches and general- merger. Could it be the sudden rely give a facade of "pure" Black alization that the attraction was not pride. one based on common values or mu- Is it to show that you too, yes even tual interests after all, but because of you, can have that precious and trea- of the oppositeness -- the very oppo- sured masterpiece, and that it is with- siteness? The kinky hair, the full lips, in your reach? Pay back? It is said the whiteness of the teeth against the in some circles that they are "paying black skin (they swear that Blacks the national debt," whatever that have the whitest teeth in the world) means. Of course, marriage is a per- and the "primitive animalistic char- sonal thing; who would do it just to acteristics ." This comes after much avenge some injustices heaped upon time has been spent trying to estab- your women? Disregard or disrespect lish a certain image, moving away for the 400 years of continuous strug- from black ghetto neighborhoods to gle that the female Black has endured the strange fascination of the "vil- and still endures can't justify their lage," a different type of ghetto, attitude. An "intellect" would cer- only to realize and have a "real" tainly have knowledge of this and er than one cares to remember, cer- appreciation for the former neighbor- should not take lightly the strong role tainly cannot be ignored. "She has hood. "I go uptown at least twice a of such women in their lives. Cer- been around me so long," it is often week," they say, "just to keep in tainlythelikes of Harriet Tubman can- said, "that she is just like me." This touch with my people." not do less than evoke a deep sense is a prize piece of assininity that is Not the pursuitof the "finer things" of pride. hard to match. No one is just like of life or the appreciation of art, An interesting point to note is that anyone, white, black or indifferent. music (the more "serious" type), nor the group that meets with the most When Jews show distaste for inter- that Balzac, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, contempt from the Black nationalist religious marriages (modern Jews in- Socrates etc. are more pronounceable intellect (of course this doesn't in- cluded) no one accuses them of big- and meaningful names, but the swivel- clude all Black nationalist intellects) otry, narrowmindedness or being re- ling hips, the collard greens, the cot- by and large does not marry other than ligious fanatics, racists or extrem- ton picking, the calloused hands, the their own. They may not and will not ists, They are considered and ac- kinky hair, the flat nose with the wide identify with the Black masses, or cepted as a people proud of their nostrils, the eyes that do not boast of grass roots, and have tried desperately ancestry, "holders of the faith," re- gray, green, blue or hazel, the dark for assimilation and do a poor job du- tainers of their culture and are deter- complexion kissed by the sun and its plicating their non-Black middle-class mined to keep it pure. Not these strong rays, the washing and ironing, counterpart (this is understandable in Blacks -- the great lovers of all and cooking, cleaning and an assortment view of the fact that they do not come all things -- they would never conceive of other monstrous chores, the count- that closely in physical contact with of so narrow a thought. Of course, less illicit mistresses, unpaid, the their non-Black counterpart) - -the they are angry . In this struggle Blacks matriarchal tendencies, and of course, Black bourgeoisie married Black. are angry for so many different reasons the blues, are all YOU.

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