By Mary Lackie

Five African leaders were given a kaleidoscopic view of civil rights programs in Atlanta during a panel discussion last week.

The Rev. Samuel W. Williams of the NAACP told the group: “We attempt to eliminate segregation and discrimination in the total life of our nation.”

Rev. Williams termed the ‘anti-riot’ bill “another excuse on the part of white Americans.” He said “We go on the premise that white Americans believe that democracy ought to be shared by every one of its citizens; and we hope someday that we will be justified in this belief.”

“Our organization works behind the scenes to get equal employment for people,” said Kenneth Crooks, assistant director of the southern regional office of the National Urban League.

“We make contact with big and small business—wheedle, cajole, twist arms to get equal opportunity for our people. We encourage employers to see the value of giving jobs, regardless of color—on the basis of merit,” Crooks said. “Our job is to find the guy who is doing the hiring and see that the guy who is qualified gets the job.”

In the area of education, Crooks said, “If there is a school system, it should be upgraded regardless of the racial situation, location, or people involved,’ he said. “This is a salesman’s job—to get people in a position to ‘act right.’” Crooks said.

The role of the Atlanta Community Relations Commission was outlined by Mrs. Eliza Paschall, executive director: “Our group was established by the mayor and alderman. We are an interracial body with no power to enforce, but we have discovered in holding meetings that the power of the press is a wonderful thing.”

Meetings are held “in primarily low-income, Negro areas of the city,” Mrs. Paschall said, “and the people we have dealt with so far are so absorbed in the problems of daily living they have not brought up racial discrimination.”

“The first job of this committee is to educate people to the fact that problems are not solved—it is incredible. Mrs. Paschall said. “The majority of white people in Atlanta and the nation think problems are solved—that ‘we can take it or leave it’—What would have satisfied people five years ago satisfies them no longer.” Quoting Gunnar Myrdal, Mrs. Paschall said, “The problem exists in the minds and the hearts of white people.”

Stan Wise, executive secretary of SNCC said, “We maintain that because of the economic system in this country, black people cannot possibly become a part of the ‘establishment.’”

“We are not a human rights organization interested not only in the human rights of black people in America, but in oppressed people all over the world,” Wise said.

Wise considers ‘integration irrelevant,’ he said, “Black people should control government wherever we have a clear majority—we can no longer choose between one man or another as the lesser of two evils.”

Wise defined Black Power as “Black people coming together to fight for their liberation by whatever means necessary—purely and simply that.”

The African visitors questioned: Do you not feel division in the civil rights movement is a hindrance to political unity?”

“What efforts are you (NAACP and Urban League) making to get people into industry?”

“Do you think the final alternative for progress for people in pockets of poverty is to resort to social unrest—I prefer to call it unrest, not ‘rebellion’?”

“Who is Afro-American? Who is Negro? Who is a ‘black man’ in this country?

Kimani Kengethe, Kenya, said “A funny thing about this country—there seem to be two classes of people here—whites and blacks—This is not what I thought before I left my country,” Kengethe said. “Negro organizations are encouraging the Negro society to unite, and I hope they will work together.”

“Real democracy,” Kengethe said, “is without racial discrimination, regional differences; it gives equal rights to all men.’

Mohammed Aminu, Amdao Bello University, Nigeria, said, “Americans are falling victim to the belief America is a society to which all others should approach—We have also our own ways to be respected and reckoned.’

The discussion, sponsored by the Atlanta Committee for International Visitors, brought together representatives of the four local civil rights organizations in a panel moderated by Dr. Edward Jones, Morehouse College.