There was a vast city with high purpose and vision. Like all American cities in the 1960’s, it had a mixed population of whites and Negroes.

This caused conflicts. There will be more of them.

But this city created a year ago, one small weapon of hope. It was a Community Relations Commission. It struggled and worked tirelessly. It met, at times, bitter hostility.

It was beginning to win limited successes. It gradually won the support of the Negro citizens. It built the confidence of a growing number of whites.

Controversy flared at times. When we try to move by justice to a sound harmony, should any of us have expected less? The job was one of sheer magnitude. The budget was one of sheer magnitude. The budget was ridiculously meager. But the spirit grew bravely.

She Served Well

The Commission served voluntarily and generously. The only salaries were paid to the executive director and a few staff members.

The director was a woman with a strong and sensitive sense of justice. She is intelligent. She had an unanswering conviction to what is right. For years she contributed generously to the cause of justice for the city’s Negroes, as editor Eugene Patterson has written. For her zeal, we are all indebted to her. The Negro gave her trust. She had won it and she held it.

But not every person of strong dedication is suited for every job. In fairness, the Commission made no charges in not renewing her job. But as Mr. Patterson showed clearly: “In the Commission’s view she didn’t work out as executive director. She seemed to make policy rather than carry out the Commission’s policy. On various occasions, she preempted responsibilities that resided in the Commission.” “But in her view, she did work out and she challenged the Commission’s decision.”

Friday passed. It was not the city’s best hour. Personalities, not cause, was the spirit of the meeting.

The very purpose of the Commission has now had a wedge driven into it. It tried to bring peace, but right now, it has produced a sword. The cause remains intact, but it has been badly wounded by personalities.

Commission Will Rise

There are too many good citizens in the great city, both white and Negro, who will not give up. They know the destruction of the Commission was needless.

It will take time because right now many Negroes are very bitter. As they see it, the executive director was their friend.

She can help tremendously if she gives sympathetic support to the Commission which will have to rebuild painfully the small beginning.

Friday was a bitter day. We pray it was a clearing of air. Not only is a new executive director needed, but a chairman.

No one (repeat, no one) has given time, energy and insight as Irving Kaler did. He was forced out because of a typical bureaucratic ruling. Although a long-time lawyer in the city and a resident of the metropolitan community, he did not actually live in the city.

As a citizen, I regret deeply that the roof fell in. But as a member of one year, I have a more profound sorrow. I knew the zeal of both the Negro and whites who were associated with us.

Together we visited deprived neighborhoods and tried to ease grievances. We worked with our executive committee during the Dixie Hills trouble. We fought for an end to half terms and other discriminations against Negroes.

For a time, the mayor of the vast city, must rebuild carefully. It will be painful.

But even Pearl Harbor, the “day of infamy,” eventually became V-J Day.

Let us begin at once the gloomy work of doing it over. The great Southern metropolis will do it.

Paul J. Hallinan

Archbishop of Atlanta