The Gary American

REV. B. WHITE OBSERVES
WASH. D.C. AT MOBILIZATION CONFERENCE

Rev. Bernard White, Pastor of St. John Baptist Church, had the opportunity to see our government at work while attending the Mobilization Conference of the N. A. A. C. P. in Washington D. C. last week.

The most surprising observation of Rev. White was the fact that nearly half of those present at the mobilization conference were non-Negroes. At least 40% of the delegation were Jewish or White; some having borne their own expenses to Wash. D. C. to express their desires for legislation of the Civil Rights' Bill.

There also seems to be a general awakening of the clergy to social issues. The pulpit is beginning to realize the great influence it has or could have in furthering knowledge and understanding in many social issues, especially the one uppermost in our country today, racial discrimination. Not only was this evident in Wash. D. C. but Rev. White stated that much progress has been made in our own city of South Bend.

Rev. White represented the churches of the State of Indiana on the floor of the House of Representatives last Tuesday. Mrs. Zoie Smith also of South Bend, gave the womens point of view. They both urged passage of the F. E. P. C. without crippling amendments.

The South it seems. is also beginning to see the light. A White youth, from the University of Georgia, was elected as delegate. He is also president of the N. A. A. C. P. in his community. Rev. White believes that this is a small but significant sign that our southern brother is at last realizing this urgent need of Civil Rights.

Rev. White summed up his observations of the mobilization Conf. with the statement that "We must keep vigilant if we ever expect to get Federal legislation on Civil Rights and we must make democracy work in our own backyard before we can create a basis on to advocate national and world democracy". Segregation based on race creed and color is definitely on the way out."