The Detroit Tribune

Urban League Director Stuns Crowd

FLINT - Speaking to a large crowd of well-wishers, friends, co-workers and staff members, Wesley T. Cobb, new Urban League Director of Flint stunned them with remarks about Flint and the future of the League. The thought provoking remarks were made at a reception held in Cobb's honor sponsored by the Board of Directors of the Urban League. Following presentation of Board members and the UL staff, Dr. A. Loving, newly returned from Nigeria, presented Mr. Cobb to the group.

After peremptory statements about early Flint Cobb mentioned the Negro as being an integral part of the city and three stages which brought about changes which led directly to the turning point in Race Relations. He forecasted the population rising 25 per cent of the total by 1970.

Industrially interpreting, he surmised that General Motors had prevented the city of Flint from becoming a ghost town and that employment here had made possible a higher standard of living for the Negro population in Flint.

Mr. Cobb continued to draw three perspectives of Race Relations in the world, nation, and in Flint. He prefaced his concluding remarks with the statement, "Look at the Negro and you see the face of the earth."

Silence greeted him at intervals as he repeated, "I don't believe in retreat and I don't believe in compromise." "I will not waste my time on people who will not help me." Then he stated more emphatically, "I don't want an 'eat and smile' race relations program." "I build with brains and hard work" - "Don't get behind me, get with me!"

Then lowering his voice he said quietly, "I am not the guest of honor, you are" and together we are going to put Flint on the Map in Race Relations.