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O bsi rvlr • F ebruary 28, 1996
P age A 7
BLACK HISTORY
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The Negro Is
Your Brother
Continued from A5
▲
ham at this tim e, but I would say in
m ore em phatic term s that it is even
more unfortunate that the white pow er
structure o f this city left the N egro
com m unity with nootheralternative.
In any nonviolent cam paign there
are four basic steps: collection o f the
(acts to determ ine w hether injustices
are alive, negotiation, self-purifica­
tion, and direct action. We have gone
through all ol these steps in B irm ing­
ham . I here can be no gainsaying of
the tact that racial injustice engulfs
this com m unity Birm ingham is prob­
ably the m ost thoroughly segregated
city in the United States. Its ugly
record o f police brutality is know n in
every section o f this country. Its un­
just treatm ent o f N egroes in the courts
is a notorious reality.
T here have been m ore unsolved
b o m b in g s o f N eg ro h o m e s and
churches in B irm ingham than in any
other city in this nation. T hese are the
hard, brutal, and unbelievable facts.
On the basis o f them , N egro leaders
sought to negotiate with the city fa­
thers. But the political leaders co n ­
sistently refused to engage in good-
faith negotiation.
I hen cam e the opportunity last
S eptem ber to talk with som e o f the
leaders ol the econom ic com m unity.
In these negotiating sessions certain
prom ises were m ade by the mer
chants, such as the prom ise to re­
m ove the hum iliating racial signs
from the stores. On the basis o f these
prom ises, Rev. Shuttlesw orth and the
leaders o f the A labam a C hristian
M ovem ent for H uman Rights agreed
to call a m oratorium on any type o f
dem onstration.
As the weeks and m onths unfolded,
we realized that we w ere the victims
of a broken prom ise. The signs re­
mained. As in so many experiences
o f the past, we were confronted with
blasted hopes, and the dark shadow
ol a deep disappointm ent settled upon
us.
So we had no alternative except
that of preparing for direct action,
whereby we would present our very
bodies as a m eans of laying our case
before the conscience o f the local
and national com m unity. We were
not unmindful o f the difficulties in­
volved. So we decided to go through
a process of self-purification.
We started having w orkshops on
nonviolence and repeatedly asked
ourselves the questions, "A re you
able to accept blow s w ithout retaliat­
ing ’ and "Are you able to endure
the ordeals o f ja il? W e decided to
▼
The African American Women
I am a w om an, not ju st any w om an but a A frican A m erican woman.
I com e in many different shapes, forms, and fashions.
I am tall, short, large, and small.
I am elegant, sophisticated, full o f richness and G race.
I am black, I am beautiful, I’m a A frican A m erican woman.
I am a D octor, a Lawyer, a T eacher, a Preacher,
I am a Dentist, a Dancer, a W riter, a Fighter,
but m ost o f all I am a survivor.
I have paid my dues, now I dem and my respect, I dem and
to be acknow ledged,
I will be desired, I will be adm ired.
I will not be ridiculed, nor will I be criticized,
I’m black, I’m beautiful and I must be recognized!
I am a African A m erican w om an, I will never go away.
I am a A frican A m erican w om an, I am here to stay.
Continued to page A6
—Kelly Hollins
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