HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/09/1971 Annual Meeting Minnesota HRC First Annual Meeting
League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions
October 9 , 1971
Keynote address by Congressman Fraser: (Summary )
In the next few years there will be a second and third ring of suburbs .
Fair housing laws are creating new housing opportunities where they
have not existed . Poor people bring with them the need for further
compensatory services , however.
Possible Legislation. :
System of subsidies through "block " grants screened through a metro
housing agency such as Metro Council . Public agencies who are work-
ing in accord with metro wide plan would allocate subsidies .
Special incentive subsidy ; in order to help defray the cost of addi -
tional public services , $3 ,000 allocated to the local unit of govern-
ment for each low income unit which is going to be built . Metro
Council hopes to develop agreement with Housing and Metro Development ;
do on an informal basis what bill would do by law . Might well be
that our experiences in the TC would provide guide for other communi -
ties . Under new subsidies low cost would really rate .
Direction :
Local level organizations like ours provide educational function ,
support , necessary prodding or push . Begin no, to work for passage
of effective housing bill in the Legislature . Get a look at the
subsidized housing programs that are operaing in TC area . 24 ,000
subsidized units are occupied or under construction or proposed in
seven county area . Public housing as well as federally subsidized.
80% of these 24 , 000 units are located in TC which contains 40% of
the total . Senior citizen public housing is a major part of this
total . Find out how developers are handling "235 " program . Is
housing being made available to non white families ? Results in
other parts of the country have not been encouraging ; in housing
dispersal you deal with fear and anger. Housing not going to be an
easy issue particularly if we are serious in our need for metro wide
approval .
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Questions from floor (some )
Q . Indians are forced to segregate within their own reservations
because of services e . g . sewer and water , although other areas might
be more desirable . Scattered housing much preferred . Any work being
done on this problem?
A. Some ; not effectively . Four Indian agencies need to coordinate
activities urgently ; could then pool efforts to develop other than
_ project type housing .
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Q . Recognizing that government services and agencies have not been
given to hiring minorities --has this problem of governmental
segregation or discrimination been looked into?
A. (Walt Jones - State Dept of HR) ! Are researching state depart-
ments on this point . Commissioner will takeaffirmative action
to deal with State Dept . Blacks and minorities are still being
segregated to the business or government body that deals with
minorities e . g . Dept of HR . Blacks head special commissions but
on the whole do not deal with or head the governing body .
Q . Is there a state or federal program for the the community resident
that is trying to shore up his own community?
A . No proposal yet that is feasible . Programs raise physical environ-
ment of community but no action on how to protect home owner if
he elects to stay .
Education Workshop - Sandy Woods - Dept of Education - State
Commissions are being requested to take an active role in promoting
inter and intra cultural advisory committees ; through our boards
of education (details attached) . 25 or more minority people in the
district should be tapped for an intracultural committee . If dis -
trict is predominantly white , then intercultural . Our boards of
education were sent questionnaires requesting information on curri -
culum, special techniques , staff etc . 166 of them have not responded .
Guidelines will be made into regulations if they are not followed
vol untari l ly .
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Q . Very few minority teachers available ; is there anything that the
State can do?
A. State has traveled to actively recruit minority educators . Is
going to set up a public clearing house for black professionals .
Hope to implement this by June of 72 .
Comment on answer: This is fine but the districts should aggressively
seek recruitment . Good for the attitude and
morale . Rural community must sell itself. Also , if you recruit black
teachers with experience , then salary must be a consideration . The
professional certainly isn ' t going to take less salary to come to
Minnesota to teach . College recruitment brings inexperienced and thus
lower salaried teachers ; which is fine in many cases but does not cover
situation adequately .
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Discussed different facets of the one year and five year learning
center plans .
Eventually the centers will become very heavily involved with home-
school concepts . School will be resource center for entire community .
Children would register in neighborbood school and then be bussed to
specific learning centers for special subjects .
One year plan is following state guidelines . Less than 30% of children
involved . Bussing would be voluntary .
You would not be able to get a diploma from the school system unless
you attended a learning center other than your home learning center .
Program will hinge on bond issue .
Finds five year plan more suitable . Differences in students will be
part of educational package . Will come from other learning centers
for a common purpose . Some situations or subjects would require whole
days not just an hour or two . Involve entire educational system k-12 .
Q . How do you get black kids to go the bussing route .
A. Involve as many minority counselors as possible .
Centers now vocational , some fine arts , foreign languages . ( five
year learning center concept will bring one subject within that center
to which all students would come . Teaching would be uniform both as
to quality and techniques limited only by the skill of the educator
or the limitations of the pupil .
Charged us to be aware of what is being done in our particular schools
and school organizations . Make sure that staff is aware of the tools
available to them.
Education Dept consists of Sandy Woods , Don Hatfield , Archie Holmes .
Capital Square Building - Rm 719 - 221 -3885 . Call for information
anytime . When calling out of metro area charges can be reversed .
State Dept has films , visual aids etc . that can be borrowed by the
Commissions .
Talk by Sam Richardson , Commissioner = State Dept of HR
Had been on the job 25 working days . Time to make some adjustments
in his life that ' s why he changed his post; never was too bright
that ' s why he took the job .
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_ Complimented Walt Jones and his staff .
Tongue in cheek description of his "job" . . . . not supposed to
embarrass the Governor or Legislature ; supposed to be suave and
articulate seven days of the week ; everybody should be able to
understand him clearly ; never make mistakes ; keep all the black
folks very happy , militants in their place ; keep white bigots happy ;
must not step on political structures toes ; keep indians in state
of limbo ; keep chicanos in fiesta mood ; watch out for the women ' s
lib ; keep 25-26 employees happy , deliriously happy , five days a
week ; be delighted with basement quarters and old state office bldg ;
be delighted with $17 ,000 gross salary . He cannot be happy with any
of that and do what is right and just . If he gets kicked out after
three years so be it . We are going to do "it" together. His name
is not "Jesus Christ " ; cannot perform any miracles . We are the only
ones that can give him these miracles .
Has no master plan for solving Minnesota ' s problems . "Do not intend
to make one .•` If he does it is because he has a solution to the
problem of controlling human behavior. Going to try and " channel "
human behavior. No right to expect more than that from him.•'
''Glad that this is no longer a black ` problem but an "American " one .
Where have we arrived? No commitment ; what wi11 he do about it?
The prevailing institutions that control things , do good groups and
part of the state legislature , thousands of well intended citizens
— have arrived no where ; that is the perplexing part ."
" Conclusion : one could argue that the constitution of the U . S . of
America and Bi11 of Rights probably was one of the biggest hoaxes
ever perpetuated on the great majority of the American people . The
minority chi id book learns that he has certain inalienable rights
and no one can take them away from him. Quickly learns that is not
true . Most institutions help and abet in keeping him from reaching
goal which would make him an all American citizen ; very frustrating
when you finally arrive at the conclusion that all institutions want
to make you second lass . Where do you strike out first? "
' Conclusion : there is something wrong with a nation of people who
refuse to address themselves to such a problem and
wrap themselves in the flag to evade the real issue . Anyone who goes
against them is labeled. This is a cop out . Something wrong with a
country that drifts in that direction . Doesn ' t meana thing . '
" Something wrong with labor unions that fight in front of the public
for the good and welfare of its members but behind the scene make
sure that liberal legislation does not become a reality . Hold out
with one hand and take back with the other . "
" Something wrong with a country that pursues a war that cannot be won-;
something wrong with an organization that supports that kind of war. '°
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" Something wrong with a city that allows segregated schools to exist
and spends all sorts of dollars and hours working against the person
that does not want them to exist . Something wrong with the school
board that does not move agressively and right to the point ( gave
as example the Mpls School Board that in spite of state directives
would not commit themselves ) . ''
:+ Something wrong with a city that allows a funeral director to refuse
to bury a man because his skin was black . No one says or does
anything . "
t° If there is one thing we strive for in the U . S . A . it is not to be
identified; like to be will -of-the-wisps . Deliver me from the guys
with whom I do not know where I stand; better a George Wallace !
He is looking for a commitment ! ' Commit ourselves !'' ''Commitment calls
for more than words ! Expects and will ask commitment from the State
Board of HR ; pronouncements on behalf of H . R. When there are problems
with the minorities , school desegregation , inadequate staff, salary
etc . he wants that board to aca-ively go to the press and make state-
ment on behalf of HR Dept . Actively lobby when Legislature is in
session . If it phases us out of a job- -good ! ! !
Various commissions all over the state ; does not do a bit of good
to proclaim themselves a HRC and everybody pats everyone on the
back . This is not conclusive . Shall expect us during the legisla-
tive season to come in and lobby to change conditions . Will figure
— out a way that we can be notified. People must show up to change
Minnesota scene . Lobby will be able to act because everyone will
know where we stand . -Those commissions that feel they cannot do this
should disband. Get out of the business !' "You are no good to me ; I
want help ! Positive help from all of you ; I need it! It is a hypocrisy
of the commissions to exist and do nothing . If they do nothing and
do exist then they must go out of business ; that would be progress . "
.' Lots of things can be done to change the scene by a little cooperation
and education . Stand up and be counted . -
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Q . re; problem of regional representation--can state staff come out
and form district offices in various regions of state ?
A. Commission who desires such representation must come down to
Legislature and make demands for such representation . Making
yourself heard is the only way to go .
Q . (presumptuous I felt but handled forthrightly and interestingly ;
he could have told the questioner not to be an ass )
" Commissioner Balfour was an activist e . g . in the area of corrections .
Were there sanctions or limitations imposed on you to preclude your
being involved in that area? '
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A. "No sanctions ; no nothing" . Went on to say that when the Governor
— called him in he asked for a week to think about it . He thought
about it and accepted- -period . "Not the type of person that could
work with sanctions imposed. Knows the tales going around that
he must of necessity be passive because the governor wants every-
thing running smoothly ; there are political implications ; will have
to take risks . If you ask him to take and assume the risks , if
we swing with him then he won ' t be hung at 'noon alone or may be not
at all . If any restrictions had been put on his post he would
not have taken it . '
"If commissions coordinate their activities , state their choices and
work cohesively , then they have power; then we have more power than
the Commissioner does .
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Business meeting . Proposed :
Take up matter of membership . Based on population of 26 ,000 = $52 dues
Call Sandy about whether District 622 has sent back its questionnaire .
Send in news items to the new League publ i cation .
Send secretary copy of our minutes also ( if approved by MHRC) .
Send League roster of members .
Also , asked for research material such as our ordinances . Wish to
start a repository of such material at the League of Munici -
palities offices . They would then be available when needed.
League developing prospectus to use as selling point when asking
for funding .
Do we know anyone interested in doing volunteer work?
There are 22 paid Commission members . $977 in total receipts .
Meeting adjourned: 5 : 00 p . m.
Maria M. Larsen , Secretary
Maplewood Human Relations Commission