The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
F o r Release on D e l i v e r y Sunday, June 8, 1969 6:00 p.m., C . D . T . (7:00 p.m., E.D.T.) THE BLACK REVOLUTION AND THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF NEGROES IN THE UNITED STATES A Commencement Address By Andrew F . Brimmer Member Board o f Governors o f the F e d e r a l Reserve System At Tennessee A. and I . U n i v e r s i t y N a s h v i l l e , Tennessee June 8, 1969 THE BLACK REVOLUTION AND THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF NEGROES IN THE UNITED STATES Andrew F. By Brimmer* I was p l e a s e d and f l a t t e r e d to r e c e i v e t h i s graduating c l a s s the i n v i t a t i o n i n the 57th year o f Tennessee A. and I . to address University. I accepted on the assumption t h a t - - d e s p i t e the ferment surrounding quest f o r change on the c o l l e g e campuses of our n a t i o n - still i s not o n l y p o s s i b l e but e s s e n t i a l to c a r r y on a sane and u n s e n t i m e n t a l s t i o n o f the p r o s p e c t s f o r progress i n American s o c i e t y . p e r s p e c t i v e on t h i s an economist, decade. class it I will discus- Since my own s o c i e t y i s d e r i v e d p r i m a r i l y from the e x p e r i e n c e f o c u s on the o u t l o o k f o r And s i n c e Negroes c o n s t i t u t e and o f t h i s U n i v e r s i t y , ing opportunities the I will of the economy over the next the v a s t m a j o r i t y o f t h i s place p a r t i c u l a r graduating s t r e s s on the unfold- f o r e q u a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n which our expanding economy can be expected to p r o v i d e . But b e f o r e t u r n i n g to t h a t task, l e t me hasten to c a r r y out those d u t i e s which any commencement speaker i s expected to perform: t h i s o c c a s i o n - - marking f o r most o f you the c o m p l e t i o n of your e d u c a t i o n a l e x p e r i e n c e and the b e g i n n i n g of l i f e campus - - strides to d a t e . Partly i n c o l l e g e e n r o l l m e n t made i n r e c e n t we tend to f o r g e t t h a t Negro c o l l e g e graduates are s t i l l years, much more r a r e *Member, Board o f Governors o f the F e d e r a l Reserve System. I am i n d e b t e d to Mr. Henry T e r r e l l and M i s s Mary Ann Graves of the B o a r d ' s s t a f f f o r a s s i s t a n c e i n the p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h i s remarks. formal i n the w o r l d beyond the I commend a l l o f you f o r your accomplishments because o f the enormous on -2- than the N e g r o ' s share o f our t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n would suggest. to f o r g e t has that, among Negroes age 21 and o v e r , less We tend than o n e - i n - t w e n t y f o u r y e a r s or more o f c o l l e g e e d u c a t i o n - - compared w i t h more than o n e - i n - t e n f o r the p o p u l a t i o n as a whole. appreciate -- I am aware o f - - and I fully the c o n s i d e r a b l e s a c r i f i c e s w h i c h you and your f a m i l i e s made a l o n g the road t o t h i s ceremony. I must a l s o r e a s s u r e you have (because you o b v i o u s l y a l r e a d y know) t h a t the w o r l d beyond the campus i s not only e x c i t i n g and c h a l l e n g i n g - - but i t d e s p e r a t e l y needs the h e l p o f a l l the b r i g h t minds and v i g o r o u s b o d i e s i t you t o t h i s e x h i l a r a t i n g However, can g e t . venture. i n these times o f t r o u b l e i n our c o u n t r y - - and i n the w o r l d a t l a r g e - - i t would be an i n s u l t f o r empty g e n e r a l i t i e s . I will So l e t me j o i n i n welcoming a commencement speaker to d w e l l on S i n c e I have come t o p r a i s e you and not to i n s u l t r e f r a i n from any f u r t h e r o b e i s a n c e to r i t u a l or r h e t o r i c . l e t me r e t u r n to the c e n t r a l Instead, theme o f these remarks. I am c e r t a i n t h a t I do not need to remind t h i s t u r m o i l c u r r e n t l y sweeping our s o c i e t y . audience o f d i s o r d e r s w i t h o u t cause, meaning or g o a l s . and i n many i n s t a n c e s w a r r i o r s the I am sure t h a t you would agree w i t h me t h a t we are not s i m p l y b e i n g plagued by a r a s h o f b i t t e r and v i o l e n t R a t h e r , we are w i t n e s s e s to -- i n - - a campaign aimed a t a fundamental reformation o f American s o c i e t y . I know t h a t i t i s not n e c e s s a r y f o r me to emphasize t h a t at the core o f the d r i v e t o r e f o r m our s o c i e t y s t r e s s e d from t i m e - t o - t i m e ) you, is Some c a l l it a revolution. Moreover, (no matter what o t h e r elements may be the p e r v a s i v e and a g o n i z i n g q u e s t i o n o f -3race. Thus, no matter what o t h e r a d j e c t i v e s we may use to the v i g o r o u s quest f o r change, we must a l s o d e s c r i b e it characterize as a b l a c k r e v o l u t i o n - - a b a s i c upheaval about the r o l e of r a c e i n t h i s country. I c o u l d e a s i l y consume a l l of the a l l o t t e d time by simply reciting the c a t a l o g u e o f i l l s which u n d e r l i e the p a t i n a of r a c i a l and which render the U n i t e d S t a t e s a r a c i s t society. equality But you know t h i s catalogue. Whatever index o f s o c i a l and economic c o n d i t i o n s we choose (education, employment, h o u s i n g , health, etc.) tells the same s t o r y : legacy o f r a c i a l d i s c r i m i n a t i o n and s e g r e g a t i o n i s r e a l , i t has i n f l i c t e d on a l l our c i t i z e n s and the are deep and e n d u r i n g . the scars But undoubtedly the most c o r r o s i v e burden has been borne by the American Negro f o r more than t h r e e hundred y e a r s . So, I c o u l d e a s i l y devote a l l o f my remarks a p a s s i o n a t e condemnation o f the c o n d i t i o n s which f o s t e r r a c i a l t h i s country. I c o u l d e a s i l y d w e l l on the mosaic o f urban and decay - - e q u a l l y i n l a i d w i t h p o v e r t y , If I were to adopt e i t h e r w i t h the t y p i c a l However, I have chosen to t r a v e l a d i f f e r e n t r o u t e . l e t me say t h a t i t But, why we must c o n t i n u e to s u f f e r tolerate step today. so t h a t I will should be obvious to anyone I am u n a l t e r a b l y opposed t o any k i n d o f r a c i a l d i s c r i m i n a t i o n or i n whatever form i t may appear. in conflict. I would c e r t a i n l y be i n speaker b e f o r e any predominantly b l a c k audience not be misunderstood, strife disorganization s e g r e g a t i o n and r a c i a l course, to that segregation I have heard no c o n v i n c i n g reasons as to the steady d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f our c i t i e s the p e r s i s t e n c e o f p o v e r t y i n the most prosperous l a n d i n the or -4world. So I f u l l y appreciate the need - - and support s t r o n g l y the e f f o r t s - - to press on w i t h these u n f i n i s h e d tasks. I have chosen a somewhat d i f f e r e n t approach i n these comments because I b e l i e v e we should pause from t i m e - t o - t i m e to take s t o c k of d i s t a n c e we have a l r e a d y covered and to survey the t e r r a i n ahead. such p e r i o d i c checks can we be sure to s t i c k the Only by to our main r o u t e and a v o i d d i g r e s s i n g i n t o byways and b l i n d passages which can l e a d o n l y to d i s a p p o i n t ment and f r u s t r a t i o n . economic p r o g r e s s In t h i s first I r e v i e w the e x t e n t the Negro has a c t u a l l y made i n r e c e n t y e a r s . f o l l o w e d by an a p p r a i s a l o f Finally, stock-taking, This inviting digressions w h i c h are l u r i n g some o f our most p r o m i s i n g young people w i t h f a l s e through s e p a r a t e development a l o n g r a c i a l can be summarized is the economic o u t l o o k over the next decade. I t r y to f l a g s e v e r a l o f the d e c e p t i v e l y of progress of lines. hopes My main theme briefly: So f a r i n the decade o f the 1960 ! s, Negroes have b e n e f i t e d r e l a t i v e l y more than the p o p u l a t i o n as a whole from the v i g o r o u s expansion o f the n a t i o n a l economy. However, i n c r e a s e d o c c u p a t i o n a l m o b i l i t y and s i g n i f i c a n t s t r i d e s i n e d u c a t i o n have a l s o played v i t a l r o l e s . R e f l e c t i n g these f a v o r a b l e t r e n d s , the income d i f f e r e n t i a l s between b l a c k s and w h i t e s have narrowed a p p r e c i a b l y i n the l a s t few y e a r s , w i t h the g r e a t e s t r e l a t i v e g a i n s by Negroes b e i n g among those w i t h the h i g h e s t l e v e l s o f e d u c a t i o n . Simult a n e o u s l y , however, w i t h i n the Negro community, two d i f f e r e n t c l a s s e s are becoming i n c r e a s i n g l y e v i d e n t as the b e s t prepared are moving ahead r a p i d l y w h i l e the l e a s t prepared are l a g g i n g b e h i n d . -5L o o k i n g ahead over the next decade, the Negro community as a whole can be expected to improve i t s economic p o s i t i o n to a g r e a t e r e x t e n t than the p o p u l a t i o n g e n e r a l l y . A g a i n , w h i l e expans i o n o f the n a t i o n a l economy i s expected to be the m a i n s p r i n g o f t h i s improvement, c o n t i n u e d advances i n e d u c a t i o n w i l l a l s o p l a y a major part. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , at e x a c t l y the time when e d u c a t i o n and t e c h n i c a l competence are becomi n g i n c r e a s i n g l y c r i t i c a l f o r Negroes - - as f o r o t h e r Americans - - the n o t i o n i s s p r e a d i n g t h a t b l a c k students need not concern themselves w i t h most o f the c o n t e n t of a t r a d i t i o n a l c o l l e g e curriculum. Instead, i t i s being held -- i n even some o f the v e r y b e s t i n s t i t u t i o n s - - t h a t the most r e l e v a n t e d u c a t i o n a l e x p e r i e n c e s f o r b l a c k students are those which w i l l equip them t o r e t u r n to the urban g h e t t o s and work e x c l u s i v e l y f o r the improvement o f the b l a c k community. I n my judgment, i t i s a s e r i o u s e r r o r f o r c o l l e g e f a c u l t i e s to a l l o w such n o t i o n s to go u n c h a l l e n g e d . But, what i s even more t r a g i c , on numerous campuses Negro students - - m a i n l y i n response t o t h e i r own demands - - are b e i n g p e r m i t t e d - - and i n some cases encouraged - - to e n r o l l i n s h e l t e r e d workshops i n the g u i s e o f l f b l a c k studies 1 ' and f f Afro-American ! l programs. Thus, on the mistaken assumption t h a t they are b e i n g r e l e v a n t and r e s p o n s i v e , many o f our c o l l e g e f a c u l t i e s are c r e a t i n g f a c i l i t i e s w h i c h may c r i p p l e young people r a t h e r than s t r e n g t h e n t h e i r a b i l i t y to compete i n an economy o f expanding o p p o r t u n i t i e s . Recent Economic P r o g r e s s i n the B l a c k Community D u r i n g the decade o f the 1960 f s, Negroes have made s i z a b l e g a i n s - - a l t h o u g h they s t i l l economic l a g w e l l behind the p o p u l a t i o n as a whole. This -6p r o g r e s s i s e v i d e n t whether d e f i n e d i n terms o f employment, occupational characteristics, e d u c a t i o n or changing income. F o r example, between 1960 and 1967, nonwhite employment t h a n 90 per cent o f which i s made up o f Negroes) i n the c o u n t r y a t large. rose more r a p i d l y I n 1960, nonwhites h e l d 7 m i l l i o n ( o r per c e n t ) o f the more t h a n 66 m i l l i o n c i v i l i a n j o b s then i n By 1967, t o t a l c i v i l i a n employment exceeded 74 m i l l i o n , employment had r i s e n t o 8 m i l l i o n . by 11-1/2 per c e n t , seven y e a r s , for than 10.5 existence. and nonwhite Thus, w h i l e t o t a l employment t h a t f o r nonwhites rose by 14 per c e n t . the r i s e (more i n the number o f j o b s h e l d by nonwhites increased Over these accounted 12.6 p e r c e n t o f the e x p a n s i o n i n t o t a l employment. The o c c u p a t i o n a l d i s t r i b u t i o n o f employed Negroes has changed somewhat d u r i n g the c u r r e n t decade. also T h e i r g a i n s have been p a r t i - c u l a r l y s t r i k i n g i n p r o f e s s i o n a l and t e c h n i c a l f i e l d s , i n c l e r i c a l work, s e m i - s k i l l e d f a c t o r y j o b s , and i n nonhousehold s e r v i c e t a s k s . Skilled c r a f t s m e n o c c u p a t i o n s among nonwhites have a l s o r i s e n somewhat f a s t e r their t o t a l employment. In contrast, in than the number o f nonwhites engaged as managers, o f f i c i a l s and p r o p r i e t o r s have expanded more s l o w l y than t o t a l non- w h i t e employment. To a c o n s i d e r a b l e e x t e n t , the o c c u p a t i o n a l upgrading among nonwhites has p a r a l l e l e d an a b s o l u t e d e c l i n e i n t h e i r employment as p r i v a t e h o u s e h o l d w o r k e r s , as farmers and farm w o r k e r s , and as nonfarm l a borers. I n g e n e r a l — and what i s much more important - - i n those where t o t a l employment i s growing most r a p i d l y , occupations the r a t e o f growth o f nonwhite -7employment has been even f a s t e r ; employment i s d e c l i n i n g , Nevertheless, skilled, and i n those o c c u p a t i o n s where nonwhites are showing an even s w i f t e r decline. nonwhites are s t i l l h e a v i l y c o n c e n t r a t e d i n low- low-paying occupations. educational d e f i c i e n c i e s total To some e x t e n t , this partly and the absence of s k i l l s of the Negro p o p u l a t i o n . On the o t h e r hand, it reflects of a s i z a b l e proportion i s a l s o p a r t l y due to r a c i a l d i s c r i m i n a t i o n and l i m i t e d access t o j o b o p p o r t u n i t i e s . This is c l e a r l y i n d i c a t e d by a r e c e n t e s t i m a t e prepared by the Bureau o f Labor Statistics (BLS) o f what the o c c u p a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e men would be i f "... f o r w h i t e and nonwhite at each g i v e n e d u c a t i o n l e v e l Negroes had the same o p p o r t u n i t y f o r employment as w h i t e w o r k e r s . " e q u a l i t y were to e x i s t , If t h i s greater occupational the l a r g e s t r e l a t i v e percentage gains f o r nonwhites would occur among c r a f t s m e n (the p r o p o r t i o n o f w h i c h would j u s t about double) and among managers and p r o p r i e t o r s registered). one-half, Little (where a t h r e e - f o l d i n c r e a s e might be The r e l a t i v e p r o p o r t i o n o f s e r v i c e workers would be cut by and the percentage o f nonfarm l a b o r e r s would d e c l i n e by two-thirds. change would be expected to occur i n the p r o p o r t i o n o f nonwhite men employed i n p r o f e s s i o n a l and t e c h n i c a l Trends i n P e r s o n a l occupations. Income R e f l e c t i n g these f a v o r a b l e trends i n employment and o c c u p a t i o n s , the p e r s o n a l income o f nonwhites has r i s e n s u b s t a n t i a l l y and r e l a t i v e terms. i n both absolute I n 1959, the median income o f nonwhite f a m i l i e s was $2,917; by 1967, t h i s had r i s e n to $5,141 - - a g a i n of 76 per c e n t . For -8all families, median income c l i m b e d from $5,417 i n 1959 to $7,974 i n 1967, an i n c r e a s e o f 47 per c e n t . For w h i t e f a m i l i e s , the c o r r e s p o n d i n g figures were $5,643 i n 1959 and $8,274 i n 1967, a l s o a r i s e o f 47 per c e n t . these years, Over the r a t i o o f nonwhite to w h i t e median f a m i l y income r o s e 52 per cent to 62 per c e n t w i t h a p a r t i c u l a r l y 1965 (when the r a t i o was 55 per In f a c t , the l a s t sharp r i s e o c c u r r i n g from after cent). few years have brought n o t i c e a b l e i n the income p o s i t i o n o f Negroes looked a t a p a r t from o t h e r improvement nonwhites. For example, i n 1965 the median f a m i l y income o f Negroes stood at 54 per cent of that for white f a m i l i e s . Negroes amounted to $4,939, By 1967, the median f a m i l y income o f and t h a t f o r w h i t e f a m i l i e s was $8,318. the r a t i o had r i s e n to 59 per c e n t . So, i n t h r e e y e a r s , Negroes had managed t o narrow the gap by 5 percentage p o i n t s - - or by r o u g h l y 11 per The improvement i n income was spread r a t h e r e v e n l y a l l r e g i o n s o f the c o u n t r y . cent. throughout The narrowest gap between w h i t e and Negro f a m i l y incomes was found i n the N o r t h C e n t r a l r e g i o n . median income f o r Negroes i n 1967 amounted to $6,540, f o r w h i t e s - - a r a t i o o f 78 per c e n t ; I n the South, Thus, cent. i n 1967 stood at $7,448 f o r a N e g r o - w h i t e r a t i o of 54 per compared w i t h 49 per c e n t i n 1965. In passing, respectively, cent, i t might be noted t h a t not o n l y do median incomes o f both w h i t e and Negro f a m i l i e s b e h i n d the incomes o f b o t h groups, i n the South lag i n the r e s t of the n a t i o n , but the g r e a t e s t d i s p a r i t y between Negro and w h i t e f a m i l y income among regions is a l s o found i n the South. the compared w i t h $8,414 i n 1965 the r a t i o was 74 per the median income f o r w h i t e f a m i l i e s and t h a t f o r Negroes at $3,992 - - I n these s t a t e s -9Undoubtedly, one o f the prime f a c t o r s u n d e r l y i n g the improvement i n the income p o s i t i o n o f the Negro community i n the n a t i o n as a whole i s c o n t i n u e d p r o g r e s s b e i n g made i n e d u c a t i o n . For example, the i n 1967 the median years o f s c h o o l completed by nonwhite men (who were 18 years of age and over and who were i n the l a b o r f o r c e ) stood at 10.2 y e a r s ; f o r men the c o r r e s p o n d i n g number was 12.3 y e a r s , However, years, white a d i f f e r e n c e o f 1.9 y e a r s . i n 1957, the median years o f s c h o o l i n g f o r nonwhite men were 8.0 and f o r w h i t e men the f i g u r e was 11.5 y e a r s , In f a c t , by 1962, the gap was s t i l l 3.1 years, a gap o f 3.5 y e a r s . so p r o g r e s s has been p a r t i c - u l a r l y r a p i d w i t h i n the c u r r e n t decade when the d i f f e r e n t i a l has been cut by almost o n e - h a l f . even more marked. Among nonwhite women, e d u c a t i o n a l p r o g r e s s has been I n 1967, the median years o f s c h o o l completed by non- w h i t e women i n the l a b o r f o r c e were 11.5 y e a r s , compared w i t h 12.4 years f o r w h i t e women - - a d i f f e r e n c e o f o n l y 0.9 y e a r s . I n 1957, the correspond- i n g f i g u r e s were 8.9 years f o r nonwhite females and 12.2 years f o r w h i t e females, a gap o f 2.3 y e a r s . I n 1962, the measures stood a t 10.5 years f o r nonwhite women and at 12.3 years f o r w h i t e women, a d i f f e r e n c e o f years. Thus, w i t h i n t h i s decade the e d u c a t i o n a l a t t a i n m e n t o f 1.8 nonwhite women has converged even more s h a r p l y than t h a t o f nonwhite men on t h e i r respective counterparts. I n c i t i n g these t r e n d s , I am n o t i m p l y i n g the q u a l i t y o f the e d u c a t i o n o b t a i n e d by w h i t e s and nonwhites i s good. We know t h a t the o p p o s i t e i s g e n e r a l l y t r u e . by nonwhites . equally Nevertheless, ments i n e d u c a t i o n have made a d i f f e r e n c e i n the r e l a t i v e that improve- income g a i n s won -10J u s t how much d i f f e r e n c e improvements i n e d u c a t i o n can make can be t r a c e d i n the changes i n the median incomes o f Negro and w h i t e men, c l a s s i f i e d by years o f large c i t i e s Census) i n 1959 and 1967. are as Years of s c h o o l i n g completed, who were l i v i n g The f i g u r e s (from the Bureau o f in the follows: Schooling Median Income: Negro Men Percentage Increase Median Income: White Men Percentage Increase 1959 1967 1959 1967 $3,428 $4,215 23 $5,139 $6,454 10 High School: 1 - 3 yrs 4 yrs 4,059 4,323 5,086 5,642 25 31 5,788 6,265 7,495 8,188 17 20 College: 1 y r or more 4 y r s or more 5,022 n. a. 7,025 7,556 40 n. a. 7,686 8,486 10,499 11,536 20 21 Elementary: 8 y r s or l e s s Several conclusions and 1967, the h i g h e r can be drawn from these d a t a . the l e v e l o f e d u c a t i o n , the more r a p i d was the i n median income f o r b o t h Negro and w h i t e men. increases w h i t e men. Between 1959 However, the rise relative f o r Negroes were 1 - 1 / 2 to 2 times as l a r g e as those achieved by I n 1959, Negro men w i t h 8 years or l e s s o f s c h o o l i n g had a median income e q u a l to about 70 per cent o f t h a t f o r Negro men who had 1 year or more o f c o l l e g e ; by 1967, the r a t i o had f a l l e n t o 60 per c e n t . For -11w h i t e men i n the same c i r c u m s t a n c e s , per cent to 61 per c e n t . the income r a t i o d e c l i n e d from 67 I n 1967, men w i t h o n l y an elementary e d u c a t i o n had median incomes j u s t over h a l f school those earned by those i n r e s p e c t i v e r a c e s who had completed 4 years or more o f c o l l e g e . their D u r i n g the decade o f the 1 9 6 0 f s , w h i t e men w i t h h i g h s c h o o l e d u c a t i o n s p u l l e d away somewhat, school, i n r e l a t i v e income terms, from those who went o n l y to grade and they j u s t about m a i n t a i n e d unchanged the gap between them- s e l v e s and w h i t e men who went to c o l l e g e . Among Negro men, those w i t h h i g h s c h o o l e d u c a t i o n s a l s o p u l l e d away, i n r e l a t i v e income terms, Negro men who went o n l y t o elementary s c h o o l ; however, their from the gap between incomes and the incomes o f Negro men who went t o c o l l e g e widened further, as the r a t i o d e c l i n e d from 86 per cent t o 80 per Thus, i n general, cent. these d a t a c l e a r l y demonstrate t h a t income w h i t e s and Negroes has been r i s i n g most r a p i d l y f o r those w i t h educations. Among Negroes, college the g a i n s - - i n b o t h a b s o l u t e and r e l a t i v e terms - - have been the g r e a t e s t a t the h i g h e s t l e v e l s o f In f a c t , education. t h e r e appears t o have emerged a g e n e r a l tendency income d i f f e r e n t i a l s w i t h i n the Negro community to widen i n r e c e n t I n c o n t r a s t , w i t h i n the w h i t e community, income d i f f e r e n t i a l s remained unchanged or narrowed s l i g h t l y . income r e c e i v e d by each f i f t h o f families, o f the f a m i l y head. for The f i g u r e s for years. seem to have These t e n d e n c i e s can be t r a c e d i n the Bureau o f the Census d a t a showing the percentage share o f for aggregate ranked by income and by the s e l e c t e d years are as follows: color -12Families 1959 1962 1965 1967 White Per c e n t Lowest f i f t h Second f i f t h Middle f i f t h Fourth f i f t h Highest f i f t h 5.5 12.6 17.8 23.4 40.8 5.5 12.4 17.6 23.5 41.1 5.6 12.5 17.5 23.4 40.8 5.8 12.5 17.5 23.5 40.7 Top 5 per 16.1 16.0 15.5 14.9 Nonwhite Per c e n t Lowest f i f t h Second f i f t h Middle f i f t h Fourth f i f t h Highest f i f t h 3.9 9.6 16.5 25.1 44.9 4.2 10.4 16.6 24.4 44.2 4.6 10.7 16.5 24.7 43.5 4.4 10.4 16.4 24.1 44.7 Top 5 per 16.4 16.3 15.5 17.5 cent cent I n examining these d a t a , d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h i n g to note i s t h a t income i s by no means e q u a l i n e i t h e r w h i t e community. 20 per cent o f the f i r s t If i t were, the w h i t e or non- each f i f t h o f the f a m i l i e s would r e c e i v e the aggregate income i n each y e a r . o n l y those f a m i l i e s around and j u s t In r e a l i t y , above the m i d d l e o f the however, distribution come c l o s e to r e c e i v i n g a p p r o x i m a t e l y t h i s p r o p o r t i o n o f the t o t a l The f a m i l i e s constituting holds the t o t a l . those i n the h i g h e s t f i f t h receive T h i s g e n e r a l p a t t e r n o f income f o r b o t h w h i t e and nonwhite over distribution families. But l o o k i n g beyond these o v e r a l l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , be observed t h a t , income. the l o w e s t f i f t h r e c e i v e between 4 per cent and 6 per cent o f the income, w h i l e 40 per cent o f the w i t h i n the nonwhite community, it will the d i s t r i b u t i o n o f also income -13i s c o n s i d e r a b l y more unequal. the middle f i f t h , Among nonwhites, f o r each o f the years shown, money income r e c e i v e d by the f a m i l i e s the w h i t e community. middle f i f t h ; their from the lowest through the p r o p o r t i o n o f i n each c a t e g o r y i s below t h a t The o p p o s i t e i s t r u e f o r nonwhite f a m i l i e s share i s g r e a t e r than t h a t r e c e i v e d by w h i t e i n the same c a t e g o r y . aggregate for above the families The same tendency i s e v i d e n t when the top 5 per cent o f the f a m i l i e s w i t h the h i g h e s t incomes i n b o t h groups are compared. Moreover, i n the l a s t few y e a r s , incomes w i t h i n the nonwhite community have a p p a r e n t l y become even more u n e q u a l l y d i s t r i b u t e d . The shares o f income r e c e i v e d by those households at or below the m i d d l e o f f a m i l i e s have been eroded s l i g h t l y , highest w h i l e the shares r e c e i v e d by the f i f t h and by the top 5 per cent have edged up somewhat. w h i t e community, the o p p o s i t e t e n d e n c i e s are Again, these f i g u r e s i n c r e a s i n g number o f o b s e r v e r s : community, may o f f e r I n the evident. seem t o u n d e r l i n e a c o n v i c t i o n h e l d by an a b a s i c schism has developed i n the b l a c k and i t may be w i d e n i n g y e a r - b y - y e a r . to e x p l a i n i t , i n my o p i n i o n , Whatever e x p l a n a t i o n one the d i f f e r e n t i a l impact o f p r o g r e s s w i t h i n the Negro community must be accorded c o n s i d e r a b l e Economic O u t l o o k f o r fifth educational weight. the American Negro A t t h i s p o i n t , we can take up the second t a s k sketched above: an assessment o f the economic p r o s p e c t s next decade. fully f o r the American Negro over I n t r y i n g t o l o o k ahead, however, I must emphasize t h a t r e c o g n i z e the hazards o f a t t e m p t i n g to f o r e c a s t economic the I activity. -14To make such a f o r e c a s t purpose i s i s n o t my p r i n c i p a l o b j e c t i v e . t o a p p r a i s e the i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r Negroes o f a number o f t r e n d s w h i c h are a l r e a d y c l e a r l y v i s i b l e . i n d i c a t i o n of the most l i k e l y t i o n over the n e x t decade. R a t h e r , my c h i e f For example, we have a good t r e n d s i n p o p u l a t i o n and l a b o r Moreover, economic g i v e n a few r e a s o n a b l e about the o v e r a l l r a t e o f economic growth, we can be f a i r l y force participa- assumptions c e r t a i n of t r e n d s i n the l e v e l and o c c u p a t i o n a l d i s t r i b u t i o n o f employment, the and the l e v e l and d i s t r i b u t i o n o f p e r s o n a l income between the w h i t e and b l a c k communities. P o p u l a t i o n Trends Our f i r m e s t e s t i m a t e s are f o r the p o p u l a t i o n . c o n t i n u e t o be a l a r g e r p r o p o r t i o n o f the p o p u l a t i o n , a p p r o x i m a t e l y 32.5 m i l l i o n i n 1980. 10.5 m i l l i o n , or 48 per c e n t , The Negro will reaching a t o t a l T h i s would r e p r e s e n t an i n c r e a s e from 1968. of The t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n has been p r o j e c t e d by the Bureau o f the Census at about 243 m i l l i o n i n 1980, g a i n o f 45 m i l l i o n , of or 23 per c e n t over 1968. Thus, the Negro a population i s expected to account f o r n e a r l y o n e - q u a r t e r o f the n e t i n c r e a s e i n the N a t i o n ' s p o p u l a t i o n d u r i n g the p e r i o d 1968-1980, lifting the Negro p r o p o r - t i o n from 11 per c e n t o f the t o t a l i n 1968 to 13.4 per cent i n 1980. projections assume lower f e r t i l i t y decrease i n f e r t i l i t y The r e s u l t groups. is than c u r r e n t l y . However, the r a t e i s expected to occur m a i n l y among the w h i t e These of population. a d i v e r g e n c e i n the r a t e o f p o p u l a t i o n growth f o r the two -15Outlook f o r the Labor Force For the p r e s e n t d i s c u s s i o n , the p r o p o r t i o n o f the w h i c h i s w o r k i n g or seeking work h o l d s the most i n t e r e s t . decade, During the next the l a b o r f o r c e p a r t i c i p a t i o n r a t e f o r nonwhites i s expected to remain e s s e n t i a l l y unchanged at approximately 60 per c e n t . tion, population On t h i s assump- about 12.2 m i l l i o n nonwhites would be i n the l a b o r f o r c e i n 1980, compared w i t h 9.1 m i l l i o n i n 1968. one-third, T h i s r e p r e s e n t s an expansion o f compared w i t h about o n e - q u a r t e r between 1956 and 1968. roughly Since the t o t a l l a b o r f o r c e i n 1980 might be i n the neighborhood o f 101 m i l l i o n , nonwhites would c o n s t i t u t e 12 per cent o f the work f o r c e by the end o f the next decade compared w i t h 11.0 per cent i n 1968. T h i s l a r g e growth i n the t o t a l l a b o r f o r c e and the even f a s t e r i n c r e a s e f o r Negroes w i l l be accompanied by s e v e r a l dramatic changes composition. For i n s t a n c e , over 23.7 m i l l i o n members o f the l a b o r are expected to be under 25 years o f age i n 1980, a s i g n i f i c a n t l y p r o p o r t i o n than i n 1968. Thus, in force higher a l t h o u g h more and more young people will undoubtedly want to work i n order t o c o n t i n u e i n s c h o o l i n the next decade, the i n f l u x i n t o the f u l l - t i m e work f o r c e o f t e e n - a g e r s c l e a r l y w i l l be substantial. Moreover, an i n c r e a s i n g p r o p o r t i o n o f these teen-agers be nonwhites. This prospect w i l l pose a c o n t i n u o u s c h a l l e n g e to the N a t i o n t o p r o v i d e a p p r o p r i a t e employment o p p o r t u n i t i e s But i t w i l l skills. at decent wages. a l s o put a heavy burden on Negro youths to a c q u i r e marketable As we know, the impact o f unemployment among t e e n - a g e r s - - and e s p e c i a l l y among nonwhite t e e n - a g e r s - - has been p a r t i c u l a r l y will severe. For -16example, w h i l e the unemployment r a t e o f 3.6 per c e n t i n 1968, i t was s t i l l per c e n t f o r nonwhite youth. the t o t a l l a b o r 12.6 per c e n t f o r a l l There w i l l number o f a d u l t women i n the l a b o r f o r c e was down t o teen-agers and 24.9 a l s o be sharp i n c r e a s e s force. By 1980, i t i n the i s estimated that t h e r e w i l l be about 7 m i l l i o n more women w o r k i n g or l o o k i n g f o r work than i n 1968, a l a r g e p r o p o r t i o n o f whom w i l l be s e a r c h i n g f o r Trends i n Output and Income, full-time work. 1968-1980 By 1980 the U n i t e d S t a t e s w i l l have a $1,4 t r i l l i o n economy it grows i n r e a l terms at an average annual r a t e o f 4 per c e n t . if T h i s would r e p r e s e n t an i n c r e a s e o f 50 per c e n t i n the r e a l o u t p u t o f goods and s e r v i c e s i n the 1 9 7 0 , s . E x p r e s s e d i n per c a p i t a terms, Gross N a t i o n a l P r o d u c t (GNP) would be about $5,650 i n 1980 a g a i n s t $4,274 l a s t year - - thus, r i s i n g by about o n e - t h i r d d u r i n g t h i s period. F o r our purpose we would l i k e implies f o r Negroes. o f GNP. to know what the growth o f However, we have no d i r e c t way to i d e n t i f y On the o t h e r hand, we do have a f a i r l y good measure o f output their share aggregate money income earned by Negroes as d e f i n e d by the Bureau o f the Census. This s e r i e s does d i s t i n g u i s h between income r e c i p i e n t s I n 1967, aggregate money income as measured by t h i s $487 b i l l i o n . tion, of Of t h i s amount, color. amounted t o popula- r e p r e s e n t i n g 7.3 per cent I n 1956 the income o f the nonwhite p o p u l a t i o n amounted t o $14 b i l l i o n or 5.7 per c e n t o f the t o t a l . series $451 b i l l i o n was earned by the w h i t e and $35.7 b i l l i o n was r e c e i v e d by n o n w h i t e s , the t o t a l . according to D u r i n g r e c e n t years the share of -17aggregate money income r e c e i v e d by nonwhites has been i n c r e a s i n g . I f we assume t h a t the same annual i n c r e a s e i n the p r o p o r t i o n r e c e i v e d by nonw h i t e s d u r i n g the p e r i o d 1956-1967 c o n t i n u e s d u r i n g the next decade, non- w h i t e s would r e c e i v e about 8.8 per cent o f aggregate money income i n 1980. If present o v e r a l l trends c o n t i n u e , aggregate money income might amount $843 b i l l i o n i n 1980, expressed i n 1968 p r i c e s . $769 b i l l i o n a c c r u i n g to the w h i t e p o p u l a t i o n and $74 b i l l i o n a c c r u i n g to The d i v i s i o n might be to nonwhites. Thus, d u r i n g the 1 9 7 0 f s , sizable g a i n s w i l l undoubtedly be r e g i s t e r e d i n the aggregate money income o f nonwhites as w e l l as whites. But the r e l a t i v e substantially greater. figures improvement f o r nonwhites would p r o b a b l y be T h i s can be seen most c l e a r l y when the income are expressed i n per c a p i t a terms. I n 1967 aggregate money income per head was $2,460; i t was $2,590 f o r w h i t e s and $1,510 f o r By 1980 the t o t a l may r i s e to $3,465 per c a p i t a . figures respectively. f o r w h i t e s aggregate money income might i n c r e a s e by 40 per c e n t ; but f o r nonwhites, 50 per nonwhites. The c o r r e s p o n d i n g f o r w h i t e s and nonwhites may be about $3,648 and $2,277, Consequently, for the g a i n i n per c a p i t a terms might be as much as cent. O c c u p a t i o n a l Changes and the Demand f o r Skills Behind t h i s o u t l o o k f o r employment and income are prospective changes i n the economy's demand f o r changes w i l l have s e r i o u s implications skills. f o r Negroes. significant These forthcoming For example, if nonwhite -18c o n t i n u e to g a i n i n the 1970 ? s at the pace r e c o r d e d d u r i n g the l a s t their occupational d i s t r i b u t i o n from what i t is of labor the t o t a l professional 1967. today. i n 1980 w i l l be s u b s t a n t i a l l y W h i l e nonwhites might c o n s t i t u t e force i n 1980, about 12 per share o f the m a n a g e r i a l , in official from 2.8 per cent i n 1967 to n e a r l y 4 per S i z a b l e g a i n s p r o b a b l y would a l s o have been r e c o r d e d i n s a l e s and c r a f t s m e n o c c u p a t i o n s . about the same p r o p o r t i o n o f cent the and t e c h n i c a l j o b s compared w i t h j u s t under 6 per cent and p r o p r i e t o r y o c c u p a t i o n s clerical, different they may h o l d over 10 per cent o f They may have a l s o r a i s e d t h e i r i n 1980. decade, cent the They might c o n t i n u e to provide farm workers and l a b o r e r s , w h i l e a n o t i c e a b l e d e c l i n e may have o c c u r r e d i n the p r o p o r t i o n o f s e r v i c e j o b s h e l d by them. These changes would a l s o have a s t r i k i n g t i o n o f o c c u p a t i o n s w i t h i n the nonwhite community. impact on the For i n s t a n c e , s i o n a l and t e c h n i c a l workers i n 1975 might c o n s t i t u t e of the nonwhite l a b o r probably w i l l would s t i l l the r e l a t i v e for i s unmistakable. per cent i n 1967. account Here a l s o the percentage can be expected to c l i m b A s u b s t a n t i a l l y higher p r o p o r t i o n of a l r e a d y i n d i c a t e d , most of the r e l a t i v e ratio f o r c e i n 1975 compared w i t h 2.6 p r o b a b l y a l s o would be employed i n the c l e r i c a l The i n the same y e a r , The m a n a g e r i a l group might the nonwhite l a b o r cent p r o p o r t i o n i n 1975 be below the 15 per c e n t expected f o r w h i t e s about 3 per c e n t of by 1980. While t h i s profes- about 12 per f o r c e compared w i t h 7.4 per cent i n 1967. have r i s e n f u r t h e r by 1980. shift distribu- the nonwhite l a b o r and s a l e s further force fields. s h i f t w i l l be away from the As -19blue-collar laborers and u n s k i l l e d o c c u p a t i o n s . is especially striking The expected d e c l i n e among nonfarm where the percentage of the nonwhite f o r c e so engaged may s h r i n k from 11 per cent i n 1967 to l e s s labor than 10 per cent by 1975 - - and to an even s m a l l e r p r o p o r t i o n by 1980. A s s o c i a t e d w i t h - - and p a r t l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r - - these improve- ments i n the o c c u p a t i o n a l d i s t r i b u t i o n o f the nonwhite p o p u l a t i o n i s expectation of substantial ment. If the t r e n d o f f u r t h e r progress in their educational the achieve- the i n c r e a s e i n the median years of s c h o o l i n g for b o t h w h i t e s and nonwhites r e c o r d e d d u r i n g the p e r i o d 1952 to 1967 c o n t i n u e s d u r i n g the decade of the 1970 f s, narrowed c o n s i d e r a b l y . On t h i s the gap between the two w i l l have been assumption, by 1980, nonwhite women on the average may have completed about 12.1 years o f s c h o o l i n g compared w i t h 12.6 years f o r w h i t e women. T h i s would mean t h a t the e d u c a t i o n a l differential would have shrunk from 0.9 years i n 1967 t o o n l y 0.5 years i n f a v o r o f w h i t e women. Among nonwhite men, the median years o f s c h o o l i n g may have r i s e n 11.4 -years by 1980, compared w i t h 12.8 years f o r w h i t e men, f u r t h e r narrow- i n g the gap to about 1.4 years compared w i t h a gap of 1.9 years i n 1967. Moreover, substantial improvement can a l s o be expected i n the q u a l i t y of e d u c a t i o n r e c e i v e d by Negroes over the next decade. C o l l e g e E d u c a t i o n and the Economic P r o g r e s s o f S a d l y , however, the B l a c k Community as I observed at the o u t s e t , j u s t at the when the o u t l o o k f o r g r e a t e r p a r t i c i p a t i o n by Negroes i n the economy i s improving c o n s i d e r a b l y , a number of d i g r e s s i o n s which may l e a d a s t r a y some o f our most p r o m i s i n g young p e o p l e . time national are to appearing -20We can encounter on an i n c r e a s i n g number o f c o l l e g e campuses a myopic v i e w w h i c h h o l d s t h a t b l a c k students r e a l l y do n o t need to concern themselves w i t h a good p a r t o f the c u r r i c u l u m o f f e r e d by a t y p i c a l undergraduate c o l l e g e . Instead, it i s b e i n g argued by many students f a c u l t y members t h a t courses and programs should be r e c a s t on s u b j e c t s ment o f such as urban problems, the blackman's c u l t u r a l his heritage to -- to b l a c k students to i s o l a t e contact with whites. only short-sighted; t h i s view i s the enhance- and the w i d e n i n g o f knowledge among members o f a predominantly w h i t e s o c i e t y . and r e i n f o r c i n g - - concentrate the e r a d i c a t i o n o f r a c i s m , image, Parallel a s p r e a d i n g tendency among many I n my p e r s o n a l judgment, these developments are n o t they are i n i m i c a l b o t h to Negro s t u d e n t s In expressing t h i s themselves large. criticism, I am not unaware o f the need f o r a thorough r e f o r m of much of the c u r r i c u l u m o f f e r e d by even our fair best Through s e r v i n g on s e v e r a l c o l l e g e g o v e r n i n g boards a d v i s o r y committees, I see a good d e a l o f campus l i f e . * p r o p o r t i o n o f my p r o f e s s i o n a l through l e c t u r e s and seminars - - life I still in college t e a c h i n g ; - - and - - participate **I have taught at Harvard, M i c h i g a n S t a t e , Pennsylvania. and I have spent a frequently i n the *My p r e s e n t s e r v i c e i n c l u d e s : Overseer, Harvard U n i v e r s i t y ( M a s s a c h u s e t t s ) ; T r u s t e e , Tuskegee I n s t i t u t e (Alabama); C a r l t o n C o l l e g e ( M i n n e s o t a ) ; and Howard U n i v e r s i t y (Washington, D . C . ) ; Member, A d v i s o r y Committee, Graduate School o f B u s i n e s s , A t l a n t a U n i v e r s i t y (Georgia). of of themselves i n t o s e p a r a t e e n c l a v e s and to minimize and to the Negro community at institutions. and and the University -21intellectual students, environment o f the campus. f a c u l t y members, and c o l l e g e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , i n most i n s t i t u t i o n s date. Through numerous d i s c u s s i o n s I am convinced numerous courses and programs are s e r i o u s l y But I am a l s o convinced t h a t i n most c o l l e g e s and u n i v e r s i t i e s o f m o d e r n i z a t i o n i s underway, and i t f a c u l t y members - - can be expected to as a whole. imply f o r b l a c k students and f o r In p a r t i c u l a r , fl proliferation "Afro-American s t u d i e s " and by the growing tendency o f numerous Negro students tional subjects i n undergraduate programs s c i e n c e s and h u m a n i t i e s ) . such courses f o r more (especially So f a r o n l y a few c o l l e g e s e s t a b l i s h e d degree programs i n these f i e l d s , institutions do accept them as a p p r o p r i a t e the the Negro community b l a c k s t u d i e s " or c o n c e n t r a t e i n such areas or to s u b s t i t u t e for accelerate. I am g r e a t l y d i s t u r b e d by the o f programs v a r i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d as -- the process What concerns me most are the consequences w h i c h some o f campus i n n o v a t i o n s that out-of- undoubtedly spurred to a c o n s i d e r a b l e degree by p e r s i s t e n t p r e s s u r e change on the p a r t o f students and j u n i o r with i n the to tradi- social a p p a r e n t l y have but a s i z a b l e number o f f o r minors or secondary concentration. I n my p e r s o n a l judgment, Negro students should be extremely cautious about d e v o t i n g t h e i r c o l l e g e c a r e e r s to a c o n c e n t r a t i o n on " b l a c k s t u d i e s " or " A f r o - A m e r i c a n s t u d i e s . " I can w e l l understand the bitterness and f r u s t r a t i o n they may f e e l about the l a c k of awareness of the major c o n t r i b u t i o n s w h i c h b l a c k people have made not o n l y to American but i n the w o r l d at l a r g e . I can a l s o a p p r e c i a t e their society eagerness to -22e q u i p themselves environment i n which most of Nevertheless, i n the improvement o f them w i l l to a c q u i r e technical t h a t they w i l l about the e x t e n t skills, and r i g o r o u s Rather b l a c k s t u d e n t s training in future -- along w i t h a l l t h a t t h e r e i s no r e a l a l t e r n a t i v e i n the t e c h n i c a l u n d e r p i n n i n g s And whatever may be t h e i r t o read and to w r i t e college. to which i n " b l a c k s t u d i e s " programs the mental so d e s p e r a t e l y need i n t h e i r a c c e p t the f a c t the urban l i v e once they l e a v e they s h o u l d have no i l l u s i o n s they are l i k e l y discipline5 to work e f f e c t i v e l y of the s u b j e c t careers. o t h e r s t u d e n t s - - must to thorough grounding they may choose as a major. f i e l d of concentration, and to speak e f f e c t i v e l y problem-solving they r e a l l y must - - and they j u s t have to a c h i e v e some degree o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g i n mathematics and the other c a l l e d hard s c i e n c e s . ance w i t h the s o c i a l economics, In a d d i t i o n , sciences college insist of they c e r t a i n l y w i l l need some a c q u a i n t - one encounters far too few f a c u l t y members on to f a c e b l a c k s t u d e n t s t h a t they take a m e a n i n g f u l and r e a l i s t i c v i e w o f the i n many i n s t i t u t i o n s responsive -- -- and requirements I n s t e a d , more and more o f the key f a c u l t y members and o f t e n they are among the most s e n s i t i v e seem to be a c c e p t i n g with only s l i g h t modifications) ( i n some cases c o m p l e t e l y and i n and others whatever "demands" f o r program and o t h e r changes b l a c k s t u d e n t s may propose. of science. campuses these days who are w i l l i n g a college education. so- - - e s p e c i a l l y w i t h the s u b j e c t matter s o c i o l o g y and p o l i t i c a l Unfortunately, learn R a r e l y does one see f a c u l t y members -23( i n whose hands a c o l l e g e c u r r i c u l u m must r e s t ) b l a c k students t h a t some of t h e i r as some of them c e r t a i n l y a r e ! proposals coming f o r t h to and views are s i m p l y nonsense One gets the d i s t i n c t the predominantly w h i t e c o l l e g e campus, tell impression that, f a c u l t y and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s are showing c o n s i d e r a b l e p a n i c i n t h e i r r e l a t i o n s w i t h b l a c k s t u d e n t s . In the t y p i c a l case, there are few - - c o l l e g e or p r o f e s s i o n a l if -- on any - - Negroes on the campus w i t h t r a i n i n g who can o f f e r a d v i c e and c o u n s e l , and thus p r o v i d e a somewhat more c o n s i d e r e d p e r s p e c t i v e on the environment o f the American Negro today and the o u t l o o k f o r Thus, many c o l l e g e faculties, the years ahead. perhaps u n c o n s c i o u s l y , i n g the u n t e s t e d views o f numerous b l a c k s t u d e n t s tempered by the b e n e f i t of an off-campus review) (only are accept- occasionally about the the character and c o n t e n t o f a c o l l e g e e d u c a t i o n t h a t has meaning f o r American Negroes. I n the p r o c e s s , they may be h e l p i n g to c r e a t e a s e r i e s of s h e l t e r e d work- shops i n which b l a c k s t u d e n t s l a n g u i s h d u r i n g a c o n s i d e r a b l e p a r t of c o l l e g e c a r e e r s and then leave the campus i l l - e q u i p p e d to perform i n a w o r l d which i s p l a c i n g an i n c r e a s i n g l y heavy premium on t e c h n i c a l and a v i g o r o u s intellect. faculties f a c i l i t i e s w h i c h may c r i p p l e young people - - r a t h e r to compete i n an economy o f expanding I n my o p i n i o n , if people who t r u l y need t h e i r skills Thus, on the mistaken assumption t h a t they are b e i n g r e l e v a n t and r e s p o n s i v e , many of our c o l l e g e ability their are creating than s t r e n g t h e n their opportunities. they r e a l l y want to be h e l p f u l a s s i s t a n c e and guidance, to many young colleges should devote -24themselves to a t t r a c t i n g more students urban and r u r a l - sion in their a step which w i l l scholarships once they are on campus, of the c o l l e g e clearly require After to enable them to overcome the handicaps benefits the o p p o r t u n i t y of a college parts Moreover, under no c i r c u m s t a n c e should the campus - - as u n f o r t u n a t e l y all, And counseling h i g h s c h o o l s and to master even the toughest curriculum. expan- assistance. they should be p r o v i d e d w i t h s p e c i a l c o l l e g e s p r o v i d e them w i t h c o l l e g e - s u p p o r t e d or o f f both a considerable and o t h e r forms o f f i n a n c i a l and o t h e r r e m e d i a l a s s i s t a n c e imposed by i n f e r i o r from low income areas - - segregated h o u s i n g e i t h e r some i n s t i t u t i o n s are c u r r e n t l y on doing. to broaden o n e ' s own h o r i z o n i s one of the chief experience. I have c o n c e n t r a t e d i n t h i s p a r t o f these remarks on the problems a r i s i n g on the p r e d o m i n a n t l y w h i t e campuses - - because t h e r e the i s s u e s most a c u t e . are But they a l s o e x i s t on predominantly b l a c k campuses as w e l l . We hear from t i m e - t o - t i m e about the resentment and r e j e c t i o n many b l a c k s t u d e n t s on such campuses have shown toward the few w h i t e s t u d e n t s who have e n r o l l e d i n r e c e n t y e a r s . I f i n d such p r a c t i c e s especially dismaying; one would have thought t h a t people who have s u f f e r e d themselves from the corrosive effects last to i n f l i c t o f r a c i a l d i s c r i m i n a t i o n and s e g r e g a t i o n would be the such p a i n on o t h e r s . C o n c l u d i n g Remarks I n my judgment, if the f o r e g o i n g a n a l y s i s s t r o n g l y suggests the r a t e o f improvement r e g i s t e r e d d u r i n g the l a s t decade that, continues, -25the Negro i n the 1970 f s w i l l i n the American economy. and h i s r e a l participant The o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n an expanding economy a l s o w i l l to have noticeably. On the o t h e r hand, Thus, position H i s employment s i t u a t i o n w i l l be much s t r o n g e r , income w i l l be c o n s i d e r a b l y h i g h e r . share as a f u l l widened strengthen s u b s t a n t i a l l y h i s r e l a t i v e a far greater e f f o r t these p o s s i b l e g a i n s are by no means assured. - - on the p a r t o f Negroes as w e l l as on the p a r t o f government and the p r i v a t e s e c t o r g e n e r a l l y - - w i l l be r e q u i r e d if the promises are to be f u l f i l l e d . Negro youth, competence, enhancement o f t h e i r and e s p e c i a l l y t h i s g r e a t e r e f f o r t must be c o n c e n t r a t e d on the ment o f t e c h n i c a l opportunity. For Negroes, ability improve- the a c q u i s i t i o n o f marketable s k i l l s to compete i n an economy o f for expanding and the
@FedFRASER