There When We Needed Him: Wiley Austin Branton, Civil Rights Warrior

10. Last Gasp at Direct Action

C H A P T E R 1 0 Last Gasp at Direct Action The United Planning Organization and the Alliance for Labor Action IN MOVING TO the United Planning Organization (UPO), Branton was entering a different world, one that provided him with a kind of challenge he had not faced before.All his life,he had taken advantage of the opportunities presented to him, following his goal of changing circumstances for black citizens. Branton believed that the country’s poor, if education and job training programs were made available to them,would respond in large numbers.They would use those programs to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.During the next sixteen months, he would learn that the mere availability of tools for advancement in society was not enough for many in need. The United Planning Organization had had a long and troubled history .When Branton joined it, UPO had been without a leader for six months and was involved in internal dissention concerning its efforts to provide services to the community in a manner that involved members of the community.Branton recalled that“morale was at a very low ebb.”1 Branton initially had not been interested in leading the organization but, as he became more aware of its mission,he was intrigued.When he met with the search committee, he charmed and impressed people on both ends of the political spectrum.2 Despite his belief that the job would involve a“thankless”role,he decided to accept the challenge.3 Branton’s appointment was announced on October , and he began work on October , .4  3KILPATRICK_pages_109-224.qxd 6/27/07 10:19 AM Page 121 Branton could not say he had not been warned about the difficulties he would face. In May , well before his interview and appointment to the post, Branton received a copy of an article by William Raspberry,a columnist with the Washington Post, analyzing the situation at UPO and speculating about the demands that would be placed on its next director. Raspberry predicted that “the only man likely to [take over] would be one with enough brilliance to succeed in spite of nearly insurmountable problems,one who is willing to risk marring his record with failure to accomplish whatever good he can or one who in his optimistic naiveté believes that the war on poverty was meant to be won.”5 A personal note says,“Glad to be of service,Genius!”and is signed“Bill.” Conditions within the country had changed since the successful efforts of theVEP.The alienation of young blacks across the country had led to the rise of the“Black Power”movement and to riots in major cities. The National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, known as the Kerner Commission, reported in March  that, despite burgeoning poverty programs,the country was“two societies,separate and unequal.”6 No one seemed to have an answer for the times, neither the President of the United States nor the traditional civil rights leaders.7 President Johnson announced that he would not run for a second term on March ,.Richard M.Nixon,who would be elected president in November, did not have the same commitment to ameliorating poverty and the problems it created. Despite these disheartening conditions, the election of  also demonstrated the effect of the decades-long voting rights efforts made by Branton and others.The number of elected black officials in the South increased from fewer than  to .By ,the number had increased to .8 Although the right to vote did not magically change circumstances for many blacks, Branton would always feel proud of his role in establishing that right. The United Planning Organization began as a private venture of the Ford and Meyer Foundations to coordinate and assist in meeting human services needs in the District of Columbia.9 When Congress passed the Equal Opportunity Act of , the Act provided funds for Community Action Programs that would involve community members in developing self-help programs tailored to the particular needs of that community.10 The goal was to create opportunities and “produce social  LAST GASP AT DIRECT ACTION 3KILPATRICK_pages_109-224.qxd 6/27/07 10:19 AM Page 122 change through participatory democracy.”11 The United Planning Organization was selected as the Community Action Program for the District of Columbia.12 By the time Branton came into the UPO,three years after the Equal Opportunity Act was...