Arsnick: The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in Arkansas

36. Press Statement: Rev. Ben Grinage (1966)

36. Press Statement: Rev. Ben Grinage (1966) In 1966 the magnetic Stokely Carmichael was elected chairman of the national SNCC organization. At the time of his election, Carmichael was an experienced organizer who had helped register black voters in Lowndes County, Alabama. Local residents there even created their own political party, which used a black panther for a mascot. Increasingly, Carmichael and other likeminded activists began to focus their energies on empowering the black community, declaring, “Integration is irrelevant.” This new change in emphasis inspired some civil rights activists and supporters and bewildered others. In the following press release, Ben Grinage, director of the Arkansas Project, disassociates himself from Carmichael’s position and maintains a belief in the desirability of achieving integration. 29 May 1966 Press Statement: Rev. Ben Grinage, Ark. State Project Director, S.N.C.C. I am making this statement at this time because of my basic and primary committment to the people of Arkansas with whom I have been working for the past 3 ½ years since I joined the staff of S.N.C.C. I do not pretend to speak for all those who at present comprise the Snick Staff in Arkansas, but I do know that basically I speak for a majority of the Arkansas Staff and for many who are on the staff in other Southern Project areas. It is our position that the announced new emphasis of Snick will not ultimately be in the best interests of the deprived Negro in Arkansas. Firstly, Negroes comprise only 22.2% of the total population of this state 237 Source: Arkansas Council on Human Relations Papers, 1954–1968, Box 33, folder 335, University of Arkansas Special Collections and only in a very few counties are Negroes a majority. To attempt to organize a third party would not only be futile, but could not ever bring the poor, both Negro and white, into positions of power that could bring about the relief of oppression both politically and economically that our state suffers at this time. We are committed to the dignity of all mankind, Black and non-Black alike. We have symbolized this not only in philosophy but by the very composition of our staff. We are and have always been very conscious of the fact that Negroes in this country have been the brunt of hatred, bigotry and injustice in this country and our efforts have been to organize people so that instead of being the victims of tokenism, de-humanization and pawns of political and economic conivers, every individual of all races and religions will be judged on the basis of their God Given Human Rights. We do not feel that integration is irrelevant but is vital if this country is concerned with showing the rest of the world that peaceful co-existence is really what we are trying to achieve. We abhor war and violence and take exception to this country’s aggressive tactics as a means to realize peace. But we cannot make this statement and then suggest that civil war or violence, perpetuated by non-whites of this country will bring about a solution to the racial strife in this country. We support the movements of independence of those countries throughout the world that refuse to be controlled or dominated by outside powers. And the right to hold Free Elections is one that we demand for all people of this country and do morally defend this right for all nations. The struggle for Human Rights will continue in Arkansas regardless of internal opposition. Our work in Arkansas will expand and many varied types of programs will be initiated. People of both races are inviting our staff and our programs into their communities and are willing to give of themselves both time and resources. We will focus more on Urban Communities as well as Rural, in all of Eastern and Southern Arkansas. Politically, we will encourage and support both independent and party affiliated candidates, the pre-requisite being the individual candidate and his platform and committment to represent the disenfranchised population of his constituency. Economically, we will encourage programs that are designed to give relief to the here-to-fore neglected people of this state and will individually participate and or implement self-help programs for all people, whether they be Federal, State, Local Government or privately 238 PRESS STATEMENT: REV. BEN GRINAGE (1966) inspired. We will not decide for...