n.nflona.. as citizens who understand that e can neve(realize the full prom se of America until all backs
and other oppressed minorities are empo erad to shoulder their 0 n responsibility in a peer relation ith
others via 1) genuine self-awareness 2) keener insights into the realities of our society and 3) vastly improved
economic opportunities, 8 of our men
1. that, for a more rapid shi to ard psychclogical and economic freedom for our community, where er
comparab e values are available ith reasonable convenience all of our needs for goods and services will be
serviced from within "affected class' communities and/or from those enterprises that provide the most
benefits to those communities as a who e... .
2. that, to insure the best possible education for our youth and to insure the best police and fire pro ection,
e will insist that only those who, along with their families live ithin our communities be ab e to serve as
teachers policepersons Of 'fire fighters for our communities ...
,
3. that for redemptive and equity-building purposes, e will encourage group unity promote community
control ana ork In nonviolen but aggressive ways for survival and growth of our peop e on all fronts and in
our nation ... particularly with programs oriented for our youth like the "Assau -On-Uliteracy-Program' ...
4. tha on the basis of the simp e equity needed to achieve peaceful and harmonious relationships among
all in this nation, we will make e ery effort possible to encourage employers to emp oy more minorities and
engage more minority contractors on an equitab e basis ... as long as these minonty contractors have as a
primary goal the strengthening of "affected class' cornmurutles.;
5. that since community media are a major voice for community uplift, we ell support those ho support
our true leadership voices ... and ill actlvely discourage support for any media hat purport to represent us
but that are not 0 ned from ithin our community and accountab e to the blac community ...
. t at inasmuch as the only area remaining open to blacks for quickly and easily establishing economic
equity is their own community, if any company should engage in any ne venture that is ethnic related e
will encourage them to join with blacks and other 'affected class minorities in developing the project in a
manner that is mutually beneficial...
7. that, for the continued economic survival of blac s e will encourage blac business and pro
fessional people to support in every possibie way those institutions committed to wor for the prin
ciples of this pledge ...
8. that, to reduce the unconscionable 44% functional illiteracy" rate among our young adults that
may assign many black persons permanently to lives of welfare drugs crime, etc. we will join
others in sponsoring provenly-productive programs like that of the 'Assauit-On-liliteracy-Program
(A-O-I-P) no being supported by many black ne spaper publishers ...
9. that, for simple self-respect, and for the development of group strength e ill or to
strengthen our educational system develop our a n community organizations Ii e National
Business League local chapters, National Council for Policy Revie (NCPR) affli tes SCLC, local
Opportunities Industrialization Centers (OIC) People United to Save Humanity (PUSH), local NAACP
Chapters, local United Black Funds local fraternity and sororities, community building efforts etc ...
10. that because the black church (along with the blac -owned press) has been in the forefront of
the struggle for freedom and dignity for all men in this nation and because the community needs the
moral strength that it imparts, we will do all e can to support it financially and otherwis even if e
live in other communities and cannot regularly attend ... for. this is chief among the precious blac in
stitutions.
T .. ' LIt' Do
,0 . FM