“Supportive Buying” To Back Up Civil Rights

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30541, 9 September 1964, Page 2

“Supportive Buying” To Back Up Civil Rights

In a constructive effort to promote civil rights, the National Council of Women of the United States is working on a “supportive buying” scheme. Members soon find out which stores and manufacturers in their communities are carrying out the new law and to them goes the women’s patronage.

This, they feel, is a more positive attitude and will bring more lasting results than boycotting firms which do not uphold the Negroes’ rights, says Mrs Dudley Selden, of New York City, an executive member of the American N.C.W. and a graduate of Bryn Mawr College.

Mrs Selden, who is co-J / chairman with a Negro woman of the human rights! committee of the American| N.C.W., was in Christchurch! yesterday on her way to I Brisbane to attend the Aus-! tralian N.C.W.’s regionall

seminar accompanied by Dr. E. R. Lucke, a prominent American social welfare worker. Both attended the recent conference in Tonga of the Pan Pacific and Southeast Asian Women’s Association. “We Believe” American N.C.W. delegates use postal stickers on all their correspondence carrying the words: “We Believe in Equal Opportunity” and sent postcards carrying the same message with their congratulations to television producers after a good programme promoting equal opportunity has appeared. The postcards are also sent to business firms which are implementing President Johnston’s contentious legislation. The national council women have also been concentrating on the slogan: “What to say, when,” for the times they are confronted with a bigot, she said. These projects grew out of four N.C.W. workshops on civil rights held last year and attended by Negro and white heads of women’s organisations. “At the end of the last meeting we had all completely forgotten about colour,” Zella Selden said. Constructive Effort In the most important home issue of America today, Mrs Selden believes that women can get more done to

keep equal opportunity moving forward by working constructively and quietly in a body. “We don’t picket or take part in violence to show we believe so strongly in equal rights,” she added. In a highly complicated situation, white Americans’ civil rights should not be forgotten, she said. Rights do not mean special privileges for the Negroes. “In my opinion equal opportunity is for all and Negroes must develop their ability. Educated Negroes agree that their people must do a great deal more to help themselves qualify for top jobs,” she said. “Role Call”

Civil rights is only one aspect of the American council’s vast programme of work. One of its most far-reaching tasks has been the compiling of a roster of women who are experts in their own particular fields. This survey was made with the help of a grant from a big foundation and it covered the entire nation. “We have named it ‘The Role Call’ and women do not know whether their names are on it or not. It is kept up-to-date and it is highly secret,” she said. “If a woman is wanted for an important job the list can be searched.” Women In Administration President Johnston has used it before appointing women to the administration. “The President is putting more and more women into important jobs and I feel sure he will continue this policy if he is re-elected,” Mrs Selden said.