Civil Rights Committee
The UAW has a long history with Civil Rights, with President Walter Reuther marching along side Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through the streets of Birmingham as well as Selma during the 1960s. While the Civil Rights Act was a beginning, the struggle continues today.
Local 2195 was represented at the conference by Civil Rights Committee members Linda Watkins, Don Jones and Leonard Skipworth. President Terry Scruggs and Editor John Davis were also in attendance.
Civil Rights cover all segments of society. Each of us have the same basic rights, regardless of race, creed, sex, religion or economic standing. Because we all have these rights, each of us can stand in danger of having our civil rights violated.
“Recent events facing our Country have brought us economic recession, higher unemployment, a loss of personal freedoms, and in infringement of civil rights,” states UAW Region 8 Director Gary Casteel. “Americans have few places to turn for help other than organized labor. While service to our membership remains one of our primary responsibilities, more emphasis must be placed on strengthening our Union and the labor movement. This can only be accomplished through education, collective action, political action and organizing. The role of the activist is as large today as it has ever been throughout our recent history. Our objective in this conference is to ignite your spirit to take your personal role as activist seriously, by presenting a conference in our rich history of civil rights, while providing the necessary skills and knowledge to perform your duties and widen your perspective on the importance of activism.”
Region 8 Assistant Director Donny Bevis opened the conference with a welcome to everyone to his hometown. Member Felton Lancaster offered the invocation and welcoming remarks. Our troops in the Middle East were recognized prior to the pledge of allegiance. Introduction of delegates came next with Larry Crocker of Local 1832 in Madison, Tennessee issuing thanks to the Region from his membership. Local 1832 members have been locked out of their jobs at Peterbilt since September 02, 2003.
“Civil rights, political action and organizing are tied at the hip,” stated Region 8 Director Gary Casteel. “I want you to leave here has an activist and carry the message back to your membership.”
The first speaker of the day was Stephen Foster Black, grandson of former Supreme Court Judge Hugh Black. Hugh Black was a tireless advocate of civil rights, standing firm on carry out the federal laws concerning civil rights. “Union out reach and civil rights activism are connected,” Black stated. “Civil rights are in great danger this century, with the shift to civil decay. People are not as involved with the busy lives we live. They are not belonging to PTA, attending union meetings, or church services. Studies show that people are working more and more hours, and having less time to devote to being involved. For years there has been a steady stream of people moving to the suburbs, to more homogenized communities. We spend more time with people such as ourselves, and learn less but people who are different from ourselves. We are moving away from faith-based organizations, and worrying less about justice. We need to stop and think about what we stand for, and be concerned about a justice that demands duty. We have to realize that everyone’s life has value and substance and we all should be willing to stand and protect each other.
My grandfather grew up in the late 1800’s, in time when the struggles of others were of no concern. He was a lawyer and decided to run for the senate. He traveled the state of Alabama and joined every group he could to gain support. One of those groups was the Klu Klux Klan. That guaranteed a block vote of 50,000 votes at the time. However, when he got to Washington, he began to read everything he could find in the Library of Congress. He requested more books to be delivered to his office than anyone before or after. He began to see that changed needed to be made. President Roosevelt appointed him to the Supreme Court, and many of those groups began to feel good they had “one of their own” on the high court. When he supported the Brown Education case in the 1950’s, he received 40,000 threatening letters in a two-week period. The threats were so severe that he would visit his home state for 15 years.
We should be angry about what is happening in this country. Tax holes allow these multinational corporations to move the home offices offshore to avoid paying federal taxes. It is estimated that we lose $40 billion a year in taxes due to this. This is a moral issue that we all should be aware of. It is up to each of us to take a stand. There is a story that a man was troubled by the events of the world. In his struggles he asked God, “Why don’t you send someone to help, to which God answered, “ I did – sent you.”
The next speaker was AFLCIO Southern Regional Director Ken Johnson. “I would like to commend Region 8 for holding this meeting in Birmingham,” Director Johnson stated. “Dr. King used to say the south is a great place, but it could be a greater place. We have made progress in organizing over the past few years, but union density is declining because we are losing members at a greater rate than we are winning new ones. We are finding more friends in city governments, because they are beginning to see the correlation between a union card and better pay and benefits.”
The morning session of the conference moved to the historic 16th Street Baptist Church. The church has a 130-year tradition, but was brought to national attention during the Civil Rights Movement, when a bomber destroyed the building, killing four little girls in the process. Region 8 Civil Rights Conference Delegates attending the Sunday morning services, including inspiring music and a stirring message from Pastor Rev. Arthur Price, Jr. Rev. Price delivered a message from Galatians concerning dealing with the trials in our lives.
The Civil Rights movement was born in the churches of America, as peaceful demonstration was advocated to changing the way people think. Following the example of Jesus Christ, many of the early civil rights leaders were pastors from churches across the south. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. turned down lucrative teaching offers to enter the ministry. The peaceful revolution began in church with the idea of forging a better world for those of all races.
The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama played a vital role in the civil rights movement. Organized in 1873 as the First Colored Baptist Church of Birmingham, the congregation worshipped in a small building on the corner of 12th Street and 4th Avenue. In 1880, the congregation moved to its present location. The present building was completed in 1911.
Due to the 16th Street’s prominence in the black community and central location, the church served as headquarters for the civil rights mass meetings and rallies in the early 1960’s. On Sunday, September 15, 1963 at 10:22AM, a bomb exploded inside the church, killing four little girls attending Sunday School, and injuring 20 others.
Outpourings of sympathy around the world resulted in $300,000 being contributed and the church reopened for services on Sunday, June 7, 1964. Pastor Arthur Price, Jr. gave a soul stirring lesson on the trials and tribulations of life. He stressed the importance of looking to God when life presents challenges, and being thoughtful to others who are experiencing problems. The UAW’s presence at the service was recognized, as all in attendance left up lifted by the service.
Following the service, delegates reconvened at the convention hotel for a workshop on the UAW and civil rights, conducted by Tom Muchler of the International Civil Rights Department.
On Monday, Birmingham Mayor Bernard Kincaid and State Representatives Charles Steel and Reverend Orange addressed the group. Wendy Fields-Jacobs of the National Organizing Department presented a workshop on organizing training.
The conference concluded on May 6, with speakers Professor Glen Feldman, Director of the Civil Rights Department Ron Hughes, and Assistant Director of the National CAP Department Catherine Browder. Director Gary Casteel will wrap up the conference, followed by a visit to the Civil Rights Institute of Birmingham.
Civil Rights are about everyone’s rights, regardless of race, creed, sex or other orientation. We should stand firm in our resolve to protect the rights of all people. That is what the union is all about.
Civil Rights
Committee
Members
Martha Joyce Alred
Neeley Gray
Don Jones
Billy Robinson
Leonard Skipworth
Linda Watkins
Roger Williams
Thomas C. Witt
Committee
Members
Martha Joyce Alred
Neeley Gray
Don Jones
Billy Robinson
Leonard Skipworth
Linda Watkins
Roger Williams
Thomas C. Witt
