Allen Black Reports and Correspondence 1967-1968 (Folder) (Redacted)

    MEMPHIS REGIONAL OFFICE FY 68 
Allen Black

'



F
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. 
10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019 • JUdson 6-8397 

DIVISION OF LE G A L  INFORMATION  
FIELD OFFICE

P. O. Box 334 Florence, Ala,
Telephone 205-764-7695

legal J^Kl^ f̂ense MMund

December 13, 1967

Dear Jean:

Enclosed find copies of my report to 

Iris, three communiques from EEOC and 

a thing about some foolishness in Russellville.

I turned the letter over to Demetrius Newton who 

settled it in about thirty minutes. I'll 

send a field report shortly.

Sincerely,

Allen Black, Jr.

Contributions are deductible for U. S. income tax purposes













STATE OF ALABAMA)
FRANKLIN COUNTY )

IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF
FRANKLIN COUNTY, ALABAMA

IN RE MARVIN HILL AND HAZEL HILL

ORDER

This day came H. Neil Taylor and filed his verified petition 

praying for an order upon Marvin Hill and Hazel Hill to show 

cuase why he should not be punished as for a contempt, a true 

and correct copy of said verified petition being hereto attached, 

and now upon consideration of the same, it is ORDERED, ADJURED 

AND DECREED BY THE COURT:

(1) That the said Marvin Hill and Hazel Hill do appear 

before the Court in their own proper persons at

Franklin County, Alabama at Russellville, Alabama, then and 

there to show cause, if any they have, why they should not be 

punished as for a contempt of court for and on account of the 

matter and things set out in the verified petition of the said 

H. Neil Taylor.

(2) That the Sheriff of Franklin County, Alabama do 

forthwith serve upon the said Marvin Hill and Hazel Hill a copy 

of this order and the attached petition, and make due return 

thereof.

(3) Done this ^  day of November, 1967

Jerry M. Vanderhoef
Special Judge



STATE OF ALABAMA)
FRANKLIN COUNTY )

IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF
FRANKLIN COUNTY, ALABAMA

IN RE: MARVIN HILL
AND
HAZEL HILL

PETITION TO HAVE MARVIN HILL AND HAZEL 

HILL CITED FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT

TO THE HONORABLE JERRY M. VANDERHOEF, SITTING AS SPECIAL JUDGE OF 

THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE CASE OF 

THE STATE OF ALABAMA VS. JOANN McKINNEY

Comes now your petitioner, H. Neil Taylor, and respectfully 

makes known to the court the following facts:

(1) That your petitioner, H. Neil Taylor, was the attorney 

for the defendant Joann McKinney in the Intermediate Court of 

Franklin County, Alabama on the date of November 7, 1967 when

the said case was tried in the courtroom in Russellville, Frank­

lin County, Alabama.

(2) Your petitioner avers that the witnesses for the 

State against the defendant Joann McKinney were Mae Gosa, an 

Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America AFL-CIO organizer, 

Jeanette Watson, a strike captain for the said union, Alice 

Malone, a striker for said organization, and Hazel Hill, a

Negro woman, a striker for the said organization. Your petitioner 

avers that the trail took up most of the afternoon and until 

after it was dark. Your petitioner avers that he made an



argument to the court which summarized some of the activities 

and riots of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America AFL-CIO 

in their strike against the Premore Apparel plant of Russellville, 

Alabama and wherein your petitioner pointed out to the court 

that certain public officials had failed and refused to do their 

duty and that some public officials professed to be against 

Negro riots but did not seem to be concerned with riots by the 

Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America in Russellville, Alabama.

(3) Your complaintant avers that Hazel Hill is generally 

reputed to be the wife of Marvin Hill. Your petitioner avers 

that Marvin Hill is a huge Negro man of a mau-mau type disposition 

with Martin Luther King type features and is very popular among 

the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America AFL-CIO at the Pre- 

more Apparel plant in Russellville, Alabama.

(4) Your petitioner avers that following the aquittal by 

the court of Joann McKinney that a considerable number of the 

Amalgamated Clothing Workers strikers, who had attended the trial 

of Joann McKinney, assembled on the front steps of the Franklin 

County Courthouse in the presence of Ed Blair, head organizer 

for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, and that your petitioner 

and his son, Neil Taylor, Jr., who is his law partner, left

the courthouse by the front door, Ed Blair, the head organizer 

for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, AFL-CIO, rushed 

back into the courthouse and your petitioner and his son continued 

out the front door when they were accosted by Marvin Hill and 

his wife Hazel Hill, who were apparently spokesmen for the 

Amalgamated Clothing Workers, commenced a tirade to your 

petitioner accusing him of being ignorant in that he pronounced



“Negro" as "Nigger" in petitioner's argument to the court.

Your petitioner avers that the manner and demeanor of the said 

Hazel Hill and Marvin Hill was calculated to intimidate your 

petitioner in the performance of his duty as the attorney for 

the defendant Joann McKinney and in the other action in which 

your petitioner may defend pertaining to the Amalgamated Clothing 

Workers of America, AFL-CIO.

THE PREMISES CONSIDERED, your petitioner prays that the 

said Marvin Hill and Hazel Hill be required to appear before 

this Honorable Court at a time and place to be fixed by the 

court, and show cause, if any they may have, why they should 

not be punished for contempt of court. And your petitioner 

will ever pray.



STATE OF ALABAMA
FRANKLIN COUNTY

Before me a Notary Public in and for said state and 

county personally appeared H. Neial Taylor, known to me, and 

who being duly sworn by me that the dispose and say that he 

has read the foregoing petition and has knowlwdge of the facts 

stated therein and that the same facts are true as stated.

Subscribed and sworn by me this______day of November, 1967

Notary Public at Large



M E M 0 R A N D 0 M

TO: Allen Black
FROM: Jean Fairfax
RE; PLANNING AHEAD

January 18, 1968

I am dazzled in anticipation by the sparks which will 
fly as the folks start marching into pulp and paper 
territoryI
We ’ve been operating on the same wave length. I have 
been thinking about having some national staff meetings 
of our Division in mid-February. This would tie-in well 
with your plans to visit OFCC and to attend the NBA 
Conference. What are the dates of the conference? Which 
two days would be convenient for New York - for the meeting 
and for individual appointments? What about February 20 
and 21? I'll have to check dates with the lawyers here 
who ought to be involved. Also, our new man in Los Angeles, 
Richard Alatorre, will be coming East around that time to 
confer with Feds, about Mexican-American programs. He 
will need more time in New York than you because he needs 
to get acquainted with the broad spectrum of LDF and 
NORI concerns. Let me hear from you re dates.
What are your ideas re selection and timing of corporate 
level contacts?

JF/11



M E M O R A N D U M

TO; Allen Black

FROM; Jean Fairfax

RS; PULP AND PAPER PROJECT

March 6 , 1969

John Lewis was at the meeting which I attended in 
New Orleans last Friday and Saturday. la spoke to 
him about the Pulp and Paper Project and told hi® 
how eager we are to have his help. He was interested 
but his response was so vague that I got the feeling 
that we probably should not count on hi® for much 
assistance this spring. If I ware you, I would try 
to pin him down to a timetable. If he says that he 
cannot promise much help soon, then I would make 
other plans.

It has occurred to me that you might want to give 
Bob Valder part of this assignment. He has probably 
told you by now that I have offered him the job and 
that he has accepted. The main question now is one 
of the timing of his departure from Alabama. We have 
lots to do to get the Charlotte operation off the 
ground but there may be some things which he could 
do while he is still in Alabama. In fact, if it is 
easier for him, we could phase him in with a part-time 
assignment until he can get someone to take over in 
Alabama. For example, there are pulp and paper plants 
in Georgia, Florida and perhaps in the Carolines, too.
You two might work out an extension of the project into 
the states which he will cover. Meanwhile, he might 
check out the woods end of things in Alabama. Since the 
formerly all-white land grant college plays a major role 
in subsidizing the developing of scientific forests, both 
for soil conservation and economic development, you could 
ask Bob to pull together a report following explorations in 
Auburn and maybe some visits to white farmers and cooperatives 
which are profiting fpom this service. This would move your 
project along and giv/e us some ideas of what to look for in 
other states.

The meeting in New Orleans was attended by Negro office­
holders. 1*11 have Vernon Jordan send you the list of 
participants. It v/ill be a good contact list for you in 
Louisiana. William Samuel, jr., Plaquemine, La., will be the 
new state director- for the VSP in Louisiana. He told me about 
some employment practic s at Dow which we should investigate. 
Plan to see him s.ometime. Tel; 687-3*+12? 687-668M-.



M E M O R A N D U M

F e b ru a ry  5 , 1968

TO* Allen Black
FROMi Jean Fairfax
REt Pulp and Paper Project

I gave a brief report on the Pulp and Paper Project at 
the winter meeting of the Southern Interagency Conference. 
There was great interest. T«hen we get together later 
this month, let's talk about how we can involve other 
agencies. Specifically here are scone suggestions!

Jack Price, a new American Jewish Committee 
guy in the Atlanta regional office asked why 
we are not including the Pensacola area. I 
told him wa are trying to develop a style of 
operation within a radius convenient to Memphis 
and that we might include Georgia and Florida 
later. He would be a good contact.
A1 Kehrer, AFL-CIO, Civil Rights Division man 
wants to be kept informed.
Jack Sisson, National Catholic Conference for 
Interracial Justice, New Orleans, knows the 
personnel director of the new St. Regis plant,
30 miles south of Jackson. Xs this prc^ably 
the Monticello plant? Jack will be glad to 
help with this contacti Bruce Boemer.

Also, X talked with President Viviatn Henderson. He's 
terribly excited about the project. Soma time when you 
are in Atlanta, talk with him about your whole employment 
program. He was particularly interested in the woods 
projects. He suggested that you contact the land grant 
colleges. The formerly all>wMte ones have played a 
major role in developing and exploiting tinGser resources. 
Most small Negro famers have not done this on a planned 
and scientific basis. Until they do so, he thinks it will 
be hard for them to compete.

JF/11



February 26, 1968

Mr. Robert Belton 
Legal Defense Fund 
Suite 2030 
10 Columbus Circle 
New York, New York 10019

Dear Bob:

Enclosed please find four charges against the Southern 
Fabtiicating Company oftSheffield, Alabama.

The company deals in steel tubing and hardware tubing, 
employs around 250 people, both men and women, and does have 
federal contracts. The plantsis located right in the middle 
of a Negro neighborhood, but has only been able to hire two 
Negro custodians. Prior to February of this year applications 
were freely available at the guard gate. Since we had decided 
to lay the groundwork for new complaints by having new applicants^ 
the company has refused to five out any more application forms. 
Efforts by local Negroes to meet with company officials have 
been unsuccessful as the company considers their employment 
practices the business only of the company. The troops are 
getting restless primarily because of the location of the plant 
in their neighborhood and the summary treatment given them 
by plant officials. The best community contact is Charlie 
Burgess, 

Very truly yours,

Allen Black, Jr. 
Regional Director

ABJ:m1



T,
fe fe n seF NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. 

10 Columbus Circle, New York, N. Y. 10019 • JUdson 6-8397

DIVISION OF LEGAL INFORMATION 
REGIONAL OFFICE

220 Danny Thomas Blvd. — Memphis, Tennessee 38105 
Telephone 901-525-1677

January 11, 1968

Miss Jean Fairfax 
Suite 2030 
lO Columbus Circle 
New York, New York 10019

Dear

Paul Brest and I have conferred about the Mississippi 
Welfare Project and about the coordination of regional 
acti vi ti es .

The Jackson office had recognized, after the September 
report from Laura Engle, that not enough effort was being spent 
in the area of community organization. At this point Laura 
was instJ"̂ ugjte.d,_to firm up her efforts in this direction. As 
Nancy -R̂ Birt'Wti was in the process of determining the present 
status of Laura's fourth quarter activity, we were not able 
to make an assessment at that time. We did feel, however, 
that where commitments to a community had been made our initial 
responsibility was to fulfill those commitments.

Work had been done in some 28 counties. This is too many 
for one person to expect to handle with any meaningful results. 
We, therefore, agreed that Mrs. Robertson's first task would 
be to determine exactly where we are and to work toward a 
phasing out of most of these communities. We also agreed that 
if there is to be a welfare program, it should be primarily 
concerned with the establishment of self sufficient community 
groups and that our effort should be concentrated over a small 
area, perhaps six counties.

I am presently awaiting a report from Mrs.-fhrtrerlrs'On 
detailing her activities to date and outlining her future 
work as she sees it.

Contributions are deductible for U. S. income tax purposes



After I've had a chance to study this report I think we 
can then make a judgement about the scope and direction of the 
welfare project, whether it be in Mississippi or extends to 
other states in the region.

Paul and I also talked about the coordination of our acti­
vities and he expressed a willingness to work with our projects 
throughout the region. My feelings about this are not ambigous 
in the least, as I think his assistance would be very helpful.
I have agreed to do whatever I can to effect this coordination.

Very

Allen Black, Jr. 
Regional Director

ABJ:ml

cc: Mr. Paul Brest



N.A.A.C.P. Legal Defense and Educational Fund, inc.
10 Columbus Circle, New York, N. Y. 1DD19

JU d s o n  6*8397
P. O. Box 334 Florence, Ala.

Telephone 205-764-7695

JAMES M. NABRIT, III 
Acting Associate Counsel

January 18, 1968

Robert Belton, Esq.
10 Columbus Circle 
Suite 2030
New York, New York 10019 

Dear Mr. Belton:

I have filed complaints in behalf of the following against 
Marathon Southern Paper company:

1. Mr. J. B. Crowell

2. Mr. Ben Curtis

3. Mr. B. J. Hodges

4. Mr. Dan Curtis

5. Mr. Frank Ruffin

6. ^r. Henry Mitchell

7. Mr. Jerri Tanks

8. Mr. Willie Jackson

9. Mr. Samuel Lipscomb

An additional complaint embodying all the discrimination 
I find will be filed through your office in the next few 
days.

Very truly yours,

Allen Black, Jr.
Regional Director

ABJ:ml
cc: Miss Jean^Fairfax „

Contributiom are aeducttble for U. S, Income Tax Purposes



N.A.A.C.P. Legal Defense and Educational Fund, inc.
ID Columbus Circle, New York, N. Y. 10019

J U d s o n  6-S397 P. O. Box 334 Florence, Ala.
Telephone 205-764-7695

JAMES M. NABRIT, III 
Acting Associate Counsel

January 16, 1968

Paul Brest, Esq.
538 1/2 North Parish Street 
Jackson, Mississippi 39202

Dear Paul:

I have Just learned from John Walker that a suit is 
now being filed against the International Paper Company in 
Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

This points up to me a need for greater coordination of 
our legal efforts. I would welcome your comments on how 
this could be accomplished.

Very truly yours.

Allen Black, Jr. 
Regional Director

ABJ:ml

cc; Miss Jean Fairfax

Contributions are deductible for U. S. Income Tax Purposes



AIR MAXL 
SPECIAL DELIVERY

Novend>er 22, 1967

Mr. Allen Black
1009 West Irvine Avenue
Florence, Alabama
Dear Allen:
I want to take this opportunity to tell you that 1 have 
been very pleased with the launching of our new regional 
office and with the leadership which you have given to 
our efforts to develop more effective strategies for attack­
ing patterns of discrimination. The larger scope of our 
progr^ and the added responsibilities have certainly placed 
more demands on you. I have felt that you have risen to 
them with vigor and imagination (even though you haven't 
had a vacation).
To watch someone grow always affords me great happiness.
When this person is a colleague whose increased effective­
ness enhances the total operation for which I am responsible, 
I can hardly avoid a sense of vested interest!
Our boss. Jack Greenberg, believes that the best way to 
express appreciation to a staff mesber is with a salary 
increase. Effective January 1, 1968, your annual salary 
will be $10,000. Also, as I have already told you, when 
you decide to move your family to Memphis, we will cover 
the cost of this relocation.
Best wishes.

Sincerely,

JP/11 Jean Fairfax, Director 
Division of Legal Information 
and Community Service



December 1, 1967

Mr. Allen Black, Jr. 
HAACP Legal Defense Fund 
Regional Office 
220 Danny Thomas Blvd. 
Memphis, Tennessee 38113
Dear Allent
Yau should have received by now a copy of ray report to 
Jack Qreenberg on the staff consultation which we had 
on the Mississippi Employment Program. 1 look forward 
to hearing from you ^out the next steps in the Southern 
Mississippi Project «md the launching of the Pulp and 
Paper Project.
As I have reflected on your southern Mississippi report,
X have triad to think e^out the strength and weakness 
of the project which we should have in mind as we get 
our Pulp and Paper Project underway. We have certainly 
learned a lot about the problem of progranradng and o-t>oô  
patterns of discrimination. 1 think we have done a 
good job in educating Negroes in southern Mississippi 
al>out jobs and iQ̂ out the right to equal employment 
opportunities. We have identified leadership, have 
established three good local committees and have given 
folks some tools. Our numerical success has been modest.
1 am puzzled about v^y we did not meet our goal of 5,000 
placements and why there were relatively few Negiroes 
who got non-traditional jobs in industry as a rei^ult 
of our efforts. \
We need to answer these questions as we organize jbrojects 
relating to the pulp and paper industry. Although 
we shall concern ourselves with employment in all phases 
of the industry's operations, frcrai work in the woo^s 
to white collar jobs, we will no dotdat be concentrat.ing 
on production jobs in the plant. Therefore, we neeoî  
to review our strategies to be sure that we have the \ 
most effective techniques for getting industrial job**
It may well be that people on the Coast were not prira\wily 
interested in industrial ei^loyment. Or, which is moAe 
likely, industries are vary shrewd and more resistant \ 
to the usual kind of community action approaches. ^



Mr. Allen Black, Jr.
December 7, 1967 
Page 2
I was interested in the fact that our discussion last 
week at the staff consultation revolved considerably 
around corporate level efforts. Maybe this means that 
we need to put more pressure on national headquarters 
offices in conibination with complaints, legal action 
and community action.
I am eager to have your analysis and conaaents and look 
forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

JP/11 Jean Fairfax, Director 
Division of Legal Information 
and Community Service



M .A .A .C .P . L ega l  D e fe n se  and E ducational F und, inc .

10 Columbus Circle, New Yurb, N. Y. 10019
DIVISION OF LEGAL INFORMATION ^

HON. FRANOS E. RIVERS JACK JAMES M. NABRIT, III

ast 1- 1Q67

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Contributions are deductible for U. S, Income Tax Purpo



M.A.A.C.P. Legal Defense and Educational Fund, inc.
10 Columbus Circle, New York, N. Y. 10019

JUTJ5<rN ‘6-839T '

August 1, 1967

•Jltlie 'Wraith* -’sq,
125’j Falls S Croat 
nroonvUlo* 'louth Carolina

"icar ilr. Smith i
Vvc ha%'o rocolved a co|^ of the Comlssloner's 'decision In 

the Title VI1 charge of Lvle Patten, ot al vs î ock -Illl rrintl^ 
aiid Flnishlm Fompanv ( Tock Hill, South Carolina). A copy of 
the Investigator* 8 ’leiyort has been requested from the Atlanta
Office,

I have been In tmtch -̂tlth Che charging parties In the rmtter 
and have by their request, forwarded retainer agreenwnts authori­
sing you to represeni: their Interests.

gob Helton in our ttew York office has chargw of the case and 
will for'anrd copies of the decision and the Investigator’s Report. 
You should contact him for additional infoiasatlon

Very truly yours.

Ag:tB
cc: Bob Belton

lilss Jean Fairfax

Allen ’lack, Jr. 
Regional Irector

Contributions are deductible for U. S, Income Tax Purposes



legal efenseFHHund
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. 
10 Columbus Circle. New York, N, Y. 10019 • JUdson 6-8397

P. O. Box 334 Florence, Ala.
Telephone 205-764-7695

Dear Jean,

We are temporarily out of the regular expense 
report forms, so I took this shortcut. More have 
been ordered.

Also enclosing a financial summary, which 
indicates that we are in good shape budget-wise.

Contributions are deductible for V. S. income tax puroos



N M C P  LEGAL D E M S E  M D  EDUCATIONAL POND 
DIVISION OP LEGAL INP0EMA.TI0N AND COMMUNITY SERVICES 

MEMPHIS REGIONAL OPPICE

PINANCIAL REPORT 
October 0̂ , 19^7

RECEIPTS
OPPICE

TRAVEL

Voucher no. 21422 $1 ,0 0 0 .0 0

Voucher no. 21743 545.62
Voucher no. 21873 4 1 8 .8 7

total $1,964.49

Voucher no. 21435 $125.50
Voucher no. 21744 215.45
Voucher no. 21874 4 1 .2 7

total $3 8 0 .0 2

TOTAL RECEIPTS $2,344.51

ACCOUNT

RENT
EQUIPMENT
SECRETARY
TRAVEL
OPPICE EXPENSES 
Mi sc.

EXPENSES 

YEAR TO DATE

$116.00 
706.62 
381.00

557.59
322.59 

16 .12

BUDGET

$1,200.00
1 , 000.00

4 , 000 .00

5 , 000.00
1,400.00
1 ,000.00

TOTAL $2099.92 13,600.00



M E M O R A N D U M

TO; MISS JEAN FAIRFAX November 10, 1967
FROM: ALLEN BLACK
RE; NOTES

I have read Mike Fiore's report, the AFSC report on the 
Family Aid Fund, a couple of reports by a masters degree candidate 
at North Carolina State— Bill Pace—  and a brand new book entitled 
THE ADVANCING SOUTH: MANPOWER PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS. All this 
will probably have an effect on the pulp and paper project. I 
thought I would put on paper my impressions of these things and 
then see how the pulp and paper project can be tied in to all of 
it.

The Piore Report; First of all I'll say it's one of the best 
things i have seen in a long time. I can agree whole-heartedly 
with him when he says that in the burned out area of the Delta, the 
indigenous Negro leadership desperately needs some tangible success 
to prove to themselves and to prove themselves to their constituen­
cies that further efforts are warranted. I can agree, too, that 
we need an expanded and fair welfare program and in a long a 
vast upgrading of education provided Negro youth.

The extent of out migration is somewhat surprising, but I 
think we ought to concern ourselves with keeping those people 
who want to remain in the Delta in the Delta rather than attempting 
to have them migrate either to Southern Mississippi, Alabama, 
Louisianna or having those in the north come back. Certainly if



northerners want to come back they should be allowed and, in fact, 
encouraged to. It seems to me, however, that our primary concern 
must be with those misplaced persons who are presently there in 
securing employment for them, in securing for them some sort of 
a decent existence. Maybe after that, there will be something for 
the folk up north to come home to.

In terms of the industrial and commercial expansion in the 
Negro commxinity, I do\xbt the establishment of supermarkets would 
be of very much help in alleviating either the hunger and starva­
tion in the Delta or in providing additional employment to any 
large extent. There might be some merit in an expansion of 
Negro construction, but the problem in the Delta is that Negroes 
are going to have a problem building homes if they cannot own any 
land. Further in the report Mike mentions that most of the land- 
holdings are on the Delta fringes. Actually most of the landholdings 
are, as far as Negroes are concerned, in Holmes County. The 
expansion of the home building industry certainly would not 
support very much of the displaced labor force throughout the 
Delta. This is not ot overlook the possibility of any job, but 
I'm thinking in terms of the overall situation.

I certainly think that there's a lot of merit in this home- 
building thing particularly, as I'll discuss later, with respect 
to TITLE III B of the Economic Opportunity Act which provides the 
vehicle for the self help housing project in the black belt of 
Alabama. At the same time, the Industrial Bank supported by 
Negro businessmen, and the development of industrial concerns by



Negroes would be a great thing. I am somewhat skeptical , however, 
of the ability of anyone to get Negro businessmen or EDA interested 
enough to pull the thing off. The model cities program, if I 
understand it correctly, is going to require the support of the 
white power structure and this leads me to have some doubt about 
its applicability as far as the Negro community is concerned. If 
I am wrong in this and if technical assistance can be secured 
from northern business leaders we could see some very good results 
from this. As relates the line foreman and line supervision(in 
terms of returning Mississippians from the automobile and steel 
industries of the northj I prefer to think that Negroes presently 
located in the Delta can learn this stuff.

(I have somewhat of a hangup about this returning of southern 
transplant. My contacts in the north have admittedly been limited, 
but I've met very few people originally from the south who want to 
return.)

However, in terms of crop diversification, the land quality 
itself is not a trememdous factor for hot house plants. While I 
was with TVA, we grew several crops, including cotton and tomatoes, 
in an artificial soil mixture of peat moss, sand, and fertilizer 
with very good results. A greater problem is the availability of 
land in quantity. I do think that this should be investigated 
further. While a SWAFCA type thing would probably not work, there 
are other cooperatives which could enter into the pulp~paper 
project that I am going to mention in a little while.



I was very interested in the recommendations for an employment 
project. Mike mentioned my only hangup about it and that is that 
the total number of manufacturing jobs is small and widely scattered. 
This means that an employment project itself might tend to raise 
false hopes. The problem with transportation, I don't think would 
be as.great as might ordinarily be suspected.

So lets take a quick look at the areas pointed out as 
probable project cities. (1) Washington County, Greenville: You
will recall Jake Areas, whom I consider to be a good community 
worker, spent several months in this area trying to put together 
an employment project. It might be that Jake's efforts might 
have been misdirected and his lack of success must be taken into 
consideration. At the same time, our experience in South Mississippi 
indicates that we might not need to involve the "community leaders" 
to any great extent if we can find people who are actually interested 
and anxious to work. (2) Warren County, Vicksburg; With the 
opening of a new International Paper Plant in Vicksburg, there 
is no dovibt that we would include it in a pulp and paper project.
I think its important to remember that once you start on an employ­
ment program other industries in the area are bound to be affected.
(3) Bolivar County: This is the type of area which would not
require a good deal of hard work. Tied with the Sunflower County 
movement, it should be the type of area in which a committee could 
be organized, supplied with information, and allowed to run pretty 
well on its own steam. (4) Desoto County: There is; as a matter
of fact, more organization in Tunica County than in Desoto County



and the only drawback to organizing an employment committee in this 
area, as far as I'm concerned, would be time. (5) The other 
counties mentioned LeFlore and Coahoma could be relatively difficult 
to organize. One problem is that, as Mike mentioned, this area 
has been organized repeatedly. A second problem is that the type 
of organization done before would make it difficult for a sophis­
ticated type of project to succeed. This is movement oriented 
turf and the people would be difficult to organize around a specific 
program rather than as a broad civil rights concern. Also I'm 
afraid that there would be some problem with "local leadership".
It could be done though with time.



Bill Pace's Report; William v. Pace is a TVA employee from Tunica, 
Mississippi who went to North Carolina State to get a master degree 
in economics. I think you met him at my house one time. At any 
rate, he ahs conducted a study of the employment experiences of 
college students and piablished his master thesis on Raciiil 
Differences In Job Search Patterns.

Bill found that the majority of all jobs in any field were 
obtained through the dessimination of information through 
friends and relatives. This was less true for white students than 
for Negro students, but in any case, the contention is borne out 
by our South Mississippi Project and by various other research 
documents.

He points out that informal search operates more effectively 
for white workers since their friends and relatives are already 
integrated within all jobs of their occupational structure. The 
contacts that job seeking Negroes must rely upon are, on the other 
hand, concentrated in the poor paying, less desirable occupations. 
Furthermore, in making direct applications to plants, Negroes tend 
to go to those firms where there are reasons to believe that 
there are Negro jobs. He provides the statistics to show concentrations 
of Negroes in traditional jobs and through interviews determine 
that they got there usually through referrals from other Negroes.
He is also able to show that tradition and custom exert a negative 
influence on the employment prospect of all Negroes.



I'm trying to get copies of both the little report and the 
master thesis for you.

AFSC Family Aid Fund; All of what I say here is going to 
be destroyed in Atlanta prior to our meeting in New York. This 
is, of course, all right since I don't have any hard and fast 
solutions to any problems— just small ideas.

First of all the report itself, acknowledges the need for more 
staff. There is a question in my mind as to whether or not some 
of the recipients of the Family Aid Fund could be put to work as 
field workers. This would eliminate the welfare type aspects 
of the grants and at the same time provide AFSC with a return on 
its investments. I fully recognize that not all the recipients 
are capable of community work and that at the same time, their 
involvement in taskforce type activities might hinder their 
search for more and permanent employment. When you consider, 
however, that fully half of these recipients are now deeply 
involved in movement work and are considered leaders in their 
community, it becomes obvious that for some of these people at 
least, they'd be doing what would ordinarily be expected of them 
anyway.

I don't see how one could logically argue for the complete 
discontinuance of emergency aid. Repraisals in the deep South 
are becoming more and more subtle— taking the form of loss of 
credit or employment as opposed to overt physical repraisals. In



cases where it is important to have a community leader remain in 
the community the emergency grant forms a valuable service. If 
some of these people could be utilized as instriments to provide 
an expanded community education program I feel that many of the 
families who are thinking of moving away, particularly the young 
people, who are going to have a greater knowledge of the options 
and opportunities open to them might remain. These same folk 
could provide a valuable source of information by being listening 
posts within the Negro community to uncover grievances which 
might be attacked through administrative channels or through 
law suits.

I'm not quite sure what can be done to improve the response 
of federal agencies to appeals from families, but I do think 
that concerned private agencies oui^ht to apply as much pressure 
as possible to these agencies and publicize their efforts, 
particularly when they are unsuccessful.

Perhaps after the Atlanta Conference we shall have come up 
with some meaningful suggestions which I can discuss with you in 
New York.

All the above findings, together with those of the Southern 
Rural Research Project, say to me that we need to involve in some 
way, 'i'he 'ilfhousands of destitute Negroes through out the Alabama, 
Mississippi, Louisianna and Arkansas areas.



The Pulp and Paper Project; Although Mike Bruland has not 
put into final form the results of his research into the pulp 
and paper industiry, we have had a series of conversations during 
which I was able to get a pretty good idea of the direction our 
project should take.

One of the earlier decisions that we will have to make will 
be whether to involve those companies which have close connections 
with the industry and those companies which though not primarily 
in the pulp and paper category are a part of the corporations that 
are involved in the manufacture of pulp and paper. For example, 
the Lindsey Wire Weaving Corp. has constructed a plant in Florence, 
Mississippi to manufacture a wire cloth for paper machines. The 
Hooker Chemical Corp. in Cdliraibus, Mississippi produces chemicals 
for the pulp and paper manufacturers. At the same time a big 
company like Georgia-Pacific is not only involved in the manu­
facture of pulp and paper but also in the manufacture of plywood, 
lumber and containers. Another example would be the Olin-Mathieson 
Chemical Corp. which manufacturednot only pulp, paper, plywood, 
and lumber, but chemicals and aluminum.

Without accurate first hand knoe^ledge of all the areas and 
the community atmosphere, we did make a tentative assessment about 
where projects might be considered. Arkansas will perhaps be held 
to three counties: Jefferson County, Quachita County, and Ashley
County.



Some decision will have to be made about our approach to 
Louisianna in light of the Crown-Zellerbach situation, but presently 
we are thinking of Webster Parish, Quachita Parish , Morehouse 
Parish, Jackson Parish, Allen Parish, Lafourche Parish, East Baton 
Rouge Parish and West Felicianna Parish.

The extent of our involvement in Alabama will depend to some 
extent on the amount of cooperation we can get from the Alabama 
Council. Right now, however, we are considering projects in 
the following Counties: Tuscalousa, Sumpter, Talledega, Marengo,
Dallas, Autauga, Clarke, Escambia, and very possibly Mobile.

In Mississippi we are right now talking about Jackson 
County (which will be a continuation of our Moss Point project). 
Adans County, Lawrence County, Warren County, and perhaps Washington 
County.

10

Since the project is going to have to of necessity take two 
directions, it is impossible to make a solid judgement on where 
these projects are to fee without some additional information.
One important piece of information which is not going to be 
included in Mike's report is the location of forestry holdings 
of the pulp and paper companies. This becomes increasingly important 
when you talk about directing our efforts toward securing employment 
both in the mill and the related industries and also in the forest.



The best paying jobs are in the mill. These are also jobs 
which require the most education and the greatest skills. What 
we have to consider here is that in both existing plants and new 
plants, automation is increasing the skill requirements for mill 
employees. When we talk, therefore, about in-plant employment 
we are talking about a relatively small nvimber of people unless 
we consider the related industries.

This is not altogether unreasonable. The Georgia-Pacific 
Corp. in Crossett, Arkansas, for example, may provide more jobs 
for Negroes in their plywood and converting plants which are 
located in conjunction with the pulp and paper mill. These related 
plants have lower skill requirements, so when we talk about 
"in^plant employment" we are talking about both the paper mill 
and the related contiguous plant.

11

A considerable amount of attention has been focused by 
the industry on recruiting and training programs. To obtain 
management and technical personnel the industry is trying to interest 
young people to major in pulp and paper technology at the university 
level. In the south this training has been given at the graduate 
level at the University of Alabama, University of Florida, and 
North Carolina State. Otherwise for management positions, degrees 
in chemistry, engineering, or business administration are required 
depending on the position applied for. For other employees an 
increasing amount of attention is being placed on cooperative 
programs between the mills and local colleges. The St. Regis Paper



Co. and Lincoln Jr. College have a cooperative agreement to train 
maintenance personnel for the new plant at Monticello.

Other companies have conducted their own schools and used their 
own textbooks. For the most part established plants depend 
primarily on on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs to 
take care of personnel turnover.

We 'are probably going to have to deal with unionism because 
the pulp and paper industry is pretty well unionized. The United 
Papermakers and Paperworkers AFL-CIO and the International 
Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulfite, and Paper Mill Workers AFL-ClO are 
the two predominant unions. Merger of these two unions has been 
approved by their executives boards and a joint meeting was 
supposed to have been held this past month. In the meantime, the 
joint unity committee is continuing its work on merger plans 
including the preparation of a constitution.

Testing is usually an integral part of the paper industry.
This means that we are going to have to devote some of our workshop 
time to equipping people to pass these tests. The most prevelant 
test used now appears to be one form or another of the Wonderlich.

12

Another phase of our activity would concern itself- with jobs 
outside the plant primarily in the forest. This, it seems to me, 
would bear a direct relationship to our concern with the Delta. 
The paper industry has expressed a good deal of interest about



the apparent labor shortage, in terms of forestry workers, and 
has given Auburn University a grant of about $25,000 to seek 
methods by which this shortage can be averted.

The usual procedure is that the paper company will purchase 
forestry lands then contract the cutting of timber and hauling 
it to the mills to another company or cooperative. A meeting is 
now scheduled for Nov. 21, by a group of white farmers in 
Merengo County to form such a cooperative and seek contracts with 
International Paper Co. The cooperative would cut the trees, trim 
them, and truck them to the paper company.

That Negroes might also organize themselves in this manner is 
an idea strong enough to have prompted discussions with James 
Mayes of the National Sharecropper's Fund at Jackson, Francis 
Walter of the Southern Inter-Religious Project in Tuscalousa, and 
Lewis Black, of the Rural Advancement Project in Alabama. All 
have expressed an interest in the idea and an eagerness to 
work with us in such a project. Francis Walter advanced the idea 
•utilizing TITLE III B of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.

13

This program provides federal assistance to establish , 
administer and operate programs to meet the special needs of 
migratory and seasonal farm workers. Beneficiaries of the program 
must have (1) earned at least fifty percent of their total 
income as agricultural workers; (2) been employed only on a sea­
sonal basis and by more than one employer during the previous 
year; (3) have family income below the poverty level. Walters



suggests that the three most positive aspects of the program are 
that private and non private agencies are eligible for one hundred 
per cent grants, the grants do not have to have the approval of 
the governor, and that the TITLE III B people are "for real".

This represents a departure from our previous mode of 
operation, but might be applicable and I think it merits discussion.

All this means that we have a number of resources from which 
to draw: (1) the Commerce Department's EDA, (2) the TVA, (3) EEOC,
(4) OFCC, (5) TITLE III B of OEO, and (6) presently constituted 
national civil rights organizations.

14

Some thought has also been given to the selection of community 
aides and as soon as time permits I would like to make a 
swing through the area and talk with contacts and find the type 
people who can do the type job we want done. Then I think it 
would be in order to have a one or two day workshop to acquaint 
these aides with the tools with which we hope to operate and the 
resources that we'll have to back us up. I hope we can discuss 
all of this when I visit New York next Wednesday.



M E M O R A N D U M

TO: MISS JEAN FAIRFAX
FROM; ALLEN BLACK 
RE: FIELD REPORT

October 31, 1967

v

w





e 

 



 

4









INFORMATION OFFICE 
New Sprankie Building 
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 
Phone 522-7181 (Area Code 615)

WASHINGTON OFFICE 
Woodward Buiding 
Washington, D. C. 20444 
Phone 343-4537

TENNESSEE
VALLEY

AUTHORITY

For Release
Wednesday, October 25, I967

TVA 4516 (8-66)

KNOXVILLE, TEOTo— TVA today announced the appointment of George White, 

3l+-year-old former Atlanta attorney, as TVA Deputy Equal Employment Opportunity 

Officer,

TVA General Manager Louis J, Van Mol said the new position is part of the 

continuing effort to strengthen TVA's equal employment program across the Ten­

nessee Valley, Mr. White will be located in Knoxville, but his duties will 

involve activities at all TVA work locations.

"This appointment represents another forward step toward the goal of 

properly trained and fully utilized Negro manpower, both within our own agency 

and throughout the Valley," Van Mol said. "Achieving this objective is an 

absolute necessity if the region is to fulfill its great economic promise."

In his new post, Mr, White will assist John E. Massey, TVA's Director 

of Personnel and Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, in helping TVA to take 

full advantage of special employment programs recently made available by the 

Economic Opportunity Act, the Vocational Education Act, and similar legislation.

He also will work closely with joint TVA, Negro community leadership com­

mittees, and other government and civic groups on local conditions affecting 

TVA's ability to attract and employ qualified Negro personnel. Other duties 

will involve assistance to schools and colleges in developing improved curricu- 

lums to prepare students for better paying, more productive jobs, both within 

TVA and elsewhere.
For the past four years, Mr. White has been employed as an attorney in the 

Atlanta offices of the U, S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 

Previously, he was in private law practice in Birmingham, Alabama.

Mr. White is a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta and Boston University 

School of Law. He is married and has three children,

(Mailed October 2k, I967)
-oOo-



October 24, 1967

Mr, M i e n  Black, Jr,
HAACP Legal Defense and Educational 

Fund, Inc.
220 Danny IJhoKas Blvd.
Memphis, Tennessee 38105

Dear Aliens
1 have forwarded the copies of the textile bro­

chure under separate cover. I would hope that your 
efforts in Alabama can avoid some of the unfortunate 
publicity distortions which we experienced in the 
Carolinaa and which have delayed substantially the 
benefits to both Negro workers and employers which 
can accrue from the affirmative action program in 
this industry. I would suggest that you consider 
carefully whether it would be worthwhile to attempt 
to win the confidence of a publisher and seek to 
obtain through his voluntary effort a report on the 
favorable aspects of the South Carolina project.
If such were possible, obviously it would get the 
Alabauna efforts launched under positive rather than 
negative auspices.

If 1 appear to be "pipe dreaming", charge it up to 
wishful thinking. In any event, you would be no 
worse off after having failed than you would if you 
didn't try. Good luck and keep me informed.

Sincerely/^ours,

c c : Jean Fairfax

George O.j 
Deputy Director 
Office of Technical Assistance



EA.A.C.P. Legal Defense and Educational Fund, inc.
10 Columbus Circle, New York, N. Y. 10019

JUDSON 6 -8397 P. O. Box 334 Florence, Ala.
Telephone 205-764-7695

JAMES M. NABRIT, III 
Acting Aisociate Counsel

October 10, 196?
M E M O R A N D T T H  

Contributions are deductible for V, S, Income Tax Purposes



L 1 1 afenseF NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. 
10 Columbus Circle, New York, N. Y. 10019 • JUdson 6-8397

DIVISION OF LEGAL INFORMATION 
REGIONAL OFFICE

220 Danny Thomas Blvd. — Memphis, Tennessee 38105 
Telephone 901-525-1677

October 3, 1967
M E M O R A N D U M

Contributions are deductible for U. S. income tax purposes





egal iiBfense F■ ■ l u n d
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. 
10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019 • JUdson 6-8397

DIVISION OF LEGAL INFORMATION 
REGIONAL OFFICE

220 Danny Thomas Blvd. — Memphis, Tennessee 38105 
Telephone 901-525-1677

October 3, 196?

M E M O R A N D U M

Contributions are deductible for V. S. income tax purposes







 

August 25, 1967



legal I , Fense i^^Hund

NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. 
10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019 • JUdson 6-8397 

DIVISIO N OF L E G A L  INFORM ATION  
FIELD OFFICE

P. O. B ox 334 Florence, Ala.
Telephone 205-764-7695

September 20, 1967

Dear Jean,
Enclosed should give you some idea 

as how things are going and represents 
system of reporting which will let us 
know where we stand in terms of budget 
at all times.

I've had some exciting times on the 
Gulf Coast and will' report on same 
momentarily.

Contributions are deductible for U. 5. income tax purooses



Itinerary

September l8
19

20 
21 

22 

23 

2^
25

26

27

28 

29 

■30

Senatobia, Miss. & Memphis 
Memphis Office 
Memphis Office
Biloxi__  So. Miss. Conf.
New Orleans EEOC
Florence
Florence
Memphis
Memphis
Memphis
Memphis
Birmingham ___  Thomas Jeffreson Hotel
Birmingham ___  " " " " "



BIWEEKLY EXPENSE REPORT PERIOD ENDING September 16, 1967



N .A .A .C .P . L egal D efense  and Edueatidnal F und, ine.

10 Eolumbus Eircle, New York, N. Y. 10019
DIVISION OF LEGAL INFORMATION 

FIEU3 OFFICE
JU dson 6-8397 P. O. Box 334 Florence, Ala.

Telephone 205-764-7695

Hareh ?,

• X. ''sear Adatis,
1 30 , fQart:?}
''Irrdrj: *>a: , Ala!>®?a

Oscffr,

vm .}. note .Hy the enclosed taenoraitHss that the
ess# Invel-y-laa Mrs, J^rgwerite Traceotlder tn the n o -  
Wfsnm city Pellej® Pepertsent has '>een resolved otJt of 
smart»

8t«d lsig  by,. whU,o I t  B€K# appears 
that togttl r n m l y l n a t l m u  m m  net tm - ?  io.:lleat®d t.® do t n -  
Coisd Co watch the sltastloB very closely aH«! «d.ll keoo
yoti .actvlssd,

Very sincerely.

Allen ’’lack, Jr.
iaic!o-*?nre
€C Jack- ' ’leoenljery. 

Jean ^otrfaj?

AB/r

ContribiUions are deductible for U, S. Income Tax Purposes



3//<*

MEMORANDUM )ATE: March 7, 1957



h s m o r a n d u m DATE: April 30, 1967



3//.

MEIIORANDUM RATE: March 7, 1967



MEMORAKDUM FATE: April 30, 1967



MEMORANDUM
TO: Jean Fairfax
PAGE 2

DATE: April 30, 1967



KSMORADJDUM
TO: Miss Jean Fairfax

■)ATE: April 30, 1967



L  egal iifefenseF■ ■ ■ u n d
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. 
10 Columbus Circle, New York, N. Y. 10019 • JUdson 6-8397

DIVISION OF LEGAL INFORMATION 
FIELD OFFICE

I i P. O. Box 334 Florence, Ala.4 Telephone 205-764-7695

August 21, 1967

Miss Jean Fairfax
10 Columbus Circle
New York, New York 10019

Dear Jean;
Memphis abounds with downtown office space. I looked at 

space in the Goodwin Institute Building, The Three Sisters 
Buliding, The Commerce Title Building ( housing Sugarman,Lucas 
et al ), The Exchange Building, The Falls Building and just 
for the heck of it t̂he 100 North Main Building. The latter is 
somewhat of a prestige location with leases running $11.30 a 
square foot minimum. All these locations are within a four block 
radius of the Federal Building. With the exception of the 100 
North Main Building monthly rental fees range from $150.00 to 
$185.00.

Outside the downtown area, office spaces are somewhat more 
economical with costs ranging from $95.00 up. All these prices 
represent approximately 400 Square"feet of space and include 
janitorial services.

John Spence informed me that it would be hard to acquire the 
services of a girl Friday for less than $300.00 a month. All in 
all, I estimate cost of maintaining an office in Memphis at 
around $8,000 a year and am enclosing a proposed budget based on 
this figure.

I've also given some thought to New programming. I'd like 
to see an employment project in Alabama. I've noticed that the 
textile industry operates 90 or more plants located primarily 
in the eastern part of the state and provides employment for more 
than 70,000 people. I intend to do some more research on this 
before making a definite proposal. As a matter of fact, I'd like

Contributions are deductible for V. S. income tax purposes



to spend the next couple o f months wrapping up projects we've already- 
in itia ted  , conducting investigations on special schools in Louisiana 
and Oklahoma and coining up with a few ideas for future a c tiv ity ,

I 'd  appreciate your thoughts on this s tu ff. I ' l l  be in touch.

Very, tru ly yours,

AB:m
enclosure

Allen Black, Jr.

p 5



Proposed Operating Budget for Memphis Regional Office

Office rent___________________
Office supplies and Equiptnent_ 
Telephone
Postage (including P,0.
Secretarial help ______
Miscellaneous _________

Total ____________

Box )

_$1800.00 
_$1500.00 
J  480.00 
_$ 250.00 
_$4000.00 
_$ 170.00 
'pSOUVO'O'

The above is based upon the operation of a one-man office and 
excludes travel expenses, which 1 would estimate to be around 
$2,500. It also assumes that some of the furniture and equipment 
in the Florence office will be utilized.