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Home My WebLink AboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 12/09/1968i d FORT CO3LL1NS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING December 9, 196E A _ vvnission meeting of the Fort Collins Commission on Kman Rela-- k .or.,s w._ ; he'd at the City Council. Chamber, 300 le Porte Avenoc, for:, Collins. e:l.ora:o on Monday, December 91 1960, at: Seven thirty, o'clock Q, the ever_, e . - Present - Mr. Eugene Smith Mr. Ralph Braden Chief Ralph Smith Mr. Thomas Wilson Dr. Albert Belson Mrs. Walter Atherly Dr. Parker Preble Also - Mr. Arthur March Jr., Legal Adviscr Mr. James Beatty - Attorney Mrs. Trunk - Spectator - Absent - Father Edward Ostertag Mrs. .iohn Matsushima Mrs. David Landers Mrs. Jecse Godinez Mrs. Mary Ar_derscn Mr. henry Chavez Dr. S. R. SchLeider Dr. 00 Carson .Q Kilson c '.l.ad the meeting to order and asked Arthur Norcn .,r. r .- ,'.;, n Me snsaer :due=tici'm an the proposed ordinance ^sneer _.ng Chap._.;it Q t A Code of Ordinances of the City of Fbr't. Collins, Colorado, i r_- �z. to rfi:= &ennWed "Offenses Generally." AmendKg Eecticn 1J-33.1 s 1..J o:k too! t:0 ':Q,eja`lno i.i'.1`r.l^�.!.^', or prowling, F.).7.3.US`E: '{. f7 .LF'C:�i ... h _Ox I <mmP s,, ImLar'1`.... a3sa:-ad lY, disc K,'E.t ty Tc,ndv and n LA11 ;XPeetu and places. He explained tort due to one obi,,v .r .10 ,`Wanon, the My Council. a ) d ASCJSU fox' better sus estiv is. {2 '.mob _ieat'ty veport'ad an CAP activities 5:Or 195S eXP".EMILP E=e R... '_?eras .and difiictaties eac , at:n;e,x•ed, frer�;.;art tux�no s in per. or l l rlb, wed To these problems, % reported that legal ,advice bOr g o 1,Ynd two Mernoor'.s each weak at the Neighborhood Center in .;syl int . to anyone who needed it. Further ,er,a.l. <:' s7.s'ttsrc.: s;ou.id. asni 1 if necessary at the discreti_n of the Ear Ccaminzee, Most lawlars 1L Fort Collina have volu, `Cured their services. ii . aid i4 M"RIV ad `- civil cases. human Rei.ations Commission 2 December 9, 1968 Ms, Eugene Smith reported that many churches had supported the HOME Proprar,, but it would be a few weeks before a complete report of the nur;ber- ai families participating; would be available. Dr. Albert Nelson reported that the Grievance and Investigation Com- rndttee :n !; December 3, 1960, and discussed plans and goals for the cominu year. lie. reported there had been no action on the proposed rental code. Dr. Parker Preble, chairman of the Research Committee presented an article ,n the -mental health of children to be entered in the minutes: "Due. to is overriding and timely importance, a statement con- cer:.%ng the deleterious mental health effects of racism in this ccun:ry was released on April 23, 1968, by the Committee on Min- ority GrDup Children of the Joint Commission on Mental Health of C:i.ld-en. The Joint Commission has the Congressional mandate to _aevelop a report on the status of the mental health of child - re.:+ in TAis country, together with recommendations of steps that mu..6 be taken to preserve and promote the mental health of our ch i.dre;; aead to overcome the mental illness problems that exist and occur in our childhood population. The Commission will sub- n't a comprehensive report to the Congress, to the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and to the Gov- er;:ors of the fifty states next summer. The attention of the memk•ership of the Colorado Psychiatric Society is drawn ',o the sratemoat ;,hich appears below in its entirety. STP'.'L1,1L'N'i OF THE COMMITTEE ON MINORITY GROUP CHILDREN JOINT COMMISSION ON MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN Ra.,is,m is the number one public health problem facing America tod;.v. The conscious and unconscious attitudes of superiority wh:icla permit and demand that a majority oppress a minority are a clear and preset danger to the mental health of all child - re;' a-' their par,ats. Traditionally, the criteria for defining pul:l,c health problems are: (1) a problem that threatens a lai,;7f.. nu-'at:�.=r of pe:caie; (2) a problem that costs a large sum of a�'rac Y; (3) a pr*blem that is impossible_ to treat on ar. ind- iv.it.r;J. and privaY:_- basis; and (4) a problem that oould cause chzccr.ic sastaii:ed usability. Th=.s coam.ittee believes that the racist attitude of Americans w; causes and perpetuates tension, is patently a p.;cst ecmp- a:.: r,ea.ith hazard. Its destructive effects severely cripple the rrc�wtl; and development of millions of our citizens, ;young ant old a.Like. Yearly, it directly and indirectly causes more fatalities, disabilities and economic loss than; any other single fac %o:r. i Human Relations Commission 3 December 9, 1968 Over the last two decades, there has been a proliferation of scientific papers in the behavioral sciences attesting to damage to children, black and white, that can be directly traced to their endemic condition. Historically, minority groups of color have experienced the lash of racism. This is true whether we study the degradation of Indians, the subjugation of Mexican - Americans, the exploitation of the Puerto Ricans, the brutal relocation of the Japanese, the callous treatment of Orientals, or the unresolved black question. We must accept that the United States is not a white nation. The idealized image of the melting pot has, fortunately, never been realized. Our strength as a society rests in cultural pluxalism. Biological evolution demonstrates the survival value inherent in a range of physical types within the species. So does a nation profit when the unique cultural skills, styles, and genius of diverse peoples are valued as societal assets. The country is now experiencing an acute crisis. The legitimate demands of the alienated and emerging groups of this country, if unmet, constitute a threat to our continued existence as a nation, as well as our potential roll in the international sphere. Social scientists now have the predictive ability to forecast the Mexican -Americans in the Southwest, the impoverished Appal- achian residents, the newly Z�ssertiva Indians, the isolated urban dwellers all have the same capacity for a violent resolu- tion of our social crisis. There are indications that the history of black people i.:-i the United States will be paralleled by other minority groups in America in the near futu--a. Hope was generated by the 1�54 and 1955 Supreme Court decisions. During the late 1950's and early 1960's hope sustained while the blacks petitioned for economic viability through non°riolent means. However, the failure to correct social and economic in- eqtities and injustices following the 1964 Civil Rights .'act and other socio-economic programs resulted in the mobilization of frustration and anger to the point of rebellion. Curren ly, the bl?.ck population, filled with despair and ever aware of -;:he failure of the actualizatiozi of bright promises, has becnme mindful of its need to unite in order to defend itself a;ainst tile: institution of. repressive measures by the majority pupula- tiv=e. In a shorter order, the Mexican -American., the Pue_=to Rican, and the American Indian, without social intervention, may travel the same historical path. The response to date,by the mainstream culture has not b=,an amelioration of grievances but punitive action. There h:=ve been few basic social or economic changes directed towar:3. alterin-a the value system of this society. There has be4�n Human Relations 4 December 9, 1968 tragically little self-examination. The pothology of denial and lack of awareness has reached massive proportions. This indifference has robbed all Americans of the psychic energy so necessary for healthy functioning. One of the realities of present-day America is that increasingly large segments of the minority populations will be obliged to live in segregated communities, at least over the next couple decades, In general, without massive intervention, this means that minority children between now and the end of the century will be growing up in mentally unhealhy atomosphers rampant with substandard housing, inferior education, and poor health care. The country must outgrow its legacy of racism. There must be massive outpouring of resources, both financial and human, if the problems are to be resolved. A minority child in the ghetto must grow up seeing, himself and his life as having positive value. The white child must be equipped to live as a member of a multi -racial :.orl . This will allow them both to grow up less handicapped by the effects of guilt, fear, anger and anxiety. The mutual distrust 'so prevalent in this country is leading to the polarization of Americans. The growth and viability of our society are dependeat on everyone achieving a full measure of growth and development. This is true no less of the majority white than the m1r:c1ty group member. While the financial cost of eradicating racism in all walks of national life will obviously be immense, the result of making it possible for millions of wasted human beings ,to contribute to our national production and creativity,' the ;development of millions of new consumers for our national Product', the improvement of our commercial ralat- ions with problems of other nations, the cut in;the•present en- orerous costs of inadequate welfare programs would. -seem to make it a relatively sound investment. The society can truly find new strength, and i4tegrity by an acceptance of all diversity." Due to lack of appointments of new members for the year ending Nov- ember 22, the commission is not up to full strength for the present meet- ing. Because of this fact no issues could be voted upon so this meeting was adjourned. The next meeting of ;the commission will be held Monday evening, da>�uary 13, 1969.•at 7:80p.m., at the City Council Chamber. Respectfully submitted. /s/ Mrs,.. Walter Atherly Acting Secs�atary i -