Why The School Boycott
Files
Title
Why The School Boycott
Description
This flier calls for a boycott of New York City's public schools to force desegregation.
Subject
Boycotts - New York (City)
Segregation in education
Creator
Linzer, Elliot
Source
ElliotLinzerCollection.Box1.Folder6
Publisher
Queens College Department of Special Collections and Archives (New York, N.Y.)
Date
1964-02-03
Date Created
2010-04-12
Rights
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Is Part Of
Format
Image
JPEG
Extent
747,881 bytes
Language
English
Type
Text
Spatial Coverage
Queens (New York, N.Y.)
40.700386, -73.76476
Text
SCHOOL BOYCOTT.
Many parents have wondered why the civil rights groups have called for a school boycott FEBRUARY 3rd. This is a proper attitude and one which deserves both recognition and commendation, for no parent who really has the interest of his child at heart would keep that child out of school without sound reasons.
We have not approached our present position lightly. The fact that most of our members are parents, indeed, working parents, has weighed heavily in our deliberations. And yet, after careful study, we have indorsed the boycott and urge your full support.
Our goal is two-fold; OUR CHILDREN MUST BE GIVEN QUALITY EDU-
CATION IN A DE-SEGREGATED SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WE MUST KNOW
WHEN THEY ARE TO BEGIN RECEIVING IT. We cannot accept any more
vague promises of some sort of action sometime in the future.
We are not asking the impossible as some have claimed. We believe that every child, whether he lives in South Jamaica or Kew Gardens, is entitled to the same opportunity to develop his natural abilities.
We are not demanding indiscriminate busing. To achieve what we want there need be little more busing of children than presently exists. We do, however, feel that in a public school system, where busing is required, both Negro and white children should share the experience.
We are not calling for the destruction of the so-called neighborhood school - except where the boundaries of such a school contribute to a pattern of racial segregation.
But, why a boycott? Isn't there any other way to force the necessary changes?
Again, our reasons are two-fold. A full-scale boycott will show, as will nothing else, how much Negro parents are willing to sacrifice for their children. The moral impact will be such that no person in authority will ever again fail to consider the determination behind our fight for equality of educational opportunities.
Our second reason is more tangible. We have found that one of the quickest ways to destroy inequality and segregation is to hit it in the pocketbook. Financial aid to the school system is based upon pupil attendance.
No pupils - no money. It's as simple as that.
We honestly don't want a boycott, but if the Board of Education's plan
falls short - THE DATE IS FEBRUARY 3rd
JAMAICA BRANCH
168-18 Liberty Avenue
Jamaica 33, New York
JAmaica 6-9070
NAACP QUEENS CORE
189-22 Keeseville Avenue
St. Albans 12, New York
HO|lis 5-9088
Printed in U.S.A. Keg Enterprises, Jamaica, N.Y. OL9-0623
Many parents have wondered why the civil rights groups have called for a school boycott FEBRUARY 3rd. This is a proper attitude and one which deserves both recognition and commendation, for no parent who really has the interest of his child at heart would keep that child out of school without sound reasons.
We have not approached our present position lightly. The fact that most of our members are parents, indeed, working parents, has weighed heavily in our deliberations. And yet, after careful study, we have indorsed the boycott and urge your full support.
Our goal is two-fold; OUR CHILDREN MUST BE GIVEN QUALITY EDU-
CATION IN A DE-SEGREGATED SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WE MUST KNOW
WHEN THEY ARE TO BEGIN RECEIVING IT. We cannot accept any more
vague promises of some sort of action sometime in the future.
We are not asking the impossible as some have claimed. We believe that every child, whether he lives in South Jamaica or Kew Gardens, is entitled to the same opportunity to develop his natural abilities.
We are not demanding indiscriminate busing. To achieve what we want there need be little more busing of children than presently exists. We do, however, feel that in a public school system, where busing is required, both Negro and white children should share the experience.
We are not calling for the destruction of the so-called neighborhood school - except where the boundaries of such a school contribute to a pattern of racial segregation.
But, why a boycott? Isn't there any other way to force the necessary changes?
Again, our reasons are two-fold. A full-scale boycott will show, as will nothing else, how much Negro parents are willing to sacrifice for their children. The moral impact will be such that no person in authority will ever again fail to consider the determination behind our fight for equality of educational opportunities.
Our second reason is more tangible. We have found that one of the quickest ways to destroy inequality and segregation is to hit it in the pocketbook. Financial aid to the school system is based upon pupil attendance.
No pupils - no money. It's as simple as that.
We honestly don't want a boycott, but if the Board of Education's plan
falls short - THE DATE IS FEBRUARY 3rd
JAMAICA BRANCH
168-18 Liberty Avenue
Jamaica 33, New York
JAmaica 6-9070
NAACP QUEENS CORE
189-22 Keeseville Avenue
St. Albans 12, New York
HO|lis 5-9088
Printed in U.S.A. Keg Enterprises, Jamaica, N.Y. OL9-0623
Original Format
5.5 x 8.5 inches (14 x 21.6 cm)
Paper
Flier
Collection
Citation
Linzer, Elliot, “Why The School Boycott,” Queens College Civil Rights Archives, accessed January 26, 2022, http://archives.qc.cuny.edu/civilrights/items/show/1.