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~ ~ aqat Chapter 1: The Community Dot Od 0 OD You act and react, as a civil rights worker and as a member of a movement, within a series of communities. There is the greater community of the Western world. There are smaller comm- unities such as the family, small groups, cliques. But for our purposes the community in which we are interested is that of the city or town, as it exists within a state and region. While no two communities are ever the same, some general rules do apply to most communities that exist within a culture. Whether you are engaged in citizenship education or sit-ins, it is important to know the community in which you act. In terms of an ongoing, organized campaign, it is crucial to be aware of a series of conditions--Who has the power? What is the relationship of forces, both racial and otherwise? What is the economy like? If you are considering a boycott, it is important to know what role the Negro community . plays in relation to the stores being boycotted. In a city like Atlanta, downtown stores do not depend much on Negro trade because Negroes tend to deal with their own well-established 4 concerns within their own communities. A boycott will be difficult. In a city like Nashville,: where the Negro community is located not far — from the center-city business district, and where whites have been moving to the suburbs rapidly, the business district is heavily dependent on Negro trade. A boycott may be crucial. Another example which shows the importance of analyzing the power structure of the community is the role played in the community by the state government. That a city is also a state capital may change its reactions--state legislators may take a hand (usually negative) in the struggle. Or, because a state government has differences with a local power structure, it may playa role, either negative or positive, in the struggle, where otherwise it might stay out. You may have to contend with (or have the tacit alliance of) state troopers, These are all factors of which you should be aware before the struggle begins. It is important, therefore, when coming toa community, to make a careful survey, or comm- unity study. Sources of information include: back copies of local newspapers, local almanacs, Chamber of Commerce figures, census data (avail- able from the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Depart- ment of Commerce or at most large libraries), and jnterviews with local business, labor, and political figures (preferably before they know why you are really there), Do not neglect looking at the society pages to find out which families "count" in decision-making processes, and do not forget to inspect the forces moving within the Negro community.