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mhm. Mm hmm. Historic national Black convention that closed in Gary, Indiana, on Sunday is one that could have important long range implications on American politics. If it does, the Blacks of California's delegation will provide an important part of the thrust. The California groups, some 220 strong

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and led by Assemblyman Willie Brown, was probably the most influential delegation at the gathering other than New York, and more important than that, the black Californians exerted a strong and moderating hand when it was needed in drawing up proposals that will guide the national political action

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by blacks in coming months. There were three Californians on the most important body at the convention. The platform committee. L. Niles, a Los Angeles attorney, Dr Carlton Goodlett of San Francisco, and Berkeley City Councilman de Army Bailey. It was the California delegation that was responsible for

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the formation of a 50 man body to work in future months for the election of black candidates to local and federal posts all over the country. They will furnish campaign expertise and raise money, and it was the California delegation which saved the convention from becoming more

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chaotic than it was on important issues, such as the controversial anti busing proposal pushed through by the Congress of Racial Equality. Despite the fact that Californians represented the full spectrum of opinion on the issue. One of the significant emissions and the convention has been the involvement

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of women in the planning and in the actual work that went on. That didn't happen in the California delegation again. I think we took the leadership there. We presented a resolution, uh, which was unanimously passed in our delegation, that the continuing structure should reflect a good

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balance among of women, youth, old people and regionally representative people. And I think our delegation, I've been very pleased with it. I think it's been excellent and a lot has to do with Willie's leadership. The convention itself was not a sparkling success if unanimous opinion is

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a measure of success. But all the leaders agree it was the start in getting black Americans involved in the political process as never before. The first outgrowth of the convention will be national tours by the Reverend Jesse Jackson from his stronghold in Chicago by Detroit Congressman

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Charles Diggs and by Gary Indiana Mayor Richard Hatcher. Their aim will be to register some six million blacks who have never voted in an election before. California Assemblyman Willie Brown will be on the advisory body from which they will work. Frankly, I think California was probably

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beyond whatever accomplishment this convention has, uh, made to date. Politically speaking, I think we were probably better organized. I think we probably had people who were at more exposure politically to be an independent than any other delegation present. And as a result of that, I think

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that it's reflective in the influence that Mrs and and has just indicated that we've had on this convention Ben Williams reporting for eyewitness news and that we all make.