Report and evaluation, Hattiesburg; 1965

              Report and evaluation, Hattiesburg
Transcript

REPORT AND EVALUATION, HATTIESBURG
SEPTEMBER, 1964 - SEPTEMBER, 1965

The Delta Ministry assumed responsibility for the northern church involvement in Hattiesburg on September 1, 1964. They inherited a "going concern" which had its roots in the work of Snick beginning in 1963 and the work of the Commission on Religion and Race of the UPUSA and NCC. What they inherited was a going voter registration program, educational activities, community organization, and white community contacts. They also inherited a deep reservoir of good will on the part of the local Negro community, good working relationships with Snick, COFO, FDP, NAACP, and the white community's leadership. And finally, they inherited a warm feeling of support on the part of nearly 500 short - term volunteers who had come thru the "Hattiesburg Ministers' Project" since its inception in January, 1964.

With that kind of a "head start" it is not too surprising that we are now able to speak in terms of closing out on the Delta Ministry's program involvement in Hattiesburg.

What advances have been made in Hattiesburg that make the above statement possible and specifically, what has been accomplished during 1964 - 65 ? In answering this question, it must be emphasized that neither the Delta Ministry nor any other group can claim sole credit, nor should such a claim be felt necessary, for all that has happened.

Voter Registration: With a possible 7500 Negro voters in Forrest County, we now have about 2500 registered with an average of about 25 a day registering on a continuing basis. There has been no concerted effort, to register voters (i.e. Freedom Day) since April, 1964. Up through January, 1965, most of the efforts of our volunteers were spent on voter registration canvassing and workshops on how to register. From February, 1965 on, the activities of the volunteers and staff have become diversified but the voter registration thrust has continued, supported almost entirely by local leadership and local initiative. The whole process was given a needed "shot in the arm" by the injunction placed on registrar Theron Lynd by the Justice Department on June 14, 1965. What had already been an indigenous movement, but resulting in only a trick of voters, became an onslaught, and has now seemingly balanced out at the rate of 25/day.

At present, it seems that the necessary increase in activity necessary to register the remaining 5000 possible voters can be taken care of within the framework of one major piece of community organization yet to be completed - namely a smoothly functioning block captain organization. The other unrealized