Conference paper prepared by Bessie Smith regarding “maximum feasible participation” of the poor in War on Poverty efforts in Newark. In the paper, Mrs. Smith describes the struggles for community control of the United Community Corporation, Newark’s Community Action Agency for War on Poverty funding. — Credit: Newark Public Library
Newark Community Union Project (NCUP) members Carol Glassman (left) and Bessie Smith (right) preside over a meeting of the United Community Corporation’s Area Board #3 in 1965. –Credit: Robert Machover
Pamphlet distributed by the Economic Research and Action Project, an initiative of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) to organize “an interracial movement of the poor.” The pamphlet served as an introduction and overview of the ERAP for supporters and new organizers, and includes an application form. –Credit: Junius Williams Collection
Photograph of members of the Newark Community Union Project (NCUP) at a 1965 demonstration for a traffic light at Avon and Badger Avenues. Tom Hayden is pictured in the center of the photo, along with Junius Williams (sunglasses and sign). –Credit: Junius Williams Collection
A view inside a press conference held at Amiri Baraka’s Spirit House in Newark during the National Conference on Black Power in July, 1967. Addressing the microphone is Newark Community Union Project (NCUP) and Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) member Phil Hutchings. Also pictured are: cultural nationalist leader Ron Karenga (US Organization) to the left of Hutchings, Amiri Baraka behind Hutchings, and SNCC Chairman H. Rap Brown to the right of Hutchings. –Credit: Amiri Baraka Papers; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library
Letter received by Newark Police Director Dominick Spina, congratulating him on his “firm stand” against civil rights organizations in Newark. The author of the letter states that African Americans had “developed a complex of superiority…and they will stop at nothing to achieve their ridiculous demands.”
Telegram from Bessie Smith, President of the People’s Action Group (Area Board #3) of the United Community Corporation (UCC), to Sargent Shriver, Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity on October 28, 1965. Mrs. Smith sent the telegram to request Shriver’s assistance in response to the City Council Committee’s investigation of the UCC. Mrs. Smith and many others felt that the investigation was an attempt to bring the antipoverty agency under the control of the Mayor and the City Council. — Credit: Junius Williams Papers
A printed collection of statements presented by members of the Newark Community Union Project (NCUP) to Adam Clayton Powell’s Congressional Committee investigating the War on Poverty in April, 1965. In their statements, these Newark residents describe a lack of community representation and involvement in the United Community Corporation (UCC) in Newark. As federal funding arrived in Newark, city officials and politicians jockeyed for control of the money for their own purposes, while the city’s poor communities sought access to the antipoverty programs. Mrs. Louise Patterson explains that “the Area Boards are being taken over by Ward Leaders and speeches by politicians and candidates for political office.” — Credit: Newark Public Library
Memo from Newark Community Union Project (NCUP) organizer, Tom Hayden, to Newark Evening News reporter Doug Eldridge. Hayden delivered the memo for NCUP and UCC member Jesse Allen to inform the newspaper of the activities of UCC Area Board 3 within the community. — Credit: Junius Williams Papers
The office of the People’s Action Group at 471 Clinton Avenue in Newark. The People’s Action Group was the name of Area Board #3 of the United Community Corporation (UCC). — Credit: Newark Public Library
