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Julian Bond

As we pass by the 1970 elections, black Americans feel intense confusion about the future of democracy and our future in America.

Existing institutions are failing to respond to the realities of our lives. The social vlaues implicit in governmental decisions are not in accord with the needs strongly felt by black people.

We are becoming conditioned to realize that neither talk nor deeds are responsive to our communities. Increasingly it appears we are first in war, last in peace, and seldom in the hearts of our countrymen.

Once cannot discuss what life will be like in the seventies without discussing what appears to be the most prevalent factors in American life: racism and war.

These factors are very much evident at the present time in the realities of Nixon and Agnew; twins of confusion and chaos, who have set up shop in Washington. One week leaves the shop to go abroad