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1/8/1970 - A Prelude to Africa by George Jones

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Nairobi Hilton P O Box Nairobi Kenya A Prelude AFrica January Dear Mr Nolte The Mound Bayou Mississippi opportunity That opportunity allos everyone privilegedeto participate Full range community activities Upon readin olloin passa ritten Salvador Madariaa I immediately reminded TuFts Delta Project He Free hands decide course lives society block exercise The Health Center abandonin traditional medical model slowly shapin ideal society described Mr Madaria SelF programs community education technical assistance management stethoscope thermometer implements behalf population community livin North Delta Reion State The project become positive catalyst For thousands impoverished people black Operatin monies OFFice Economic Opportunity project began unctionin early period comprehensive plannin ameas health impetus Federal overnment In every sense project still infancy Full share pains The Tuts Medical School uidin through difficult period under leadership Dr Jack Geier Dr Gei alonwith John Hatch Director Community Health Sector TuFts Delta Project recognized citizenry Delta eneratin force motivatin Delta first exploitin their environment While actual program until accomplished durin All these years without limmer interest outside sources reporte Mrs Robinson community worker extremely suspicious TuFts delegation suddenly began requentin churches It after broke round realized these usual gooders would their leave Face aftermath event which always pleasant But concrete steel square Foot health center which would serve headquarters evidence serious intentions becomin community The journey project From Memphis Tennessee uneventful exception unchanneled Fantasy I began think about pioneers Freedom movement perhaps movin route murdered Althouh proect enlihtenment I Full those persons violently opposed newly inspired toward total autonomy blacks Bayou reion might aware mission purely For enrich AFter emotional journey sight TuFts Delta Health Center which architecturally radical departure From local designs welcomed relief A eelin shared others visited proect For First My first contact Health Center became preview I would Find eneral throughout Mound Bayou I somewhat stocky Football dressed delivery uniform This althou extremely uidin people their destinations spent considerable conversin person meandered through The concern responsiveness impression moment important person I believe bureaucratic services develop ombudsman persons official fewer potential clients would quickly turned Because talked their sensitivity their needs center patrons stran settin Instead sendin destination I expected reeter conducted corridor desks Dr Weeks Assistant Director project AFter takin ample Find I wanted accomplish durin visit Bayou doctor quickly directed Mr John Hatch He Mr Hatch would person oFFer estions For itinerary light background interest Dr Weeks durin brief informative encounter pointed their caseload fantastic Each orker contact least clients surroundin communities So increased center found itself faced patient loads In response statement center reminded quarterback directin toward eventual health Dr Weeks jocular Fashion cheerleader watchin traFFic It after travelin widely throu seein destitution For myself I appreciate Force remark In addition rapid rowth caseload migration people between another O pressin problems Althouh project impact towards lessenin through trainin programs openings problem remains acute The population whole relation rural migration trends shows moderate movement toward Althouh individual Family members Family never wholly dissolved unctionin Frequent contact maintained through Forms communi cation through regularly scheduled visitations The oFFicials Center report Family church Far important institutions could possibly available throughout their project The constant rinin telephone personnel Dr Weeks enough indication I should conclude AFter thankin For valuable extendin wishes For continued success I moved John Hatch Mr Hatch Community Health Director become important population Mound Bayou To mention person deree familiarity entrance In every place I visited church school restaurants community parties evenin health council meetings conversation almost invariably touch fortune Boston Mr Hatch durin first visit asserted supportive forces project natural unfrocked leadership Mound Bayou community The professionals utilized mainly stimulate interject concepts hereas locals responsible direct plannin implementation Once roles these roups became clear local people project began prosper It necessary people importance their cOntribution project At close discussion Mr Hatch mentioned three components program serve skeletal structure operation cooperative environmental health physical health In order First proram I center personnel I should contact durin visit Noteworthy turned local people eathered storm looked preproessionals their areas specialty My first contact cooperative center proper through comversatio attractive housewife local persons remained project As others desire leave based mainly unillinness continue plantation achievement measured units output concern individual cancelled quest profit Essentially cooperative belongs people It serves bride between employer employee since every worker Decisions aectin critical areas public meetings Usually spent lively discussion concludin attempt reachin consensus Because their eneral interest armin their familiarity different techniques involved meetings looked forward attended On average employs workers This includes persons housewife GJ Washing turnip greens Produce being weighed market Lengthening greater depth The replacement killer administrati capacity oters classified field orkers Thearmraiabot7acresisizeeaes orkers vegetables cucumbers ripem removed immediately An iormal commu nication system keeps everyone informed 1uctuatin manpower there seldom available Themain crops include beans cabbae tomatoes atermelon squash turnips cucumbers cotton reens In addition earnin hourly orkers received Food products For their consumption amounts proportionate amount spent orkin This practice becomes incentive For orkers spend loner hours field Excess Food From transported little township Clevelad frozen stored Feed members Coop durin inter months Persons children collect Food stuFFs cereals beans vegetables charge overnment sponsored Food suppleme store The monthly allotment Food received based family Durin orientation Farm I allowed participate activities Alon manual activities imterestin cotton original state My Final activity before departin entailed ashin turnip reens For market During visit I quite pleased Find obviously retarded people Fields speech Because workers their handicap become unimportant accordingly accepted As workers athered after arduous Field teasing laughter eneral chatter impression FulFilled people In response question about future I informed director began weihin produce field people ambitions buildin houses membership As replacement homes would erected homes equipped modern conveniences comforts enjoyed privile The houses occupied would ceremoniously vacated For present however because majority houses substandard human habitation GJ I Community Development Worker The professional taking explain process Eligible homes rehabilitation programs environmental teams workin around clock rehabilitatin those target Rehabilitation becomes never endin activity The environmental teams dealim other units compiled extensive community survey physical needs It became evident pressin needs clean water toilet facilities weather proof shelter rodent control I dismal conditions documented thanks Field Sanitation Worker Mr Nelson His knowledge impressive respect center clientele To I learned someone would deree comfort through physical means person Mr Nelson story repeats itself began career plantation worker His specialty pickin cotton He others throughout Mississippi eventually upstaged automation One machine alone could Re1ectin career sharecroppin Mr Nelson repeated incessantly despised All emeries concentrated there never improvements himself amily No center proudly announced I The first I ettin settled inmynejobastomakemyiequitherjobas amaid I school I bought nehome Noyou ohattheprojecthasmeant The project become source clothing shelter chance become participatin called society It meant developin talent never recognized We inally alive concluded This expression every anxious moment I spent travelin Mound Bayou At homesteads visited activity environmental included constructin abricated privy screenin windows aainst insects While atchin excavated homes I casually asked workers would better speed drill rather power press which laboriously poundin piping round With answered Baby months manual press called killer which three bodied manipulate The answer question pretty happy present scene Because orkload square broken reions Each assigned workers responsible total rehabilitation package This procedure everyone eelin somethin hborhood It program reater visibility Durin latter travels I accompanied community development orkers Their comments toether mthmyoobservationsduri throughmosto target revealed between center efforts actual delivery despite efforts Mile after visits least tonships disclosed poverty level average citizen country impossible I tempted obvious there better judgment silent I single effective leadership project would certainly point community development workers They people underprivileged resistive apathetic never anythin Feel Tufts Until project cataloged series accomplis hments reluctance participate overhelmi The first orker I traveled referred momma clients beautiul Fifties She Mr Nelson lived Bayou We talked mostly about black people Tuts AFter anecdotes concernin others began tellin about herself Prior there windows order durin spells Delta Family huddle least amount cracks window spaces There their consisted bread molasses there other husband would themselves Food there would enough their From darkness would Fields almost nothing Today proudly annouiced I remodeled house refrigerator check approximately epennies You eelin security I think possible The meaningful residents reported worker reliability accessibility medical services She recalled those bossman there GJ Food Supplemental Center Grateful Recipient Left Coordinator upplemental Program Contact Center observable justification Otherwise alloed deviate daily routine severe penalties slacking She suffered harassment plantation occasions professional She other patients local doctor sometimes Ion hourS He plantation prescribe medication ithout benefit nosis history Too often hether stomach medicine proved identical What onderul eelin center beamed momma possible medical assistance offered I remember spendin penny drugstore buyin Black Drau patent solution From doctor Althou I opportunity visit doctors staff their presence alays indicated steady stream patients illin movin medical cubicles On occasions durin early center residents doctor office simply themselves medical benefits actually When benefits patients treated people elated This feelin echoed times durin meetings I atended I shall never forget evenin Community Health Council meetings especially Shelby Roundtree smaller reions Bayou Althou committees their respective health councils identical structnre differin personalities meetin unique At briefin Mr Hatch I learned meetings conducted fashion similar process style black Baptist Church because familiarity people Meetin conducted efficient productive manner With majority membership participatin another Reports eVenin included Mother Child Sick Committee Home Improvements A There excitement successful cleanup campaign The efforts spent cleaning yards ettin abandoned exterminatin pests endless chore challenin taxing satisfaction Discussion about uture project lively illed expectation quite departure earlier periods their concentration daily survival precedence everythin One particular which ained support centered around oerin lunches people community least allow these community members receive balanced With arrangement these meals should prepared served contact centers ested ormed order transport center those persons without The lengthy discussion motion council members seconded immediately unanimously approved At conclusion meetin Roundtree announced there distinguished visitors audience doubt comments accordin would appreciated would orward A companion proessor From Boston Collee awakening stale The testimony received applause amens earlier Baptist trainin handy In response visit whiCh anticipated thanks their unerrin rapevine small banquet prepared After minutes scurry kitchen short ceremony relatin wonderul Mr Howe companion community success wished Mr Jones assignment Arica settled rankurters cream cookies The atmosphere appetizing after learnin sacriice which extend repast I found tasty By summin I quote community development workers Mrs Pearlia Robinson workshop Philadelphia It Was Bayou All these thins started because Tuts Delta Center We movin We healthier livin little better nobody around Upon completion Mrs Robinson standin ovation Received New York On March