Interracial, circa 1951-1960

Documents concerning the interracial charter of the YWCA of the U.S.A., the history of their inclusive purpose and involvement in desegregation in the United States. The YWCA of the U.S.A. has, as a major part of its national mission, an inclusive approach to membership and programs. At the 1946 national convention the YWCA of the U.S.A. adopts the interracial charter, a document that confirms and expresses the interracial nature of the movement and calls for specific action. As racial tensions in the United States increase in the 1950's, the YWCA of the U.S.A. increases its attention to national and local racial climates issuing statements and letters affirming their support of the Supreme Court's school desegregation decision and in support of legislation enforcing desegregation. Articles and program materials provide background information on the YWCA of the U.S.A.'s involvement in race activism, clarify the role of the YWCA of the U.S.A. and local associations in desegregation and inclusivity and offer suggestions for local programming and actions to achieve better race relations. Additional documents include historical outlines of the YWCA of the U.S.A.'s work with African Americans and race inclusivity, brief outlines of state legislation concerning desegregation, proceedings from a conference on the role of local agencies in assisting their communities in desegregation and documents concerning the National Student YWCA's role in desegregation and race inclusivity.