The Nation: Black Flag

One youngster who had been made part of the System threw Newark, N.J., into mild turmoil last week. Lawrence Hamm, 17, who was appointed to the local school board last summer by Mayor Kenneth Gibson, introduced a resolution permitting the predominantly black city's classrooms to fly the red, black and green flag of black liberation.* The resolution passed (in the absence of four of the board's nine members), and Newark schoolchildren planned to hoist the colors.

Whether Hamm's intent was to build up black pride or encourage quasi-revolutionary notions, the idea seemed naively incendiary. Certainly the white members of the school...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!