The manifesto was developed during the National Black Economic Development Conference held in
Detroit, Michigan, in 1969. American civil rights activist
James Forman presented the first draft of the manifesto on April 26, 1969, receiving the support of the conference in a 187-63 vote of delegates.
Demands The manifesto made the argument that much of America had been built with black slave labor, and that churches and synagogues had implicitly played a role in facilitating that process. Its opening paragraph read: We the black people assembled in Detroit, Michigan for the National Black Economic Development Conference are fully aware that we have been forced to come together because racist white America has exploited our resources, our minds, our bodies, our labor. For centuries we have been forced to live as colonized people inside the United States, victimized by the most vicious, racist system in the world. We have helped to build the most industrial country in the world. The day earlier, Forman had requested and been denied permission to speak, by the minister Rev.
Dr. Ernest Campbell. Trying to prevent Forman's speech, Campbell directed the organist to play and also began a silent walkout of congregants. The manifesto was also read out loud on May 4 at the First United Presbyterian Church of San Francisco. It was later published in the July 10, 1969 edition of the
New York Review of Books. Forman's demands were regarded as successful, however, as a catalyst in moving churches to examine their consciences. ==References==