Text transcribed from original caption.

PHOTO NUMBER:

PC-53640

NAACP'S HOOKS AND THEOLOGIAN MARTY FEATURED SPEAKERS AT RCC MEETINGS

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- Framed by a giant banjo, left, Benjamin L. Hooks, leader of the

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), delivers

the keynote address on May 14 to more than 1200 religious communicators from 43 states

and 18 countries, attending the opening session of the Religious Communications

Congress/1980 RCC at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. He later chatted, right,

with Dr. Martin Marty, noted church historian, who was the concluding speaker at

the three-day convention.

In his speech, Mr. Hooks urged the RCC delegates to

counter a current "sweep of conservatism" in the U.S. by calling the

country back to its "historic vision of greatness." He said, "The current

conservative movement, liberally aided by prominent religious broadcasters,

has threatened to roll back civil rights advances made in recent years."

Dr. Marty, who took on the role of summing up the proceedings,

commented that it was "a relief" to come to a convention that did not pass

resolutions. He also took issue with those who criticize the mass media

for being "market-dominated", asserting that "that must be turned around.

If not the market, then what?" "The alternative," he declared, "seems to

be socialism." The theologian added that he did not know of any socialist country

in the world with free communications.

Credit Must Read:

RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO

(Reproduction Rights Not Transferable) (CF-NAS-5C-80-JH)

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