Black Concerns Committee (1980- ) and predecessors, 1940 - 2005

This committee saw its origin in 15th Street's Philanthropic Committee section which was responsibility for distributing funds and supplies to Southern Schools. It expanded its field of interest in 1939 to include action and education towards combating racial prejudice. A small group of Orthodox Friends joined with this committee in a "exploratory capacity" in the same year; eventually specific appointments were made through 20th Street's Peace and... Service Committee. In 1945, the name of the Hicksite Interracial Relations Committee was officially changed to Race Relations, although the committee had been using the name in joint meetings as early as 1942. In 1946, due to a concern on the part of a number of Hicksite Friends that this Committee was receiving too large a share of Yearly Meeting funds, and that its purpose was not "religious," but "social service," the budget was reduced; the Chairman, Helen Lea, resigned, and no report was submitted the following year. In 1952, the Committee was finally laid down, due to lack of agreement regarding its purpose and scope; a special committee was named to consider the issue. In 1953, on recommendation from the Special Committee, it was reconstituted and renamed the "Intercultural Relations Committee," but this was short-lived. After Reunification, New York Yearly Meeting's limited work in the field of race relations was carried on by the Peace and Service Committee. A Ad Hoc Committee for Race Relations was granted independent status in 1965 for outreach and education. In 1980 it changed its name to the Friends Committee for Black Concerns. By 2000 the Committee informally changed its name to the Black Concerns Committee. It still exists today.