Arkansas State press., 1942-05-22
FORCING THE ISSUE IL

fact, we were merely warning Ne.
gro leadership against condition
ing our loyalty and cooperation in
the war effort on the nations
concessions to the demands Of Ne
groes for full citizenship recog-
milton.
| The article was inspired by the
fact some Negro leaders had come
dangerously near saying that I'M
less NeglSeS were gipnted full
citizenship recognition they ought
not fight knew then and
know now that such would be a
most dangerous position both for
| Negro leadership and the Negro
masses; that such position would
play into the hands of those intol-
Grant whites who want some ex-
cuse to further subjugate the Ne
groes; that such position and utter
anco would "give comfort to the
enemy; that in the long run such
course would he stumbling block
rather than the stepping stone to
our coveted goal.
or course the time is ripe for
some kind Of bargaining if there
by we mean efforts to improve our
selves in the affairs Of the nation.
1t is true that in times of war and
stress and strain the iron is red
and waits the falling sledge; but
we must be certain that our bar
gain is good ono; for wherever
a good bargain is present there is
present bad one also. There
could be no worse bargaining, than
for the Negro to say or intimate
that unless his full citizenship
rights are granted here and now
he Is going on a sit down strike.
The Negro has everything to lose
by such course and not one thing
to gain. This should be clear Ia
Negro leadership and our leader
ship should make this clear to the
masses!
! am beginning to wonder if
Negro leadership has not lost or
is now losing one Of its supreme
est opportunities. Has not too
much been made of the misguid-
ed outspoken Negro who says he
has no country to fight for? Have
we not over emphasized spotlight
hunting Negro and his mania for
noteriety which he seeks to salts
fly through radical utterances
Have we not played down the
words and deeds of the loyallunto
death millions who see that the
Negroes only hope is in the sur
vival of democracy as it is, and
as he hopes it will be? When we
get Negro leadership cornered
they say any indifference or OPP
position to the cause is to be found
among the masses. But the fact
remains the masses believe what
leadership advocates. If, as some
say, Negroes are Indifferent, II
isbecause Negro leadership has
made them so.
Negroes are as loyal AS ever
| am hoping that his loyalty will
never be called into question; that
in the future, as in the past, tbs
most glorious chapters in the
chronicles of patriotism Of this
nation will make mention OF Ne
| groes. But if the Negro is weigh
ed in the balances and found want
ing, the fault is not in the Negro
masses hut in Negro leadership.
If Negro masses are luke warm
it is because Negro leadership is
luke warm. If we are going to
dwell forever on what we do not
have and never on what we have;
if we over emphasize this nation S
shortcomings and minimize it's vjr-
tues; if we forever disparage the
long way we have come by mag
nifying present obstacles then we
arc going to- have a bewildered and
n divided race; and the said divi-
sion must be laid at the door of
Negro leadership.
If as DR.. Young of the Journal
and Guide says, our morale is low
hut out loyalty as high as ever,
then Negro leadership must i'm
prove our morale if our patriotism
is not to degenerate. 1t takes moral
to sustain patriotism and loyalty
What the Negro already has is
worth fighting for and preserving
even if he could get nothing more
But the preservation of demo-
cracy even in name presents great
err hope than fascism in fact. The
hope Of the Negro is in the pre-
servation Of democracy and the
sooner Negro leadership drives this
point home to the Negro masses
the the sooner we are going to i'm