Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1942-11-14
Says Major War
Continued from Page u

The ftlll txet or DR.. Caltver'S let-
ter, released by the U. 8. Office Of
Education today, follows:
"You have by this time, no doubt
heard Of or received information
about the High School Victory Corps
being sponsored by the U. s. Office
Of Education. The purpose Of this
organization Is to mobilize the boy
and girl-power of the Nation, to uti-
lie more fully their eagerness to
to serve, to organize this eagerness
into effective action, and to chan
mel it into areas of increasingly criti-
cal need Commissioner Studebaker
has emphasized the fact that this is
a war-not only Of armies and nav
les, of factories and farms, but also
a war of homes and schools; and
therefore, that education has an in
dispensible part to play. He has said
that schools must help to teach in
dividuals the issues at stake; to train
them for their vital part in the
total war effort; to guide them In
to conscious personal relationship
to the struggle"
OFFERS OPPORTUNITY
1.-THE Victory Corps offers every
Negro high school and every Negro
student an opportunity to particle
pate and share in the war effort,
the most gigantic and urgent task
this Nation has ever undertaken.
am particularly glad of this oppor-
tunity, and respectfully urge every
principal an dteacher to give their
students chance to make their full
contribution. -
Negroes have very important
stake In this war. It is to their
personal and group interest that we
win the victory and speedily as poss-
ible, for their only hope lies in de-
mocracv. Our boys and girls-and
adults, Soo-should be made to real
lie that in spite of the many dis
advantages and determinations fac
ed by them, we are better off than
many minority groups; that pro-
gress Is being made slowly but sure
ly toward realization of the demo-
cratic principles of freedom, equity,
and justice; and that, imperfect as
our present situation IS, we still have
the RIGHT and OPPORTUNITY
to use every legitimate means to i'm
prove our condition. This most GER
tainly would not be possible under
an Axis dominated country. There
is a great deal of truth in the fol-
lowing excerpt of an article appear
ing in the Pittsburgh Courier and
reprinted in the Norfolk Journal and
Guide, September IL, 1912:
What We call Negro progress will
most certainly be ended in case the
Axis wins, and every Negro who has
managed to lift his head above the
mired mass will be ruthlessly show
ed down.
Every colored citizen with mu-
nicipal. State or Federal job will lose
it.
Every college for the education OF
Negro youth will be closed and coll
ored students will be barred from
white colleges.
Every Negro who now Is able to
vote will be disfranchised.
All Negroes may lose their citi-
zenship, an act that would require
but stroke of pen.
Public education for Negroes If
not discontinued altogether, will 90
no farther than the fourth grade.
Skilled industrial labor will be
closed to colored people, as will most
professional work.
These things have happened to
Jews and Poles, and there is no rea-
son to believe that a Nazi Gauleiter
IN Washington would fail to exercise
the same measures here against Me-
groes and Jews
While We must continue to COM
Dat race and color prejudice and dis
examinations, in our present effort
to save democracy, we should keep
ever before us that the major issue
OF this war is FREEDOM-not race
or color. Where the latter have been
made to appear as the main issue
they are used merely as a smoke
screen. When we win this war and
establish Freedom as the animat-
ing principle In life, the problems of
race and color which remain can
pe attacked with greater assurance
than ever before Of their ultimate
solution. hope, therefore, that we
can make this task easier by a 100
per cent participation of your school
IN the High School Victory Corps
Further information concerning It
should be secured from your local
scnool superintendent or your State
department. of education