Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1942-10-10
On The Appointment Of Negro
Representatives To Local
Defense Committees

One of the important thought provoking and Sc
rous questions confronting the people the United States
today and particularly those the south the Negro Cues
ton Arising two years ago the world crisis became
increasingly acute with the nations entry into the the
growing Importance and seriousness of the question well
De noted IN the widespread and continued discussion OF the
attitude OF the Negro toward the outcome of the war of the
attitude of the Negro toward the white people of the SOUTH
and OF the Negro spirit and morale.
With respects to the attitude of the Negro toward the
outcome of the has been repeatedly pointed out
not without positive truth that Negroes would be far
off 1n an Axis dominated world. =
With respect to the attitude of the Negro towards the
white people of the south it being continually pointed
that the white people of the south the Negroes best
friends Conversely both with respects to his past history
and to the situation there be doubt that the
Negroes of the south also the best friends the white
people of the south With no foreign natonasc or racial
ties, among the cosmopolitan population OF the south
the Negro secret pride exation
Axis does he stand ready assert his national
isc and racial knship in the event of Axis victory
Whatever the outcome of the the Southern Negro will
be on the side of the southern white people
Discussions of these qualities arising basicaly as the
result of the attitude of the south towards the Negro
place. his rights and privileges American citizen with
numerous Incidents following in their wake tending to deny
him the rights and privileges of citizenship the Negro
being constantly faced with many disturbing paradoxes
which have seriously affected Negro spirit and morale
Willy Nilly, the south is faced with this most i'm
pornt present aspect of the Negro QuestonNegro Spirit
and Morale
In considering Negro spirit and morale in the south no
successful approach to the problem its present aspects
seems possible without the understanding and appreciation
OF the fact that Negro morale has been much affected by
his not having been fully ntegrated into the civilian
phases OF The and by other Cir
cumstance involved in the Negro Question.
In urging the appointment of Negroes to local defense
council committees necessary step for improving Ne
gro morale the Office of War information Office of Civilian
Defense October l, sent release that subject
by Mr. James NJ Lands Director of the Office of Civilian
Defense
Quoting from the remarks of Mr. Landis contained
in the above release is the following:
"You improve Negroes health by extending to the
all out program of health welfare and social protection You
improve morale by not handing down anything to them
but by appoint Negro representatives to Defense Council
committees, that they will have part in planning the
program
There is something for everyone to do in this On
lists have entire enrolled for Civilian Defense
Crippled people have for volunteer offering to txe
with their toes their teehanythng to help win the
Blind people knitting and shut-ins all the
country fire watchers and plane spoilers.
In conclusion, let say this all this talk is worth
nothing members of the councils do not put into
ton What need in all programs is fewer slogans
from Washington and smuggling in the states and
ties All the fine talk in the world is nothing to single
direct act Your action here at home not this
but the will not be without it."
Pointing to the remarks of Mr. Lands there be lit
the doubt that the appointment of Negroes to the Local De-
tense Council Committees here in Mississippi and through
out the South would have immediate and beneficial effects
the Spirit and moral of the Southern Negro bring
thrtve cent of its population directly into the
nations effort and thereby hasten the day of victory
the Axis nations