Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1943-03-12
Young said:
Fellow Americans:

travail of a peoples struggle for
freedom, it has been nurtured in
the democratic ideal. It has striv-
en- to uphold the principles set
forth in our Bill of Rights, and
to implement other segments of
the American press in preserving
the integrity of our Constitution
and the security Of our liberty.
We reach our 116th milestone
while our country is at war. The
implications of this worldwide
conflict are as clear to US as they
are to any other segment of
American citizens. We are keen
ly aware of its inherent dangers.
The combined resources and ia
cilities Of the Negro Press are con-
centrated to the full extent of
their power upon the effort to win
this war for freedom and democ-
racy.
Throughout the world our kith
and kin, alongside other Ameri-
cans of every nationality and
creed, are fighting aggressor ma
tons who would destroy all free
dom, as expressed in the funda-
mental principles Of our govern
ment.
We are aware that only through
the destruction of the common enc
mics of democracy, shall we pre-
serve the fundamental principles of
our government; and that only
through the preservation of these
principles shall we be able to
achieve an enduring peace, and to
advocate a more perfect democracy
in our country and, throughout the
world.
The Negro Press is first and last
an advocate of freedom and de-
mocracy. In an atmosphere of
world turmoil with it's attendant
social upheaval, some Americans
fail to recognize the distinction be-
tween righteous advocacy, and
what is called impolitic agitation.
Our newspapers in the period
leading up to 1860 were inspired
by the Abolitionist movement.
They were advocates of freedom,
but it is nevertheless true that in
the advocacy of this cause they
earned the stigma that is often
associated with agitation. But view
ing that era from today's perspec-
tive, it is universally conceded that
the Negro Press of the period, per-
formed a service of great signifi-
canoe to this Nation.
Our newspapers of the period
beginning with 1865 were con-
fronted with the herculean task
of affording a sense of direction to
100000 newly emancipated freed
men. Four million people, illiterate,
in poverty, and in a state of social
chaos, were in need of orientation
in their new freedom; in religious
and educational development; in the
rights and duties of citizenship; in
home and farm ownership, and in
business undertakings.
The Negro Press, still speaking
from it's birthplace-the North
was now concerned with creating
public sentiment for the sponsor
ship of education and legal equality
for the freedmen of the South. With
the gradual decline in illiteracy
came the rise of the Negro news
paper in the southern region. 1t
advocated political and civil rights,
educational and economic oppor-
tunities, for the freedmen. Here
again its advocacy of rights and
opportunities was often called I'M
wise agitation.
But in the end, the Negro news
papers, established in that period
and since-played an important
and invaluable role in one Of the
most romantic adventures of Amer
lean history: The establishment of
private and public schools; the
building of a gigantic religious
structure; the establishment of
banks and insurance companies,
and the laying of the foundation
upon which were made social and
economic advances by Negroes in
the South, and in the Nation, that
have been pronounced the marvel
of the modern world.
It is a long stride from the birth
Of the first Negro newspaper a
hundred and sixteen years ago,
with its hand press, leaflet form,
and limited circulation, to the pres
emit day Negro newspaper, often
printed on an automatic press in
the form Of the best standard
American newspapers, and read as
a group by millions. The one was
born in a period Of American his
tory, when for the vast majority
Of the race, reading was forbidden
by law and custom. The other lives