Arkansas State press., 1943-10-22

N~NS OF eminent figures III liz HE IL CHiS Adtoi
has for us tremendous significance. For when the name Of
a great citizen of color is emblazoned on a ship, it is in truth
more than perfunctory recognition OF the man: 1t is recog-
milton of his race and its place in American life. 1t IS an
attempt and a praiseworthy attempt to demonstrate the
ideal of this democracy even though that ideal has not been
completely achieved.
Appreciation of this circumstance is paramount in any
intelligent approach to the effective betterment of the status
of the Negro. In cur struggle for complete indignation in
the life of this nation we must not forget that we are Amer1-
cans; that many of our problems are essentially American
problems and that alien techniques and methods tried and
found more or less effective in foreign lands by religious,
racial and national minorities whose history is far different
from ours, do not guarantee success and may invite cata-
strophe.
We must contend for our rights as Americans, willing
and able to bear the responsibilities of citizens, anxious to
render the utmost service to our country, eager to give our
unquestioned loyalty for its preservation and its welfare.
Ours has been slow but steady progress. And nowhere
on the face Of the earth has the Negro achieved so much
as he has in America not IN Brazil, nor IN British A1nca,
nor French, nor Portuguese, nor Belgium, nor in the West
Indies - only in the United States of America with all of
it's limitations and all of its pernicious prejudice, and all
of its clinging to the slave tradition has there emerged among
colored people a Paul Robson, a Mary Church Terrell, an
Alain Locke, a Marion Anderson, a Richard Wright, a Mary
Mcleod Bethune, a Roland Hayes, a William e. Dubois, a
Louis Wright, a Langston Hughes, a Richard Barthe, a Jesse
Owens, to name but q few IN the contemporary world, nor
a Booker T. Washington, a Carver, an Ernest Just, a James
Weldon Johnson in the more recent past.
Withal it's prejudice, its racial ~antipathy,. it's jim Crow
ism and God knows America should be profoundly ashamed
of these perversions of Democracy and Christianity, this ma
ton has been quick to accord honor, recognition, fame, and
in many cases wealth, to American Negroes Of exceptional
gifts and talents.
1t is the progress Of the American Negro that has stir
red the spirit of the Negro Of Africa, and awakened in him
the longing for freedom. 1t is the example of the American
Negro that has set in motion and given strength to the move
ment for autonomy within the Empire among the people Of
the West Indies.
Wherever there are men and women of Negro blood,
they look to America for inspiration and for the measure Of
their own possibilities. Thus it can be seen that we in Amer
lea have a high destiny for we act not only for ourselves but
for millions all over the world.
The method which has enabled us to come thus far may
not be spectacular, but it has been effective. 1t has been
protest plus performance, not just protest. 1t has been the
continuing demonstration Of our faith in our country and
in the ultimate sense Of fairness of the American people
and judged by the record, this has been the better way.