Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1943-07-17
The Challenge Of Maenanimitv

Tn
, IN every political campaign in Mississippi since the
Gays OF reconstruction one of the main topics discuss
ION by the seekers after public office has been the Negro
Question No question in the history of the state has
ceVed such thorough and continuous treatment In time
the Negro Question instrument of political discuss
ION ana debate, lost much of its force and power among
those permitted to vote, its use as such an instrument
gave rise to the further question officer seekers riding
into office upon the back of the Negro Upon such develop
ment discussion of the Negro question by political candi
dates came to be looked upon with little or no concern
evidence OF the existence of condition in race re-
atons in the state both by White and Negro Citizens
With the present political campaign however the dis
cussion of the Negro Question by seekers after public of
flee and riding into office upon the back of the Negro has
aroused the deepest fears and among the Negroes
OF the state and not have failed the deepest
thoughts of all intelligent White people, as everywhere the
implications being plainly advanced that the Negroes
OF the state because of outside Influences otherwise
planning to challenge, by violence the existing political
social and traditional order of the state
That Negroes in Mississippi are planning to resort to
violence now anywhere in the forseeabe future
fantastic conclusion to be hardly deserving of denial
Yet nowhere in the state is there the least evidence any
thought or action supporting such view among Negroes
In the wake of the discussion however Negroes in the
state are being brought daily face to face with
ing evidence that the dstrust hatred prejudice
bgotry and wi thus being engendered in the state is
causing him to be and the object of suppression
suspicion and distrus by his white fellow citizens fact
which is increasing his dssiluson and bewilderment de-
creasing his morale and spirit and gradually destroying
his faith in the ultimate triumph right and Justice and
of Christian ideals in Mississippi.
AS to present history the Mississippi Negro is conr
butng in everyway possible to the nations effort
the basis of population he is sending fortne and oehaf
percent of the soldiers of the state to the armed services
and they fighting bleeding and dying land and
in the air. the all other Mssissippians he is
buying War Bonds and Stamps he is contributing his labor
wherever permitted to the production of the tools of
he is working in the fields and the farms he is obeyng
and respecting the laws of the state he is maintaining his
spirit under all but unbearabe burderS and all this with
loyalty and patriotism beyond honest question
AS to past history, it was Crspus Attucks Negro
the first American die for the establishment of the democ
racy fight to defend and preserve dying soldiers
death with musket III hand that historic day Boston
Commons and buried from the very Cradle of Liberty
In the between the states the Negro fought with equal
vaor both sides of the conflict His loyalty to the White
people of the south during the conflict led Henry W. Grady
the machess orator of Georgia of reconstruction days to
remark II rejoice that when freedom to him after
of wag it all the sweeter because black hands
from which the shaekles fell stainless of single
crime against the helpless confined to his care The
present day Mississippi Negro has demonstrated and IS still
demonstrating the same patience ard loyalty.
Negroes in Mississippi disllusioned and bewildered
and low in spirit at treatment they receiving in the
tica discussion going throughout the state may
find faith and hope in looking forward to the day
when there will arise in the state spirit of craftsmanship
unwilling that future generations of it's people shall drink
only from the of bitterness looking without fear upon
the broad and bright horizon of the future and calling up
on Mssissppans to hear and heed the voice of Gen. Rob
E. Lee greatest among the great of the Old South still
speaking of the past in prophetic WISDOM The south
never will from the wounds of the Civil War SO long
as it holds it's rancor to its BOSOM.
Whatever the future of the Negro citizen IN MISS
isspp NAV have in store he knows it will from the
hands of those having the and authority HIS hopes
however are based upon the christian IDEAL the constitution
of the United States the Bill of Rights ard the four free
doms-and out of such hope comes but one cnaenege-
The Challenge to Magnanimity.