The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1947-03-01
OUR I947 NEGRO HISTORY WEEK ISSUE
By Sarah McNeamer Harvey

Again this year, have done the past twelve years.
give readers special Negro History Week Issue,
paper published during the observance OF National
Negro History Week and dedicated to forsering inter-
racial Good Will by acquantng both colored and white Mis-
sssppans with just bit of the valuable and meritorous
contributions civilization by Negroes of the past
present.
This issue does attempt give details but only
present enough of the and pictures of the achieve
ens Of Negroes right here Mississippi to belle the gem
eral belief of groups and individuals other sections that
all Negroes in the South little than savages living
in dire poverty and show and prove that Negroes
in the South in Mississippi and indeed Jackson, doing
darn sight better every respect than many their broth
other sections who spend much time Saving from
the Devil while those around them falling into the
deep blue sea-; oinsl into the minds of young people
the idea that they need be ashamed of the that they
were born and being reared in Mississippi the South
with very few exceptions all Negroes who have or are
doing anything worthwhile born and reared in the
South show youth that whether they live in Mime
sofa Mississippi the black American will come into his
only he secures for himself power only
leaders realize that lawsuits and are often
short lived and not important teaching the
the value of sehep serespec selpreservation;
educating the in racial pride encouraging them to
go into businesses and industries heretofore entered
and in the words of Rev Ross D. Brown teaching them to
stop dressing like Prince poor mans wages stop
buying fine automobiles while he lives financial alley
to stop oafng and swearing the Streets stop throwing
away weekly wages stop talking loud and telling secrets
And to be honest enough to admit that want
ed not always because of but often because of
always because slaves but often because are still
asleep not always because of prejudice but often
destroy property not always because of color but often be-
of character and proportion that realize these
things SO will begin to enjoy to the fullest extent right
here in Mississippi better le the kind of life thousands
of Negroes fought for in World War H. al
In broader sense this Negro History Week Issue is
dedicated to showing youth that whether they live in
Maine Mississippi there glorious heritagethat while
it took several centuries to produce Byron Bacon EN-
erson and Edison, Washington and Webster only
little than eighty years produce Anderson and
Abbott Carver Banneker and Behune Revels Ran
dolph Joe Louis Robinson Truth Tubman and Turner
We do not intend to give the impression that
sissppi is Heaven that it being as desirable
place in which to live would have it, but Mississippi
is home, many of us plan to live die here-anv of
us know from experience that it is any many
respects than any of the other AZ states
So while maintain that taxpayers we deserve and
should have recreation program for children pro-
portion to the amount of pay while we know that
in order to be better citizens educational
tunites the every other citizen of the state while
we maintain that until the youth the state both white and
black given equal opportunity become
ing sesupporng and the State of Mississippi
never have webaanced czeny of prosperous cities
towns dvlages let also maintain that unless NEGROES
begin NOW program of helping themselves every
respect when the opportunities that leaders fighting
for do group will be found wanting ul-
able to take advantage of these opportunities
This paper may up your expectations there
is much about it would have liked have improved
do hope that in small way will bring about the results
for which it is dedicated
We thank all who contributed in any way to the pub
fishing of this, 1947 NEGRO HISTORY WEEK ISSUE.