The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1948-04-28
THE NEGRO AND
THE CONSTITUTION

The Constitution of the United
States is the basic and fundamen-
tai law of its citizens. It is the
heart lifting and moral support
among these citizens, especially
among the members of minority
groups. At this time l will quote
the preamble of this Constitution
which means much to many peo-
pie. It says thus: I'VE the people
of the United States. In order to
form more perfect union. estab-
fish justice. insure domestic tran
guilty, provide for the common
defense. promote the general well
fare, and secure the blessing of
liberty to ourselves and our po-
sterity."
The phrase in the preamble Of
the Constitution of the United
States that says. I'VE the people,
gives the American Negro the feel
ing that he really IS part of
this perfect union. It is also that
phrase that makes the American
Negro KNOW that he should reap
the benefits bestowed upon him
by the preamble of the Constitu-
ton. This constitution was formed
for the sake of freedom and the
rights Of man.
The American Negro has had
a strong win and stronger de-
termination to be free In the trner
sense of the word, and to expect
the rights he knows to be his,
but he has not reached the peak
of attainment of the rights OF man.
will now quoter part of the
18th and 18th amendments. =
Quote: "All persons born or natur-
allied in the United States, and
subject to the jurisdiction there
of, are citizens of the Unitel
States and of the State wherein
they reside. No state shall make
or enforce any Law which shall
abridge the privileges or immun.
tiles of citizens of the United
States; nor shall any State de-
prive any person of life, liberty,
or property without due process
of law, nor deny to any person
within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws" UnQuote.
Article XIV. quote: "The right Of
citizens of the United States to
vote shall not be denied or abrid-
ged by the United States, or by
any State. on account of race.
color, or previous conditions of
servitude." Unquote.
Some Negroes of our country
have been able, in sense to
obtain these rights. on the other
hand. there are other citizens who
are threatened and abused by the
majority races IL he attempts to
exercise these rights Here the
citizen lives in fear and torment
between what Is meant by the
rights of man and what is meant
by the Negroes place in America.
In this day of time the Amer
lean Negro needs to hold his
determination and counterattack
the opposing evils with bis increas-
ed knowledge to obtain these civil
rights. I'll admit that civil rights
of man have progressed to GER
tain extent, but need to progress
further to make unity among the
peoples Of the United States.
We are to pity and not to hate
the southern senators in our White
House who emploc all unorthodox
methods of legislation to Withhold
civil rights belonging to the Amer
lean Negro, for they have been
endowed with this attitude handed
down from generation to genera
ton. Unity of the people of the
United States is a long process
to gain.
We, the American Negro, must
defeat these evils, not only for
ouselves but for all minority
groups so that the future genera
tons may share the fruits of the
long struggle.