Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1949-06-04


ing conservative, liberal, and
practical opinion are in complete
agreement as to what The Negro
wants, even as they differ on ire
methods for achieving the goal.
One of the choicest quotations in
my repertoire is a statement
from a white book reviewer who
summed it up thusly: "They
want the simple human things
you and | want; To take part,
without arbitrarily imposed han
dicaps, in the duties and benefits
of the society they live in; to be
counted mas human beings when
we white Christians say all men
I are brothers, when we white
democrats say "all men are
equal"
In recent months there has
come from several sources the
demand that Negroes in Missis-
sippi express for themselves
what they want. Negroes in Mis-
sissippi have been criticized for
not repudiating northern Ne
groes who presume to speak for
US. -
On several occasions when
have rad the opportunity to
speak to white groups OF to Ne
gro audiences where there were
whites present, / have stated
frankly and honestly what Ne
groes in Mississippi want. To
my own credit and that Of my
listeners, at no time ras there
been occasion for offense.
In the first place, it is white
folks, not Negroes, who are wor
ried about "social equality" and
the breakdown of segregation.
10 many Negroes the use of the
term social equality" is some
times ludicrous. Those Negroes
who have run the entire ganaut of
relations with white peopla-hav-
ing eaten with them, sat in class
with them, worked with them.
played games with them, danced
with them, slept in the room with
them, or shared foxholes and
bombing missions with them:
having had their services as maids,
bell boy, manicurist, seamstress.
and what have you-forget to
look at the pale faces but rather
beneath the surface to the real
person. To them white people
are just people, with the same
basic urges that characterize
other people.
If we did not believe so firm.
| ly in the Christian principle OF
the essential worth of every mu
man being, some of us could fine
ample justification for rating our
selves, not as social equals, bui
as superior to many of the white
people we know-even wher
judged by the most rigid cliteris
of physical features, edgcationa
and cultural attainments, econ
omic possessions, and even fam
lily background.
, 10 me, personally, ire idea oil
superiority is repugnant, being
contradictory to all that is Chris
tan and democratic. II, as tht
consequence of superior advan
tages and fortunate c;rcumstan
ces, one man or race mas achieved
more of the tangible evidence!
of well-being than some Other
people, I think that man or thai
race, instead of becoming AFRO
CANT and complacent, mas a pro
ity for living respectable life
portionately greater responsible
and for making life liveaa,e fol
otrer people.
In the second place, white PEG
, pie are wrong if and when they
think Negroes harbor any ambi
, lions for intimacy witr them
to visit in their homes, or to mar
. ry their daughters. Negroes who
have never heard of Emily Post
know that personal visits are ex.
changed between mutual friends
For whatever comfort it NAV
give those who need it, it will be
a long time before Negroes in
the Sout haccet white people on
elltathev
that MISUNDERSTANDING all
the preachments that "the south
1