The Miami times. [volume] (Miami, Fla.) 1923-current, 1949-08-06
JACKIE ROBINSON
INTERRACIALIST

1t was the conclusion of this
column many months ago that one
of the most hopeful signs in the
realm of better race relations was
the forthrightness with which non.
southern Negroes are speaking these
days. There was time when non.
southern Negroes seemed to glory
in riding" southern Negroes for
for their seeming submission to the
prescriptions and insinuations of
segregation.
1t had come about that southern
Negroes were afraid to speak the
honest truth as they saw it, fear.
ing to incur the wrath of non-south.
ern Negroes. Things have changed
considerably within the last 10 years
and the non-southern Negroes are
speaking in such fortnight manner
that the atmosphere is being con-
siderably cleared for a more con.
structive approach to inter-race re.
lations. The day of branding all
southern Negroes as towards and
appeasers and gradulists has past,
and more and more the southern
Negroes position is appraised after
such manner that he too is looked
upon as struggling within limits to
the uttermost for his full-fledged
rights.
Today the greatest difference be.
tween the non-southern and south.
ern Negroes voice of contention for
full manhood rights is one of tone
and the tone is more and more be.
coming the same. There can be no
doubt that deck is being cleared for
constructive action intra-racially
and interracially. Even today some
southern Negroes are trying TO
blow hot and cold at the same time,
in the fear that they may avert the
non-southern Negroes wrath which
is more and more becoming non.
existent. In other words Negroes
are coming together in their think
ing and speaking and in this there
is brought into view unparalleled
vistas of possibilities which hitherto
were obscured by intra-racial mis-.
understanding
Non-sOuthern Negroes are quick
to see what opportunities the seq
regated south is offering non-south-
ern Negroes, in spite of the handi-
caps and Nervousness of segregation
itself. In spite of segregation and
its evil cOncOmitants, the south is
today affording ample opportunities
for Negroes to demonstrate their
claims to equal opportunity and this
is the highest opportunity that can
come to any people.
1t is far better to have the ability
and be denied than to have the OPP
portunity and fall short on ability.
Within their straitened circum'
stances Negroes are exhibiting daily
their equality in every noble endea-
vor in the nation. In fact it is gen.
orally conceded that such handicaps
as are imposed upon Negroes are
imposed for reasons of prejudice and
not for reason of the Negroes in
capacity. When this point Is proved
doubt, the Negro has won his fight
and the acquisition of the oppor'
tunities commensurate with these
proven abilities are more incidents
in the final analysis.
This article is inspired by the re-
cent deliverance of Jackie Robinson
before the committee on Un-Ameri.
can Activities. Unfortunately Jackie
had to appear against Paul Robe
son erstwhile idol of the musical
world. It is exceedingly unfortunate
that Paul Robson has been maneu'
vered into q position where his 10y
atty to his nation is being question
ed. have little doubt that Paul
Robson at heart is a hundred per-
cent American. Negroes at heart can
be nothing else and what they say
10 the contrary is publicity bologna.
But Jackie's deliverance is a classic
of common sense and intelligence.
Jackie speaks for about eleven
tenths of the Negro race Paul Robe
son included. When Jackie seth
forth the subtle horrors of being a
Negro and in spite of this shows the
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