Arkansas State press., 1950-10-13
this
day and age
We Who Are Younq
BY Clyde o. Jackson, City Editor

Progress being made in the field of race relations brings
more responsibility as we'll as a little more freedom to the
Negroes in the south. Negro youth especially must be ready to
meet these new responsibilities, particularly those of US who will
be the "firsts",. As an example, indignation in the United States
armed forces is almost complete, even in Little Rock and Ark
ahsas. Recently, at the L. 5. recruiting center located at second
and Center streets, a group of young Americans, white and
colored, went through their physical and intelligence examina-
lions without any discrimination whatsoever. These men were
given these tests under the same conditions and in the same
quarters. Negro and white men alike made low scores, average
scores and a few of each group were in the high score bracket
on the intelligence test. There were no exhibits of temper FLAIR
ing, violence, name calling or race batting. No one acted as
though he thought he should be first because his face was white.
The men were all accorded on a first come first serve basis. In
cdents such as this is all to the dismay of the die hard southern
ers and bigots who claim that the abolition of segregation in
the south will never work, But it presents a challenge to the Ne
gro youth of the south. We have a terrific responsibility, you and
l. we have to see to it that those gains made by our fathers will
be held and the other necessary gains will be won.
There are a number of US who have sat idly by and enjoy
ed the freedoms which the liberal organizations and individuals
have sacrificed and died to win for US. Many of US have not even
thought enough TO contribute funds or moral support to these
organizations who are winning the freedom for us in America
In this case. the least we can do is to guard those freedoms which
have been won by acquiring the culture and selfdecipine which
will have to go along with these gains. Now we are the first to
admit that fundamentally, all peoples are the same regardless
of race, but we also have to realize that those of US who are
self respecting and cultured are not the ones the rest of the world
care to classify us by. The world still tends to classify US with
lose of our race who are the uncle toms, the dice shooters,
the loud mouth eursers, etc.
Those of you who will not be prepared to meet the COM
ition which will arise as segregation slowly, Blu. surely, crum-
bles will be lost in the fog. You know and l know that Jackie
Robinson could not have made the majors, had he been just as
good as any white player in the majors; he had to be not twice
as good, but six or seven times as good as the average white play
er in the majors to be accepted. He went in as a first, made
good and opened the way for the great Campanelas Dobys, Eas-
tiers, etc. You vets of world war II who are careless enough to
disregard the opportunity of attending school under the CT Bill
and you others who are existing in the classrooms merely to
draw the compensation checks and to keep from finding en-
ployment will find cause for remorse when the holiday is over.
You owe it to your father and your mother, who sacrificed for
you and fought for your rights the best they knew how. You
owe it to your race, which has proven that a man who is down
not necessarily out. You owe it to your children, who after all
do not ask to be born in the first place, (and certainly not in
a world Of sin and prejudice) to look critically at yourself and
police yourself where needed.