Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1951-04-13

except at its power is pointed in direction that will
bear upon the present needs and conditions of the
Booker T. Washington
This is the 95h year since Booker Washington born
slave cabin the Burroughs plantation in Franklin
y Virginia Historians place his birth date April 5h 1856 and
here his birthplace have celebrated this day for the past
six years.
AS is CUSTOM the Anniversary celebration begins the
Sunday before On April 1s thousand people
here be inspired by Dr. Mary Mcleod Beune Congressman
Thomas Stanley and Judge A. H. Hopkins 1t dual
ceremony the first part devoted to the unwilling of the
panel three story building to replace the
burned December and the part aside from
the formal installation of Mrs Virginia H. Phillips pema
nent postmistress was based upon the theme American
Self Reliance.
The present national emergency requires reappraisa of
position American citizens rights under the Consi-
tuition; way of life democracy; responsibilities
citizens and preparations for sacrifices in total
il that becomes a reality
Ii World War group the least prepared to
shoulder share of national responsibilities 1t true that
in the actual fighting soldiers, sailors marines, amen
all acquitted themselves with distinction.
On the home-fron not prepared. Some of our
leaders preached about Indignation into defense industry yet
very the necessity for adequate large scale development
required skls among Negroes In times of the
nation private industry doesn't have time to train enough
manpower to meet the needs of tremendous warmaking
potential That reservoir of skilled craftsmen from
the schools and colleges is obvious if aren't constantly
trying interest young people in this type of training then
when necessity arises when is eminent and production
must be accelerated to meet military requirements will
be left behind All the hue and cry will avail nothing because
NJ
alize how misguided
In the emergency, we, Booker T. Washington
Memorial have launched approach this vexng prob
lem and want to tell you about it.
To fight Communism and advance the economic progress
of the American Negro concentrating activities
E c, for its immediate and long-term benefits.
sEPc Means Skilled Employment for coored People
Manpower Is WarpoWer
This program will create and help others create more
employment for Negroes occupations and services where they
productive We telling defense industries
make manpower shortages by using workers from the
100000 able Negro and who will not have an
opportunity o serve their country in uniform.
The Memorial moboze many Of these workers in the
communities they are shops and plants that
establish and operate We train them in woodworking
garment abrcatng and processing plants These plants will
sbcontracs supply other manufacturers who need more
production operations will be under experienced engineer
ing management insure high standards and low costs
These plants erected in wartime be easily converted
peace-tne manufacturing and processing Thus Negroes
won't suffer for lack of employment after the emergency
SECP will create - more manpoWer y more production
power 81 buying power and Al defense power
Such benefits will be tribute to the principles OF
Booker Washington This type Of program brings his phoso
ply of "hanessng knowledge and pointing 1t In the
direction where it will do the most good"
Self Reliance
Sc Stems from The Axiom "Do MORE HAVE MORE.
We realize that only of 100 Negroes complete four
wears of college; 100 complete high SCHOOL, nearly
half of Negroes of hgade status Educators
know this little preparation for general self reliance
We have faith in the educators for developing our coming gene
rations
Booker Washington Birthplace Memorial is working with
THE NEGRO OF TODAY. We know that the skilled workman
is free man with pride and self reliance problems
vanish
Our goal bring 100000 Negroes from unskied
work such skilled employment will average Slooooo
MORE than previous earnings The big goal is Tor all oil
our people to earn freedom Think what it means 20
add Hundred Million Dollars to the spending power
Of Negroes Interpret that of in terms OF new
homes higher education insurance and better and higher
living standards That money put into the right channels and
don't mean cars, whskey and more high Jhks
we have too much of already 100000 Negro families
will reinforce our defense against communism and produce
self reliant Americanism.