Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1951-12-01
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Mississippi Revisited
Memphis, Tenn. = When | re-
visited Mississippi several months
ago, it had been just about ten
years since | was last in the Delta
state. Now, as ten years ago, | am
as much as ever convinced that
what problems the state has will
have to be solved by the people of
the state, themselves.
Above all, one sees hope in Mis-
sissippi, despite any position that
anyone may take. The biggest hope
for the Negro in the state lies in
the fact that this population seq
ment is becoming increasingly
more concerned about its political
rights. So today, there are prob
ably more than 10000 qualified
, Negro voters in the state.
Mississippi has an abundance of
manpower. And in view of the fact
its corporation lax is among the
lowest in the nation, industry finds
combination that is inviting
manpower and low taxes. 1t is
therefore locating itself in the
state, and in Jackson, you can see
the plain evidence of the good
industry's coming is doing for the
state
Further Mississippi possesses
some of the most fertile and pro-
ductive soil in the farm areas of
the land. The states agricultural
development, its passing from "an
Anticipated economy of cotton over
to cattle and diversification" will
enhance its position as one of the
free worlds sources of food The
Negro, keeping pace with this de-
velopment, will profit.
Negroes own vast quantities of
productive farm lands in the state.
And it is to be expected that the
race will share to a large degree
in the new economy that will come
to the state now that oil is being
brought from beneath this land.
Regardless to what happens in the
oil development, one-eighth of the
take" will remain with the land
owner-that's federal law.
In the important area OF educa-
ton, Mississippi has wagged the
tail of the nation. On the average,
its expenditures for this important
public service has been far below
the national average. Needless to
say, its Negro population has been,
to now, the biggest sufferer. In
this connection, it can be recalled
that Mississippi once was out
standing.
In 1872 when the state purchas-
ed Oakland College, formerly a
school sponsored by the Presbyter-
ion church for white boys, it was
set up as Alcorn University and
given an annual appropriation of
$4,000. But for around seventy
years, this institution never receiv-
ed more than the initial appropria-
ton in a given year. The state uni
versity itself received only $4,000
in 1872.
During the past ten or eleven
years, Mississippi has greatly in
creased its appropriations to its in
stiutions of higher learning which
are maintained by state laws for
Negro students. In that period it
has acquired from Baptist owner
ship Jackson College, where there
is now beautiful plant and a good
educational program at work.
Mississippi has also initiated
new institution of higher learning
in the creation of the Delta State
Vocational institute, bringing its
total number of state supported in
stitutions for Negro youth to
total of three. On the other hand,
the state does not afford within the
state those professional and gradu-
ate studies every Negro youth
should have and has a right to ex-
pect.
Back to our thesis, no exodus is
going to take Mississippi's huge
Negro population a-far to greener
pastures. With the coming of
greater political participation on
the part of the Negro, better
economy for the state, those
Negroes who will stay will be able
to demand, and will get, better
life. They will help solve what
ever problems Mississippi owns.