Arkansas State press., 1951-04-20
DOWN OUR Way
by frances sampson

National Bar Week Observance has been pro-
iairfed by J. r. Booker, president OF the Ma
giona Bar Association in order that strong,
statlnch and aggressive bench and bar shall be
on the alert To protect and defend the liberties
If peoples everywhere, and to preserve, pro-
tect and defend the Constitution Of the United
States of America, and the laws created there
Under The National Bar Association is an
organization of lawyers consisting chiefly of
members Of the bars of the several states Of
TIE union, and will probably 60 down m his
tory as shock troop outfit in existence be-
FIRE democracy was a way of life for all law
vers in the United States. There is no barrier
set I'D in its constitution against the admission
of lawyers because of racial origin. The same
cannot be said Of the American Bar Associa-
fion
The Negro Lawyer In The South is establish
fng himself under undue hardshipS. The
smart Negro lawyer has realized from he
outset when an office vas established n say
southern state that he must become a social
pioneer. In Arkansas, the role of the Ne
gro lawyer has been well known for many
.'ears, through the pioneer efforts of its most
distinguished son. the late Scipio Africanus
Jones. In his footsteps have come John A.
HibbEer, Joseph Robert Booker and Harold
Flowers who have waged consistent battles
for the rights of their clients and the liberties
Of their people
Despite The Contributions Made BY Negro
Lawyers they are yet faced with problems
stemming from hypocritical action Of the Me-
gro leaders. Negro lawyers constitute the sole
bulwark in the south against the infringe
ment Of the civil liberties Of Negroes; while
on the other hand, most Negro leaders by their
employment of white lawyers, make the road
hard for the Negro lawyer to survive upon
the limited support afforded by Negro clients.
Recently in Georgia, Negro bishop employed
white counsel to defend him in a church fracas,
where in the same city and state lives an out
standing lawyer Of national repute, A. T.
Walden.
Very few Negro lawyers enjoy the sup
port of clients coming from leadership among
Negroes whether in church or in business. The
Negro business and church leader caters to the
adage well believed among Negroes that
s'white is right. So. Negro leaders in business
and men of God take most of their troubles,
especially where a decent fee may be earned
80 white lawyers. Even in divorce matters. Ne
70 leaders flock to the offices of white law
ers. while at most the only credit usually
z.iven a Negro lawyer in some communities is
all he does is to get Divorces However, it
is strange paradox that when a Negro is
snistreated by whites in cases such as police
brutality; or in all too frequent instances
where school opportunities are not provided
fin accordance with law the Negro lawyer is
the first one called upon, and in so many in
stances is forced to wage the battle alone. The
masses are gradually learning to repose con-
fidence in the Negro lawyer, as Negro lawyers
In the defense of the usually unknown Negro
clients, win victories in the courts, and the
praise and laudation heaped upon the Negro
lawyer by his faithful force attention on the