Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1951-03-10
X I N D RIx
CO NJ M ( N T S

Washington, d. C. II have lust
returned from Atlantic CITY. where
l saw how well democracy can
work when the people and their
representatives will that it should.
For five days, | witnessed real
democracy at work along the five
mile famous Boardwalk and reach
-ng into the two or three-mile deep
island that is one of the finest re-
sort spots in the country. What has
happened in Atlantic City, | feel,
S fine tribute to New Jersey.
Greatly, the credit is due Gov
2rnor Alfred E. Driscoll, who some
believe was risking his entire poll
lcal future by his campaign to
make his state truly democratic
piece of American territory. Now
me can see the dividends that the
governors effort paid.
My visit to Atlantic City was oc-
;asioned by the annual convention
If the American Association of
School Administrators. Like /, you
would have been elated to see some
.hree hundred Negro school admin
| lstrators, educators and school
board members in participation.
My only regret is that more
| Negroes were not in Atlantic City
for this important convention.
Many of our group were conspicu-
Gus by their absence, since it APP
pears to me that we will not hasten
The day of full Indignation by re-
naming apart from groups and or
! CARNATIONS of import.
Much too often, Negroes seem to
De too prone to remain outside of
those activities through which they
can best foster the best interest
If cooperation and fuller democra-
tic participation-it's like waiting
Tor the blessed event, without TAX
ing cognizance of the fact that
work will rush its coming.
One of our biggest tasks, it oc-
ours to me, is to identify ourselves
wherever possible with accepted
movements that are devoted to
problems and concerns of our ma
'lonal life. This we can best do by
becoming working units, as indi-
7iduals, of such outfits as the Am
arican Association of School Adj
illustrators.
Each Negro that enters a So
called white organization becomes
oy belonging and participation an
ambassador of racial advancement
people cannot know one another
without contact. This Negro has the
obligation of paving the way for
others of his race as we'll as help
ing to set policy designed towards
better democracy.
Recently white attorney in st.
Louis gave an "about" twist to
CHS position of mine by joining the
Mound City Bar Association, a
oody composed of forty-five law
yers of color. In Washington, the
Capitol Press Club, which is an
organization of Negro newsmen,
has had white members for many
years. Neither the st. Louis Bar
Association or the National Press
Club of Washington accept Negro
members.
The fact that whites would seek
membership in these two Negro
professional groups is an indication
that those whites see value in the
contracts that are afforded through
organizations which permit bi-rac-
lal participation. The young lawyer
who was accepted by the Mound
City Bar Association so expressed
himself:
Since there are many problems
in the profession involving the two
races and the St. Louis Bar Asso-
citation won't admit Negroes,
thought it was a good thing for
white attorneys to join the Negro
organization Then his going into
the Negro body might likely hasten
the day when the other st. Louis
group will readily accept Negro
members.
am not one who advocates that
Negroes cast aside their organiza-
tions, for | feel strongly that there
is much yet to be accomplished and
will only be accomplished by the
existence of these groups-maybe
solely as protest groups. There, as
consequence, will long be need
for the Negro organization.
Nevertheless, there seems to be
merit in Negroes getting to be
artlculate parts of those national
organizations which accept partici-
pations without restrictions based
on race or color. Waiting will not
do it, the blessed event will come
as a result of work thru participa-