The Miami times., 1952-01-26

NEW YORK - (GlobaD - AS
long as can remember every
presidential election has been
called "the most crucial in our
history" and every Presidential
year has been described as "the
year of decision" The approach
ing election and this year are no
exception. Already we are being
told that the 1852 election might
well determine the course of the
world for the next 100 years.
The funny thing about these
dire warnings is that they are es-
Sentially true. The next step is
always the dangerous one, once
we have successfully negotiated
the last. What far too many people
fail to realize is that freedom does
not stay won of it's own. There
are too many people who would
rob others of their freedom. Lib
erty and freedom, once won, have
to be rewon and have to be cir
cumspectly guarded in order to
keep them won.
One of the cardinal weaknesses
in the Negro's efforts to push for
ward in his fight for recognition
as man and human being OF
full stature is his failure to re-
main alert after a skirmish has
been won.
1t almost always happens that
after the Negro has fought tire
leSsly for years to effect some
change in the jim crow pattern of
life in the United States and Sc
cured a modicum of recognition,
he lapses into a false sense of Sc
curity and satisfaction only to
tages he had gained are all gone
wake up later to find the advan-
or have been rendered meaning
less.
The year 1852 is a year of de-
cision as was the year 1948, and
the coming election is the most
crucial in our history" just as the
election four years ago at that
time - was the most crucial.
This is true because we have
survived the past, and only the
future can resent us problems.
The darkness of uncertainty which
shrouded our course at the be-
ginning of 1948 has been swept
away by the passing of time. But
today, that same darkness blinds
us of tomorrow and what it holds
for us and the world.
The Negro's stake in the COM
ing Presidential election is a
mighty big one. There has been
a great deal of talk about what
he is entitled to during the past
10 or Is years, but except for the
enterprise of the NAACP and as
sociated organizations in effecting
certain changes in our national
pattern through the courts, prac-
tically nothing has been done
legislatively to correct the Ne
gro's basic complaints.
While several of the states,
notably New York, have taken
steps to write into the law mea-
sures to cut the ground from un-
der the bigots, the Federal legiS-
lature has accomplished nothing.
The Presidential election and the
year 1852 are, therefore, most i'm
portant for the Negro because
time may be running out on him
in his "fight for freedom" The
world is dynamic, true enough,
and it would be naive to say
that it will soon become static.
However, history has shown that
there is greater ferment at one
time than there is at others. At
one period in hisory, social
changes occur rapidly, at others
the change is inperceptible -
time.
depending on the climate at the
The world today, doubtless, is
undergoing vast changes. 1t is
ripe for these changes, and 1t be-
hooves the Negro to bestir him
self and take such action as will
serve to make the best of most
favorable situation. We must not
be willing to settle for temporary
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