The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??, 1952-11-01
The Negroes Greatest
Political Opportunity
(By RANDOLPH L. WHITE)

by RANDOLPH |. WHITLEY
The greatest political opportunity of al
times foees the American Negro through
out the nation in general and, in Dixie i,
particular, this November National Elec
zion.
AS Of August this yeor Negro reqis
tered voters below the Moson.Dixon Lin,
were as follows Alabama, $4,000; Ar
konsos, 10000; Georgia, l25, 600; Florida
10000; Louisiana, 10000; Tennessee
$4,000; Texas, 200, 900; North coro!inc
1880; Oklahoma. 10000; South Coro
limo, 10000; Virginia. 10000; and Miss
issiPPi. 10000. A tofoI of 1867 900 vote
as compared to an estimoted 100000 i,
l948.
The most heortening thing about fhi
ever increasing political c,woreness of IN,
race is that no sizeobIe number of Ne
groes seem to be returning to the Repub
iicon Porty.
Already the Negro holds q potentic
balance of power in local, stote and no
fonoi elections in California, Indiono
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois
New York. New Jersey ond Missouri
However, if the race really hopes to exer
else this balance of power opportunity, q
leost rs per cent of its votes must be de
Iivered in bIocs.
Twenty years ago Illinois was the onI,
stote which Negroes voted in bIocs lara,
enough to send Negro to CONGRESS. i,
l94O and "a the Negro vote carried a
least six states for Roosevelt Again ir
i948, in much closer election, the Ne
gro vote played an equally decisive roIs
in the Presidential Election.
These are cold facts concerning III.
Negroes political performance of the re
cent post. Whof he will do with his in
creosin9 political power is probIemoficoI
Whether the Negro will use this power tc
reinforce his demands for the stotus O
'lrst-closs citizenship, or whether his weak
ness Tor infro-rociol >non-cooperotion will
cause him to divide his vote until its effec
is nil is truly the Sixty-four Dollar Cues
ron.
The Negro hos made very good pro
sress, edUcotionIIy. politically and eco
norneolly, during the post 20 years. How
ever, there is still much room for improve
menf, especially in the matter of rocic
solidarity. There are still too many Ne
groes who were on the toiI-end of Hoover
Depression created bread lines, who now
having reached q higher degree of eco
nomic offiuence under recent Democrat,
Administrations, blotontIy tell US that onI,
q Republican Administration can odvonce
the races cause. What rot! This muIork>
is sickening to hear when we soberk re
fleet that Just about 90 per cent of Amer
icon Negroes are scarcely two jumps q
head OF the Economic doe-cotcher."
Whether we like it or not the noked
truth is that SO for as the status of first
class citizenship for American Neqroes i
concerned. "Mr. James Crow" on Mo;r
Street, U. S.A, is reIeeoted to the same
category and must accept the same .reot
ment and accommodations in rocaIIy sea
regoted Dixie thot plain old Jim Crow" o
Tin Pom Alley must endure All NEGROES
regardless Of their economic, educofionoI
sociol or political stotus, ore in the same
boot in America. The quicker the race reoI
ICES this foct and learns TO cooperate 90
liticolly for racial befiermenf, the soone
will White America accept if on q bosi.
of complete equality.
II hos been truly sold thof, before the
ballot box and before the grave, all mer
ore equal. This being true, if is high tim.
thot we Negroes redoUbie our efforts te
offon the equality we seek via the boIo
box route this November 4. Strike TELLING
blow for Democrocy--VOTE THE STEVEN
SON-SPARKhAAN TICKET THIS TUESDAY,
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