Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1953-01-03
An Opinion Segregation Or
Interrogation In Education

Up in Tupelo Mississippi the other day the Tupelo
Journal published editorial under the title, ''We
Solve This Problem AS We have Others dealing with
the suit to abolish segregation in the public schools of
the nation awaiting the decision of the United
States Supreme Court Rev Amos 0. Holmes, Pastor of
ST. James Methodist Church up at Amory Mississippi,
and read the Journal editorial and wrote the editor
of the paper his opinion the subject and sent
copy of what he wrote which follows:
In your editorial (Tupelo Daily Journal Dec. II,
1862 1--WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AS WE
HAVE OTHERS) you suggested that colored and white
people express their opinions the subject of segrega
ton Indignation in the public schools.
The Associated Press has already solicited and pub
shed the opinions of four Negroe leaders in Mississippi
Commercial Appeal Dec 12) but their statements will
without doubt be refuted by the Negroes of Mississippi
The fear of reprsals is great deterrent of honest pub
lie opinion unpopular questions and it may be impos
sibe to find out how larger portion OF them feel about
segregation in public schools, but any free opinions
would be far different from those of Dr. H. H. Humes
Mr.. A. A. Alexander, or DR.. c. H. Hunter Here is
different opinion for total integratiOn pure and
simple. . 49," -, 4" -:
Mississippi needs change it's way of thinking about
social progress Despite the progress referred to in
editorial after "a of that kind of progress Mis-
sisspp is still the bottom in education, compared to
the other At States though it's economic potential
ability to improve is Oath in the nation.
You ask many others asking, "Al we ask
is that not be pushed fast that the goal of the court
(Supreme Court of U. S. we'll of the responsible
leaders of Mississippi be lost amid fractional strife and
nterracia bitterness What is the right of any block
of Americans to hold the rights of other Americans in
their fists and issue them out charity? know that
there people who will Junk the United States
Constitution the Mississippi Constitution is better
to hell with the Supreme Court decisions, the principles
of democracy religious ideals anything else that up
sets sacred traditions Sacred traditions of exploit
tation, racial dominance and ego-superiOrty) What is
the right? There is such right that is philosophcay
safe.
To suppose that segregation of the is essential
for peace among them and that indignation breeds VOL
and nteracia bitterness is contrary to the facts
available During 81 of the "a years of progress ndca
EDITORIAL MlSSlS
spp between the and more bitterness than any
state with Indignation has ever experienced IN al ITS
history. There SIS lynchings 6OOfo of Misss
sppis share. On the other hand Negroes swallowed
many painful insults to keep the peace; conempts in the
press verbal slurs and ecang, discriminatory bene
fits and services of State county and city govern
ments Peace is not subjected quiet of oppressed people,
but subjected spirit of tolerant people who strive to
derstand each other Segregation breeds suspicion and
contempt Indignation promotes fellowship and under
standing Uproot the evil of segregation in public
schools and you will have brand of democracy
night In eleven Southern States where by court and vol
untary actions Universities admitted Negro students
right along with white Students not single instance has
been reported of riot ynchng nterracia strife
and that despite the fact many people pretended to
know there would be violence Further at Rust College,
Holly Springs Miss several white students have applied
for admission but the undemOcratc law OF segregation
Restraints both the institution and the white applicants
as we'll In no less than 20 known southern institutions,
whites and Negroes have gone to school together with
out friction Further still, young Mississippi white and
Negro students go to ntegrated colleges and universe
ties in other States without friction In fact many ee
mentary and high school MlSSlSSlpplanS VINO move TO
other States attend inegrated school systems without
friction, right along with the Mississippi Negro who
goes to the same school there but cannot to school
together in Mississippi Segregation is modified lie for
lot of evils The its gone and put out OF the way
the better it will be for Negroes and whites alike
Several Negro teachers fear the loss Of jobs in an
integrated school system Many of them need to do
thing else But there enough qualified Negroes to
teach in any of schools both white and Negro stu
dents fact if Negro teacher is not qualified enough
to teach white students, he is not qualified to teach
Negro students either But face the facts Indignation in
Mississippi would be gradual thing for many
Schools are mostly built in residential sections Most
Negroes are blocked in residential sections apart from
whites So many schools would be alNegro for long
time after racial barriers have been lifted Even so,
favor migrating white teachers in Negro schools
and some Negro teachers in white schools.
Progress involves calculated risks. Nobody knows
all the answers to social problems and it is hard
arrive at satisfactory solution for two racial groups
but we must be willing to take the calculated risks and
hope against hope that will find the answers as