The guardian., 1954-07-31

y
cial segregation as legal way
OF life, will be gone from
Dixie.'
LILLIAN SMITH Q95D
THE WHITE HOUSE and the
AFRICAN STUDENTS UNION,
both, by some perhaps pro
hetic ointer to the future,
have, purely by coincident,
caused communication to reach
our desk during the past week.
Thanks to The Creator the
President of the United States
has expressed White House in
terest in our humble columns
letters to him regarding a pro-
gram toward development of
stronger democratic ties with
the African people.
UNCLE SAM potentially pos
sesses the strongest and most
loyal ally in the African peO-
pie because Americas largest
and most loyal minority is
AfrO-American. The job of
developing these pOtentials is
hardly begun. The possibilities
of closer African economic as
well as cultural ties are being
studied in Washington. ESpe-
cially with the possible loss of
Asia, Africa looms in greater
Importance every day.
THE POSITION of Afro
Americans toward the oppres-
slonS and the development of
Africa was once strongly chal-
lenged by some critics, mo
tably during the invasion of
Ethiopa). These same critics
later encouraged other Ameri-
can minorities to "use their in
f1uence abroad" in Ireland. Italy
Greece, Poland. Turkey, Ger
many, Poland China Japan and
other countries to work for
democracy. So why not Afro
Americans too?
THE GUARDIAN for over
fifty years has steadfastIy
fought to win democracy to and
for all cOlOred people. By adj
vOcating democracy the editors
have been working with the
Government. In advocating
free and democratic Africa, |
closely allied with America. the
editors believe Africa can be
saved from the communist fate
of Asia. 1t calls for a lot of
hard work.
LINCOLN U. was host to
nearly seventy African students
last June. The scholars came |
from many American colleges.
DR.. Azikiwe the Nigeria leader, |
and DR.. Mkrumah, prime minis
ter of the Gold Coast, (both
Lincoln grads were present.
For nearly 100 years Lincoln
has aided African students |
Lincoln prexy, DR.. Mann, said |
Lincoln was founded to prove" +"
Africans have the same capa- |
cities and abilities" as any other
people on Earth.
U. S. TRAINING of African
students is, of course. to be
desired over the winning of
these students by Russian
schools. Therefor, President
Horace Mann of Lincoln and
other U. S. college leaders have
been quietly helping Uncle Sam
The Supreme Court 1854 de-
cision opening up U. S. Educa-
ton fields to all colored peo- !
les, is certainly far more
reaching in scope and design
than many people realize to-
day.
AFRO-STUDENTS are in
creasing. They are Catholics,
Protestants, MOslems and many
faiths from many African areas.
And they want democracy.
Said one African student, SEEM
ingly speaking for all the rest,
I'VE prefer self government for
all of Africa. And that means
We prefer government in danger
to servitude in tranquility. In
deed, the freedom we want is
freedom to make our own mis-
takes"
THIS SPEECH by Mr.. Iburun-
ba Getzen of the Herero tribe
should someday be inscribed in
the halls of African colleges.
1t completely blasts the false
concept that African natives
are "care-free and satisfied. |
Mr.. Getzen expressed his ap-
probation of American demo-
cracy. I'VE are here to learn
that which will benefit Africa"
he said, "and to learn from
the Americas those things which
are Of value to Africa and her
people"