The Miami times. [volume] (Miami, Fla.) 1923-current, 1955-06-18
Between The Lines
Cadillacs Versus
Harnburgers

A few days ago the writer was
standing at the meat counter in
the market and was thrilled with
the offerings. He asked for two
T-bone steaks and two pounds of
calf'S liver, which he rushed home
In his 1949 model car. Next to
him at the market was beautiful,
finely dressed woman who was
evidently one of our teachers, in
the upper bracket salaries. She
called for hamburger. She drove
a 1855 Carillac.
AS / understand, hamburger is
a low-priced meat because it is
made up of scraps and what-notS.
The thing that struck me most
forcefully was that another Cad
illac-driving, beautifully dressed
woman came up and called for
hamburger. then began to Won
der what was the connection be-
tween Hamburger and CadlllacS.
People are entitled to their pref
erences, even at the market; and
for all we know in the aod the
fellow who eats hamburgers Is
just as well off as he who eats
Calls liver, but the incident is
worth thinking about, and from
it we may derive useful lesson.
Certainly the man who eats
Calls liver is eating the best and
he who rides in CadillacS is rid
ing in the best. There does seem
to be something funny about rid
ing in the best and eating less
than the best, The conclusion
cannot be evaded that some how
ones eating and riding should be
brought into line. It is where there
is great discrepancy that we leave
one vexed to understand.
The above observation is de-
signed to call attention once more
to the discrepancy between the
Negro voting strength and his
talking strength. We are forced to
conclude that Negroes must some
how reduce this discrepancy.
There is a great temptation to sit
back and rejoice over Supreme
court decisions and let the matter
Of voting slip. The Negroes vot-
ing strength in the natlon is. gen.
orally too weak to match the races
ambitions and aspirations. The
possibilities which inhere in the
ballot are unlimited while those
which inhere in Supreme court
decisions are strictly limited.
There seems to be no definite cru
SADIE for the ballot. And it is still
the ballot that holds out ultimate
hope for first class citizenship for
Negroes.
Today we have throughout the
Old South a studied attempt TO
evade and circumvent the SUI
preme court decision that Segre-
cation in the schools is unconst-
tutional, and plans to indefinitely
POSTPONE migration. The various
states and countries and school
districts are busy planning evasion
but in these plans there are few
or no Negroes. In the matter OF
planning the Negro is on the out
side looking in. This situation
must be corrected If we are to
profit by the Supreme court de-
cision.
Sitting back seeing what will
happen is not a constructive way
to meet the challenge of the hour.
Negroes are lost If they are plan
ming on walking out the situa-
ton. The opponents Of indignation
are busy. Hamburger planning
can not match calls liver PLAN
ming. II must be observed that 70
date no way has been devised to
force the segregationists into in
tegration and this even the SUI
preme court seemingly sensed "
its latest directive. The potential
voting strength of the Negroes OF
the South is considerable and the
manipulation of this strength Is
the problem number one for Ne
gro leadership.
Before Negroes enter the Prom
iSed Land Of full-fledged citizen
ship in this country they are 60
ing TO be voters and effective
wielders of the ballot. Believe II
or not, the final determinant IN
the current critical situation Is not
me decisions az the courts but