Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-08-12
We're OF Age Now!

In this issue Of he paper celebrate our 2is
OF conngou" publication In other words Of
celebrated the 2st which marks the year which all
Americans are entitled TO vote.
Having reached maturity. after early life Of trials and
tbuatOns newspaper may be pardoncd for looking back
bit over he which have before Each year this
nvershry occasion gives editorial opportunity 10 do n little
remnscing stock taking Of the accom- piahmens Of the
paper in the past years and its hopes for the future
The brightest part Of the years Of publication through these
years has been the fine support which community has given
III We have not been able 10 translate that support into
sturdy medium Of expression and news certainly
not be charged to the general community which believe
has done very well by the paper.
We still do get the patronage from business firms who
have large advertising budgets In proportion to the money
which Negro families spend with such firms Not enough Ne
the people for whom this paper primarily pub
ahed take upon themselves to insist that the firms they do
business with spend part Of their advertising budget in
local Negro media.
Just how important consideration this Is can be seen
when remind the public that this paper employs more Min
nesoa Negroes in advertising gathering and publicity
aud printing jobs than other types Of communication which
Includes the local daily aud weekly newspapers radio Ty
direct mail and the bill board industries These types Of
munca'on supported by the nckc dimes dollars
Negro families well the white The return in
jobs to the Negro group il still negligible This Of the
reasons that of alert families regularly select
firms which advertise In this paper trade with and
whom regularly firms that do advertise in our
columns that they should
Our circulation has continued grow each year of our q
In only one year there decline in paid circulation
was over ten years The steady climb in circulation has
been made without extensive promoona efforts through the
growing interest Of the Negro community and through the
wider interest Of tho aory group the progress and al
vAnccment of tho legitimate ambitions Of their Negro fellow
citizens
The paper used by the Negro community aud m
white friends aud well wshers the first line Of against
all types of and religious discrimination Tho paper
worst critics will generally admit though grudgngy that
It will fight and all attempts keep Negro in position
OF second class citizen.
This policy extends itself include any man or gronp Of
any color creed who being taken advantage Of because
Of the skin color creeda preference beliefs pursuing
this policy tho paper has every and then found itself
odds with powerful forces in the community and has often
lost income from its desire justice least Of
Gods children.
ou'spoken in all of its ~ years the enemies has made
have been than compensated for by the respect
which the paper held In this section of the nation
A. class medium paper devoted the Negro commun
y has tho reputation Of being Of the top Negro journals
In the U.s. rated by authorities the Negro Press This
Idle boHs, for December 1850 EBONY Magazine
called th" paper lone Of the IL top Negro papers the
ton"
In In fight for democracy and equal treatment has not
confined its criticism those In the majority group who are
charged with being unfair the Negro because Of race Il has
not hcstacd to be critical OF members OF the Negro
lily for their shortcomings aud failures whenever felt IL nee
e"say Thw seldom popular one however has al
van'ages which TO the community the long run for
what good for the community usually good for the news
paper.
In all its 81 years this newspaper has taken the position
that tho better off socially economically the Minnesota Negro
became the better off this newspaper would be It's campaigns
for Jobs upgradng better housing fuller political partcpa
uon better upkccp of residential districts support of religious
institutions larger Of city health facilities recrcaonal ia
citiss and hundred and other things which felt were
beneficial most definitely had definite design and purpose
The papers aim was to stimulate and n'ers, both the Negro
resident and the community large the potential OF
the hadwokng thrifty home buying education seeking,
bilious Negro segment Of the citys population
In advancing these be said have been both
unscsh and selfish In the continuous drive for the rights of
the colored people claim have been unsesh II has al
ways been feeling In the II years Of existence
class newspaper that any Negro newspaper which does
strive TO be crusader in the public interest worth the
upon which printed The crusader must take risks
and be uusssh devotion TO principles regardless of
Our selfish desire has been 10 Negro community
% prosperous attractive well respected economically
vel OFF that Of such progress would rub off