Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1955-07-23
The Vicksburg Petition And
NAACPLeadership

Over in Georgia where the drive for Indignation is
about to reach the crisis stage where the state author
ties have made it known that Negro Teacher found
to be member of the NAACP will be Immediately fired
the Atlanta Daily World the nations only Negro daily
newspaper the other day concluded editorial the
subject with these words
We aware of the nature of the question of mix
ing the where legal segregation has been in force
for many years. Therefore, wise NAACP leadership
will be careful not to allow its decision and actions to
give sembance of impression that this was the
main objective.
We have supported the NAACP and will continue
to support because believe in it's program to emi-
nate legal discrimination and segregation.
But the problem that confronts the local leadership
of is of finding the best method of reaching
these goals An attitude of all nothing or never
is not the way Can the present local top NAACP lead
ershp supply the wisdom and the ability the hour de-
mands?
That is the immediate question for the Atlanta Ne
groeS to answer
1t is also of great significance in this moment in
the Negroes struggle for first class citizenship that Dr.
Charles s. Johnson President of Fisk University
world recognized authority the subject of sociology
and human relations in address before the 18th An
nual Race Relations Institute warned Negroes against
too much agitation and excessive legal and legislative
action pointing to the possibility that such other action
may react against those mnorities principally the Ne
gro using such means to achieve their aims
Some weeks ago a group of outstanding and
responsible Negro and white citizens of Vicksburg and
Warren County entered into compact forming Citi-
zens Committee of Inter-racia Good Will AS regards
the aims of the Committee the following quoted from
Negro
That whereas, in this our community of Vicksburg
and Warren County, Mississippi there has for so many
years been outsandngy good relationship existing be-
tween the two races of citizens, and WHEREAS
there are matters of recent that could easily
disturb this good relationship and
Whereas none of us has the wisdom to divine the
solution of the problem overcoming the difficult and
dangerous potential events that might arise result
OF such occurrences; and
Whereas We, the undersigned believed ourselves to
hOfh hove foitb
that given mutual feeling and understanding and hav-
ing AS we believe the manfuness to face squarey the
problems confronting
;, Now, therefore, do we hereby seek, compact and
adhere to one general basic and primary ground
wherein to meet towit:
That of interracal peace good will and mutual re-
gao ana respect IN the hope and expectation that thru
TINS primary common ground and using same as frame
OF reference that the difficulties confronting the two
races may be resolved in a allowing to each all
rights within the purvew of that frame of reference
Since the organization of the Committee and the
signing OF the Compact by its members there has come
nothing but the most favorable reports resulting from
It's meetings. and its plans and project for making Vicks
ourg city of freedom and opportunity for all it's people
Negro and white alike.
The organization of the Vicksburg Committee was
no and its plans and purposes generally known
to all Intelligent citizens of the CITY, and to extent
elsewhere in the state
From in Vicksburg this week comes the report
that the Local Branch of the NAACP has filed petition
for IMMEDIATE integration of the public schools and
action which viewed in the light of the editorial in the
CHe oIHeT uay, ana IN the hight OF the
speech above referred to by Dr. Charles Johnson does
raise the questions is the sole aim of the NAACP
that of mixing white and Negro children in schools? Is
driving the Negro of the South excessive agitation
with its inevitable unfavorable reaction? And, can
the present local top NAACP leadership supply the wis
dom and ability the hour demands?
One thing that apparent to the intelligent observer
that having been deserted by the vast majority of
those who made its membership while in the quest of
equaty those who have assumed the local leadership
OF the NAACP in its drive for Indignation incapable Of
speaking or thinking in any other than that
vndicveness among the Negroes whom they profess to
plead. "
Looked at in it's proper light when the United
the nations public schools unconstitutional every school
IN Vcksburg and everywhere else became an American
school, differing only in the degree in which they lacked
the facilities to make the educational opportunity of
the students attending each school equal.
1t appears to us beyond and logic to con-