St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-04-13
Star & Tribune Presented Award

Star & Tribune Presented Award
Editors
The Minneapolis April s. presented the Min,
peapoB STAR with award
for outstanding Advancing Democracy Through Jour
allsm"
The presentation speech awarding relief plaque de
Of the board Urban League and past
president of Minneapolis Urban League
Mr. Newman's presentation address Is reprinted here'
One hundred and 81 years after Independence
years Lncons immortal Emancipation Proclamation
the one domestic problem admitting to fun and
equal citizenship color the American Negro
1t problem that will plague settled that
every American man woman and child
included in our sacred Bill
Of Rights.
many why the United States has not
rapidly solve its problem One important reason
that couns leadership areas have not raced the problem
squarey couageouy Until they do the problem will not be sov
minds and talents have been busy building ma
materially neglected the need to secure basic rights for
a citizens.
One great and important leadership is the
press ghuy that it is the freest press
in the world.
That press in the ss years Emancipation
hIted the leadership journalistic which could
transition frOm' slavery through RECOMMENDATION
citizenship for the descendants of the bOndmen who
helped create the wealth Of the nation
press charge could have by news coveage editorial
leadership example played important part helping secure
particularly Negro Americans first class
citizenship
y the daily press it failed to its
duty opportunity when for it failed to meet
system based on race and the oppre
neques determinations that go along with it in our de-
mocracy
Our press helped build the most powerful
nation In standard of living 1t dared
help victory but when came to
fighting against intolerance bgOy and racial prejudice
right totally lacking In interest or
courage to challenge racial prescription
hide most depressing domestic
problem outstanding beatedy trying to
face challenge of common problem
However even today present controversy
desegregaon daily which fear to publish both
sides the story Only publisher of the Florence
Morning reluctantly announced that he had decided after
threats to ban the subject of desgegauon
from the News editorial which dared to
opinion continue to do and oow
has been struck at the free press
1t is our belief that papers abOut their bust
question years that South Carolina editor
would today printing his honest views
For o2 wears our ress has been guilty not only taking
giving the majority group distorted pic
and its real contributions to the nation
and
realize what ce they performed much by intent
by failure recognize their full responsibility in the
not only print the news about
community dropped racial designations and De
gan to take position edoay problem of Negro-hite
this country could no longer be ignored by either govern
ment, pulpit, courts the press
In the been fortunate in having two
nSpapers which tonight which have made
outstanding their columns In treating he
H labor aspirations and triumPhs of members OF
community ms It has the Individual members Oh ne ~
o the community.
Edtoially the Minneapolis TRIBUNE and the Minneapolis
STAR positions the question far in advance
country in the interest OF the country
patronzng fashion but in manner which said 70
the people various which make up
population important as any problem we
have let begin have most Of Americas
other problems"
IL is because Of foresight wise leadership that MIN
peapois great Upper Midwest has fine climate OF
individual whatever his race or
daily the Star and Tribune
have led the precep but In daily practice
II more papers the United States VIII accept e
challenge Of one OF our most critical problems has the
STAR and TRIBUNE country the to VIC
tor over irving have become CRITICAL
we Americans had lived up to concepts nations founding
this time to be assigned the
,.. =, 10 the Minneapolis award
from the Minneapolis role Advancing Demo
cracy Through Journalism"