Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1956-03-31
Letters To Editor

March ~, 1906
Distinguished Editor
Jackson, Miss.
Representing the Negro Population
My Dear Sir:
This morning l saw you on
Television and listened closely to
every word you said on the vexing
question of Relationship between
the Negro race and the white peo-
pie"
Let me say that l compliment
you on the good sound sense ex-
pressed by you. Such men as you
can be the saving factor, not only
for your race but also for the white
people. ! am giving extensive at
tention to this question and l am
maintaining an even balance. Here
let me say have no patience with
the middle of the Reader" They
are towards and refuse to stand
for the realistic.
Let me say that l was born not
so many years after the freedom
of the Negro. I know what they
have had to face and also what
the white people of the South had
to face. l think it remarkable
that relations have made such pro-
gress. l was cared for and even
nursed by colored women when |
was baby in Tennessee. l called
them "uncle and aunt" and all my
life l have wanted to see the Ne
gro treated as man should be. The
good Lord made me white and l
can't help it. He made you black
and you can't help it. l think it
moral that we maintain our races
as pure as possible.
Now you are an example of the
freedom enjoyed by your race
A prominent Publisher. You have
all the rights that are enjoyed by
any white man in Mississippi or
Texas, and it is wonderful how our
educational facilities have improv-
ed. In almost every community
in Texas the Negro child has now
better teachers, books, rooms, seats,
and dozen things better than
had as a child, or even my own
girls here in Hamlin, 40 years ago.
Our colored people are at peace and
prospecting with their own associa-
tons. 1t is hard to find anyone
of them who wants to send their
children to a white school. | know
that in many places in the South,
even better than in the North, Ne
gro men and women have possibili-
ties that will in time make them
bankers, lawyers, dentists, doctors,
and on and on in every branch OF
life, Just as the white men. He can
vote, serve on juries, own prop
erty. have his own religious serv-
ices.
When l was a boy l had rights
but not many opportunities; this is
true of millions of white people to-
day. l am not a banker for
never had the opportunity. There
is a bright future for the Negro
race if they will develop them
selves in a realm of independence
in their racial sphere.
hope you will use your influ-
ence to keep your people indie
pendent, in heart, mind and body.
Ninety-nine percent of the white
people of this nation would not
impose upon the black man, but
when the mixing of races, down IN
some distant day, gets our people
to where we can't tell one race
from another, it will bring confu-
sion and awful trouble. Shake
nv hand in keeping our country
like Christian people should be.
Sincerely,
Bowen Pope
P. S. regret that l did not get
YOUR name or the name OF your
PAPER while looking at the TV.
Whoever gets this letter, | trust
that they will understand to whom
it is meant. | want every person,
white or black to know that | stand
for the continued progress and hap
piness of the Negroes of this ma
ton. Let us not allow disturbing
influences from other countries
disturb our friendship.