Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1957-05-18
A Friendly Word To
Congressman Diggs

Charles C. Diggs, Jr of Detroit Michigan whose par
ens migrated from Mississippi to Detroit during the
first world period where he born and grew
up to become the first Negro to be elected member of
Congress from the state of Michigan will be the prin
cpal speaker at NAACP meeting at the Masonic
Temple mere
who is Democrat at of those celebrated $780,
perplate dinners of the Democrat party held down in
New Orleans, weeks before he to take his
seat tor the first time as member of the House of
Representatives of the Congress of the United States, in
Washington d. C.. and it is with high degree of
pride that recall conversation that lasted far into
the evening regarding the grave responsibilities which
fell upon him, upon his being elected member of the
tongresS OF the United States.
The gravity Of the responsibility of the position
which he occupys member of the Congress of the
United States was reflected in his countenance and
manner when we again met, after he had taken his
for the first time during the Till Case trial. which
he attended. up at Summer Mississippi.
1t is result Of the above contacts, and our
g regard for his kharacter judgement ability. and sin
cerlty Of purpose that address him these words
N regard to his coming speech here Sunday.
III he veg first place say that there many
fine white people in Mississippi despite the present
paSSe and the existing tension, arising out of the i'm
mediate school Indignation issue.
We SAY to that the vast ma jorty of white people
IN Mississippi, well in the of the south were
embarrassed and angered and by the perpetrators of
The Till case the of Rev George w Lee and the
II Gus Coates; all Of which removed into
the past history of the state; and to old cooqua
ISM continually washing the faces of the white people
4 Mississippi with the Til case the Rev Lee case
nd the Coates is not going to accomplish anything
III bringing the growing gulf between responsible white
and Negro leaders at the local levels who must be
0rough together before there solution to the pres
nt problems of relations and before there can be
reduction in the present tension and in atmosphere
created in which constructive effort and work DOS
,ble
In the second place, those who have the slightest
understanding of the contemporary southern scene in
sheer honesty, must admit that the word NAACP de-
spite the purpose and intent of the organization
flag the bull fight and that responsible au-
thorty in the state going to be moved by the protesta
tons cooperate in any effort directly sponsored by
that organization.
Finally, the widening gulf between the responsible
white and Negro leaders, at the local levels in Mssssp-
and in the rest of the SOUTH according to the opinion
OF the most able Observers is than any other
thing. the result Of the Incorporate vtuperative vim
dctlve, and threatening speeches of the past by
sponsbe Negro leaders, giving their advise the south
ern Negro.
After having served his first term and having be-
gun his second term member of the House of Rep
resentatives, if he had before the contrary opinion
certain that the distinguished Congressman of
his experiences in Washington recognizes the fact
that while laws made and highest judicial decisions
rendered in Washington their augmentation must
begin in goodwill at the local level and at this NOM
ent in the history of the Mississippi Negro and those of
the rest of the SOUTH the greatest need atmosphere
of goodwill and the responsibility to help create that at
mosphere of goodwill is the greatest and gravest cha-
lenge to the Negro leader