Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1958-11-29

MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CITIZENS
One-third of the population of the South is of the
Negro No enterprise seeking the material civil
moral welfare of this section disregard this element
of population and reach the highest success. but
convey to you Mr. President and Directors the senti-
ment of the masses of my when say that in no
way have the value and manhood of the American Ne
gro been fttingy and generously recognized than
by the of this magnificent Exposition every
state of its progress 1t is recognition that will do
to cement the friendship of the races than any
occurrence since the dawn of our freedom
Not only this, but the opportunity here afforded
will awaken among era of industrial progress
Ignorant and inexperienced is not strange that in the
first years of life began the top instead of
at the bottom that seat in Congress or the state leg
islature was sought than real estate or indus
trial skill that the political convention of stump speak
ing had attractions than starting dairy farm or
truck garden.
ship lost at sea for many days suddenly sighted
friendly vessel From the of unfortunate vessel
was signal, water water we die of thirst w The
answer from the friendly vessel at back Cast
down your bucket where you are" second time the
signal, Water water send water" ran up from the
distressed vessel and answered, Cast down your
bucket where you are" And third and fourth signal
for water was answered. Cast down your bucket where
you are The captain of the distressed vessel at last
needing the Injunction cast down his bucket and it
came up full of fresh, sparkling water from the mouth
OF the Amazon River. To those of my race who de-
pend on lettering their condition foreign land or
VINO the Importance of cuvatng friend
y relations with the Southern white man, who is their
nextdOOr neighbour would say: Cast down your buck
ct where are"-Cast it down in making friends in
every manly of the people of all races by whom we
surrounded.
Cast it down in agriculture, mechanics, in commerce.
in domestic service and in the professions And in this
connection it is well to bear in mind that whatever other
sins the South may be called to bear when comes to
business and simple, it is in the South that the
Negro is given mans chance in the commercial world
and in nothing is this Exposition eloquent than in
emphasizing this chance Our greatest danger is that in
the great leap from slavery to freedom may overlook
the fact that the of live by the produc
tons OF our hands, and fail to keep in mind that we
shall prosper in proportion learn to dignity and
glorfy common abour and put brains and slls into
the common occupations of lfe shall prosper in pro-
portion learn to draw the line between the SUPER
fetal and the substantial the ornamental gewgaws of
life and the useful. NO RACE CAN PROSPER TILL 1T
LEARNS THAT THERE is AS MUCH DIGNITY IN
TILLING FIELD AS IN WRITING POEM 1T is
AT THE BOTTOM OF LIFE WE MUST BEGIN, AND
NOT AT THE TOP NOR SHOULD WE PERMIT OUR
GRIEVANCES TO OvERSHADOW OUR OPPORTUNI-
TIES.
To those OF the white who look to the incoming
of those OF foreign birth and strange tongue and habits
for the prosperity of the South were / permitted
would repeat what say to my own race, Cast down
your bucket where you are" Cast it down among the