Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1959-06-13
America Ask To
Exert influenced In
Bringing Freedom
To The World
Appeal Comes From
Kenyan Leader Tom
MbOya At Howard
Uni. Commencement
DEGREES CONFERRED UPON
636 GRADUATES AND
FOUR HONOREES

WASHINGTON, d. C., June 5.
-Kenyan Leader Tom Mboya to-
day called upon America to exert
its economic and political influ-
ence in order that millions Of OPP
pressed peoples throughout the
world may achieve independence
and equality, which, he said, were
the major factors in the realization
of the Great American Dream"
His appeal came at the Dist an
nual Commencement Of Howard
University, where he delivered the
principal address. Later during
the exercises the University con-
ferred upon him the honorary de-
gree of Doctor of Laws. Other
honorary degrees went to Soprano
Dorothy Maynor of New York
City, Doctor of Music; Chemist
Lloyd A. Hall of Chicago, Doctor
of Science; and DR.. Henry j. Cad
bury of Philadelphia, chairman of
the American Friends Service
Committee and Hollis Professor of
Divinity emeritus at Harvard Uni
versity, Doctor of Humane Letters.
Some 636 graduates of Towards
10 schools and colleges also re-
ceived degrees during the exer-
cises.
Mr.. Mboya, who is general Sec
rotary of the Kenya Foundation OF
Labor and a member of the Ken
yam Legislature, said that people
the world over look toward the
beacon of independence that was
lighted in this country, and that
America must help these millions
achieve that goal.
"The heritage of the American
past which Americans enjoy was,
from its earliest years, something
of world scope that captured the
Imagination of men in many lands
and brought them here to help
build the dream into reality" he
said; Gas the spiritual parent OF
REVOLUTIONARY hopes kindled in
other lands, your country has and
special and unique responsibility
for the care and nurture Of liberty
and democracy wherever it exists
in the world today"
The 29-year-old leader said that
the United States, because OF its
power, is destined to play an i'm
portant part in the future OF the
underdeveloped countries OF the
world. He cautioned against un-
wise use of this power, however,
declaring that the response which
Americas policy evokes among
Africans may well be decisive for
the future of the United States as
a world power.
Mr.. Mboya also cautioned
against tendencies Of powerful ma
tons to stand by idly while the
oppression Of millions of peoples
continues, saying that evil will
triumph if good men do not inter-
vene. "This is as true Of the
South African situation as OF any
other" he said, "and it remains
only to add that if do nothing
policy which acquiesces in the
status quo seem to have no appre-
cable ill-effects Immediately, his
tory is replete with examples OF
gradual attrition that have washed
away the foundations Of great CIV
ilizations."
Mr.. Mboya urged the United
States to review its toward South
Africa, and to consider its respon-
sibility in light of Americas demo-
cratic traditions. wherever there
is oppression, there is waste" he
said; "only in a truly free society
can all men flourish and develop
to the peak Of their capacities.
In a society that is less than fully
free some men may persevere and
rise above the mass. but how many