Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1959-12-18


zine,. paid glowing tribute to
fight for full citizenship rights
Landing the aims and objt
Cowles stated:
There is absolutely nothing In
the Constitution of our land-nor
in religious and moral codes which
Americans support - which can
possibly be cited as opposing these
aims.
The Negro-American-or bet
ter, the American who happens
to have a dark sl1in-today stands
in an unprecedented position of
dignity, influence and respect. He
has achieved a status, a standard
Of living, a share in the national
welfare, and an expectation of
future gains that many believed
to be impossible only 20 or so
years ago."
Marian Anderson Cited
Cited for his notable achieve
ments as interpreter and defender
Of American democracy" Publish
er Cowles was presented a scroll
Of honor, sharing this distiction
with Marian Anderson, world
famed concert artist.
Miss Anderson was cited ''in
appreciation Of the significant con-
tributions she has made to the
leveling Of racial and national bar
riers and through her accomp-
Hshments as ambassador Of good
will to the whole world"
Accepts with Deep Humility"
The noted contralto responded
saying ''it is with deep humility
that we accept the honor bestowed
this evening. There are, Of course,
in ones heart, many things she
would like to say but probably
not the right words to express
them as she would love to have
them known.
This great race Of ours, of
which am 50 deeply proud and
happy to belong, Is one that is on
the march, which will certainly
take it to its goal" Miss Ander-
son continued.
In travelling about the world,
one has seen people from all over
in it, and the one thing they seem
to want more than anything else
is to belong. And we are no diff
ferent from them. We viii belong
because God Is on our SIDE" she
concluded.
Reporting on the current status
Of civil rights, NAACP executive
secretary Roy wilkins declared
that 1.-THE body Of Mack Charles
Parker Is ugly proof that the work
Of the people gathered in this room
Is not finished-not by q long,
long way"
wilkins then asked how the US,
(which issues q proclamation y
the world to observe Human
Rights Day, Dec. 10. and TO OBJ
serve the Bin Of Rights anniver-
sary, Dec. Is, can stand idle before
the arrogance, racisn, and degrad-
ing bestiality of a Mississippi lynch
mob?"
Presentation of the scroll of
honor to Miss Anderson was made
by Arthur B. spingarn, NAACP
president. DIR. Robert c. Weaver,
vice chairman, NAACP board of
directors, made the presentation to
Cowles, in the absence Of DIR.
Claiming H. Tobias, board chair
man.
DR.. Gallagher Emcee
DR.. Buell. Gallagher, president,
College Of the City Of New York,
and NAACP board member, serv-
ed as master Of ceremonies.
The Spirit Of Liberty" a COM
position for narrator and chorus,
was presented. 1t Incorporated pas
sages from Randall Thompson's
Testament Of Freedom" based on
writings Of Thomas jefferson.
Music was arranged and directed
by Leonard dePaur. The script was
written by William Branch, and
Ossie Davis star of the Broadway
hit, "A Raisin in the Sum-" was
narrator.
DR.. George d. Cannon and Corn
elius McDougald, New York at
torney, were co-chairmen Of the
dinner committee. Mrs. Marguer-
lite Belafonte and Jackie Robinson
head the associations Freedom
Flnd-raising drive.