Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1960-06-17
Brought Roy Home!

When the brash young delegation from the ST. Paul branch
of the National Association for the Advancement of Coored
People appeared the Cleveland convention of the association
in 1855 it EARNED to the teeth with invitations for
the organization to hold its 1860 convention in Minnesota
capital city.
There the usual Chamber of bids letters of
invitation from Orve Freeman of the state letters
from prominent citizens and the sanity cty's mayor
More than this the St Paulites felt they also carried
secret weapon" whole card held by any other city
seeking the 51st annual convention
They did not unvei the not weapon until the
test for the 60 meeting got hot and then they took full and
legitimate advantage of the fact that St Paul and Minnesota
Is the place where Roy wilkins the associations chief executive
officer and received his training and education
Then the theme of the successful St Paul convention selling
job became Bring Roy Home" Roy Wilkins himself main
tanned studied proper neutrality in the between
cities seeking the go but what human being would
excused if within his breast there thrill seeing that
the homefoks" anxious have him home as
head of powerful organization for good in the nation
Although St Louis, and Missouri may have slight
claim being the birthplace of the dynamic youthful Roy
Wilkins St Paul and Minnesota claims him. its son. and
rightly for it here in ST. Paul that he spent his formative
years. attended high school and graduated the great Univ
ersity of Minnesota
here in Minnesota that his ability for leadership
early dscened Mechanic Arts and st James AE church.
where young he exhibited such fine qualities he be-
leader in youth religious groups in the city.
Mechanic Arts high school remembered the slightly built
arcuate younger who became of the nations oustand
ing leaders, when May this year the school him with
the annual award which goes distinguished graduate.
This month his college alma mater the University of Mime
sofa will present Roy Wilkins the school Outstanding Achieve
Award at the closing session of the 1860 NAACP
ventOn Sunday afternoon June &C. to be held in Norhrup
Auditorium, the University campus This award annually
presented graduate of the school who has reached the p
nacle of success in their chosen field"
Many Mnnesotans believe the prominence which Roy Will
kns achieve early foreseen by his activity young
in his early high school years until the period after his
graduation from the University Minnesota School Journal
ism On and off the campus Wilkins showed real interest in
the issues of the day.
He of the editors of the Minnesota DAILY which
at that time and present. the largest college daily
newspaper in the US This in itself distinction which up
until that time had been accorded any US Negro student
a major college campus
Not only Roy good student but evidence of his
munity activity outside the scholastic areas shown by the
records which list him the first secretary of the board
directors of the newly formed St Paul Urban League 1922
Roy wilkins utilized his spare time the staff of
St Paul Negro weekly bringing the journalistic training
he receiving improve the STYLE writing and formal the
publication
When Roy left the Twin Cities of Minnesota in 1923
become the managing editor of the Kansas City CALL where
he remained until 1881 he became of the first college trained
journalists to be employed by US Negro weekly The CALL
which had the field and incentive to become great
grew into well developed publication with good sound news
and editorial policy which made of the important in
fuences in the Missouri Valley. Wilkins managing editor
set pace for coverage unequaed contemporary Negro
journalism.
An excellent effective though amboyant speaker Will
n artcuaene and desire advance the legitimate aspira
tons of the American Negro attracted the attention of the
tona office of the NAACP notably the late Walter White In
1881 Wilkins invited join the NAACP assistant
ary and also editor of the CRISIS Magazine the association
monthly He accepted the post reluctantly because he had
grown to love the CALL and his Midwest.
Readers of this editorial know the of Mr. wilkins
services to the NAACP which resulted in his being named
fill the top executive position upon the untmey death Walter
White in 1855.
In the campaign for equality for the American Negro
well lead by the NAACP Mr. Wilkins directing head of the
organization has shown real leadership in guiding the organz
ton which the target of every influence in this nation which
rejects the idea of full democracy for persons of Negro
cestry.
As such he has been constantly the firing line directing
with skill the public opinion srmishes which
part of American life In this Of activity his training
holds him in good stead Not single of the US
negregahoniSs Of stature anxious willing to Wkn
in debate public platform, TV radio.