Arizona sun., 1961-10-12
No Civil Rights Legislation In
Conqress' First Session

Recently Republican friend cited that the
rights legislation by Congress had been passed
during He offered this proof that
Republican Administration better for Negroes than Demo
cratic Administration admit that I had hoped while that
rights legislation would be introduced President Kennedy
honeymoon session After much attention had been
called to ba hen situation bv the Sitns (The Freedom
operated part the session. and the expressed interest
candidate Kennedy in the Negro in America all Negroes
had hopes for such early legislation Naturally we are aroused ana
impatient Arizona making but little progress also
the business of the NAACP and has always been since
those early dark and restless days of the first decade of the Ten-
Century NAACP born to work unremiingy
toward complete equality for Negro citizens America One could
expect Secretary Roy Wilkins to press continually tor legislation
Congress in session But am sre THAT not only
would Civil Rights have been talked to depth the extension of
the Civil Rights Commission almost but President Kennedy
would failed get through Congress much OF the critical
legislation which the conservative Republicans and their coalition
southern supporters fought 50 desperately The with
the of helping the Latin American nations solve some of
their critical social problems and nations in Africa and the
East c to avoid Ct s Ree same any Of
social problems critical Certainly the
of Negro citizens in America was also critical not only TO
savaging self respect democratic nation under
Go but the direction which the rising darker coored nations
the world would for leadership So President ennedy
way escaping donohng session OF Congress oead
locked by conservatism and prejudice over civil rights and
breaking down the old stereoyped image the
Negro as Ignorant stupid incapable of service to
the government and industry science the same way as
and unfit for association with respectable people
happy poverty and impotence in which they nave spent
several centuries
We can all thank heaven early decided that there
much doing this securing the legal rights of Am
citizens African ancestry laws already passed and
erS already vested in the U. S. Presidents
Negroes had always looked Pres Truman because OF his
appointment Dr. Ralph high position in the United
Nations and hestiant but determined beginning OF
the armed services the President VINO started
and ultimately pushed ahead breakdown of segregation by govern
Many felt that President Eisenhower who seldom
publicly Negro rights and whose Committee head
by Nixon did practically nothing to implement MS
Presidential employment had finally offered the creation
of the shaky Rights Commission Republican come
If it was, it didn't work.
On the other hand Pres Kennedy began his official
acting like the President Americans He lifted hearts
when he appointed Dr. Robert Weaver because
those of who knew Dr. Weaver confident that he could
efficient job in that position IN AM
1t didn't with Dr. Weaver could have, like the
President Other high appointments followed and still being
made We haYe read with admiration and pride of the first ap
Negro IT, S. Judges of the highest categOre
the the diligence with which employment with
parnn begun for the first time These things were done evident
President Kennedy believes that all Americans capable
of doing should service to the and the emo
mentS of that service
within OF there appeared
the Negro newspapers stories about several appointments Sec
retay Agriculture Orvie Freeman announced the appoint
the the skegee School of Agriculture Lawrence
A. Potts. special conSuant his staff Dr. Samuel Davis
Westerfed the Atlanta University SchOolto Business Ad
appointed high position the Treasury Dept and
Benz Mayes of MorehOuse College named to the
vsory Corps On the matter Of the voting
privileges the South Pres Kennedy has used the Wers OF the
the Civil Rights Commission eo sail in and do
things that before And lin he matter of firms
contracts Locheed in Marietta has been
making apanes for than twenty years but who
heard of LOckheed before Pres Ken
nedy began HIS Executive Order to sraighen out things
there? In the also the story of the
first election Negro member OF the threeman slate OF
business agents Machns Union at Lockheed Air Craft
Corporation President Kennedy has stirred things up IN the nation
gming.