Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1961-12-02
Parallel Progress And Race
Relations In Mississippi

The current of history moves in its all en-
comprising sweep before our very eyes, and in
the hearing of all those who have ears to hear
Indeed, it is universal conclusion, that we of to-
day are living in the greatest and most challenging
period in human history
In an earlier period in the DEVELOPMENT of what
is now generally referred to as our Western Civil
ization, John Viscount Morley the great British
Historian and Biographer, wrote in the closing
paragraphs of his life of Richard Golden - Great
economic and social forces flow with tidal sweep
over communities that only half conscious of
that which is Detailing them. Wise statesmen are
those who forsee what time is thus bringing, and
endeavor to shape institutions and to mold mems
thoughts and purpose in accordance with the
change that is silently surrounding them
Although the above words from the pen of Wis
count Morley were written to apply to a period in
the development of Western Civilization that exist
ed more than 200 years ago, they sound as though
coming from the pen of some gifted observer of the
men and events of the contemporary scene of the
period IN which we are now living
Somewhere at sometime another someone
has said that the only way to Judge the future is
by the past, and here are trying to point to-
wards the future. A future unhampered by mis-
trust, fear, hate, Illustration, beWilderment and ILL
will
1t is while looking both towards the future and
to the past we point to parallel progress of Negro
and white people of Mississippi the sure road to
lnterraclal cooperation and goodwill in the state
A proposition which we see as being totally aside
from the question of segregation signs in public
places in the state.
Most of the tension that now exists, according
to the most able and sincere observers has come
about as result of the decision of the United
States Supreme Court in the school cases.
Previous to the decisions, all discussions of the
race problem, and its possible solution had as it's
core the word, equalization. Since the decisions.
having dropped the word equalization, the words
lntegratlon, on the other hand, have come to oc-
cupy the core of any discussion of the race prob.
lem and its possible solution. But now after some
of hniv,r fhn ,%xo1o
that have been going undated, the words inte-
grafton and segregation now arouse only increas-
ing anger, bitterness, and adamance And DESPITE
all claims to the contrary, to those who deal in
reality the discussion of the race problem with it's
central core as either segregation integration is
getting nowhere in the matter of effective inter-
racial cooperation and goodwill
1t is our deep and most sincere belief that the
idea contained in the words parallel Progress"
likes new basis for the discussion of the race
problem, OF 1nteraclal cooperation and goodwill,
that will go long way towards easing the existing
tension.
;, What about the words parallel progress
WE'LL the word parallel is the central core of the
whole idea which it conveys In the big Websters
Dictionary you'll find lot of different defini-
tlons. SO to speak, of the word, parallel but our
IDEA Is best defined in these words Parallel With
like direction or tendency; running side by side;
being IN accordance; tending to the same results:
like In essential parts
You need not be for against anything, or
any oISdiiLdlloH 10 take positive stand Tor para
lell progress
AS Negroes we need to do many things for
ourselves here in jackson, in the state and in the
rest of the SOUTH to demonstrate our pride of
race and our pride in ourselves to justify our right
and claim to first-class citizenship many of which
are beyond our reach without the goodwill and
friendly cooperation of the white people among
whom we live day by day in our local community
We believe such things are obtainable in a pro-
gram and philosophy of parallel progress in race
relations: Among such things we might mention
greater job opportunity for Negro workers in the
states expanding industrial development, Cirricula
and training in the high schools and colleges to pre-
pare Negroes to become industrial workers, OPP
portunity for professional education for Negroes
within the borders of the state.
Let us say again here that we are not going
to be able to do much of anything with a crowd
OF white folks meeting somewhere talking about
Negroes, and crowd of Negroes meeting some
where talking about white folks What we need,
and what we need now more than ever is or
ganization of responsible white and Negro leaders
at the local levels in Mississippi If their getting
together heretofore has been blocked by the words
integration and segregation it seems to us that